Quran Verses about Prophet David

أَلَمۡ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلۡمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذۡ قَالُواْ لِنَبِيّٖ لَّهُمُ ٱبۡعَثۡ لَنَا مَلِكٗا نُّقَٰتِلۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۖ قَالَ هَلۡ عَسَيۡتُمۡ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَٰتِلُواْۖ قَالُواْ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نُقَٰتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدۡ أُخۡرِجۡنَا مِن دِيَٰرِنَا وَأَبۡنَآئِنَاۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوۡاْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٢٤٦

Alam tara ilal-malaʾi mim banī isrāʾīla mim baʿdi mūsā idh qālū linabiyyil lahumubʿath lanā malikan nuqātil fī sabīlillāh, qāla hal ʿasaytum in kutiba ʿalaykumul-qitālu allā tuqātilū, qālū wa mā lanā allā nuqātila fī sabīlillāhi wa qad ukhrijnā min diyārinā wa abnāʾinā, falammā kutiba ʿalayhimul-qitālu tawallaw illā qalīlam minhum, wallāhu ʿalīmum biẓ-ẓālimīn.

Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after [the time of] Moses when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allāh"? He said, "Would you perhaps refrain from fighting if battle was prescribed for you?" They said, "And why should we not fight in the cause of Allāh when we have been driven out from our homes and from our children?" But when battle was prescribed for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ بَعَثَ لَكُمۡ طَالُوتَ مَلِكٗاۚ قَالُوٓاْ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكُ عَلَيۡنَا وَنَحۡنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلۡمُلۡكِ مِنۡهُ وَلَمۡ يُؤۡتَ سَعَةٗ مِّنَ ٱلۡمَالِۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصۡطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسۡطَةٗ فِي ٱلۡعِلۡمِ وَٱلۡجِسۡمِۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤۡتِي مُلۡكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٞ ٢٤٧

Wa qāla lahum nabiyyuhum innallāha qad baʿatha lakum ṭālūta malikā, qālū annā yakūnu lahul-mulku ʿalaynā wa naḥnu aḥaqqu bil-mulki minhu wa lam yuʾta saʿatam minal-māl, qāla innallāhaṣṭafāhu ʿalaykum wa zādahū basṭatan fil-ʿilmi wal-jism, wallāhu yuʾtī mulkahū may yashāʾ, wallāhu wāsiʿun ʿalīm.

And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allāh has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allāh has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allāh gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."

وَقَالَ لَهُمۡ نَبِيُّهُمۡ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلۡكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٞ مِّن رَّبِّكُمۡ وَبَقِيَّةٞ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحۡمِلُهُ ٱلۡمَلَٰٓئِكَةُۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَةٗ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ ٢٤٨

Wa qāla lahum nabiyyuhum inna āyata mulkihī ay yaʾtiyakumut-tābūtu fīhi sakīnatum mir rabbikum wa baqiyyatum mimmā taraka ālu mūsā wa ālu hārūna taḥmiluhul-malāʾikah, inna fī dhālika laʾāyatal lakum in kuntum muʾminīn.

And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance¹ from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."

فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلۡجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُبۡتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٖ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنۡهُ فَلَيۡسَ مِنِّي وَمَن لَّمۡ يَطۡعَمۡهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّيٓ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱغۡتَرَفَ غُرۡفَةَۢ بِيَدِهِۦۚ فَشَرِبُواْ مِنۡهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُۥ هُوَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُۥ قَالُواْ لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَٰقُواْ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةٖ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتۡ فِئَةٗ كَثِيرَةَۢ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ٢٤٩

Falammā faṣala ṭālūtu bil-junūdi qāla innallāha mubtalīkum binaharin faman shariba minhu falaysa minnī wa mal lam yaṭʿamhu fa innahū minnī illā manightarafa ghurfatam biyadih, fasharibū minhu illā qalīlam minhum, falammā jāwazahū huwa wal-ladhīna āmanū maʿahū qālū lā ṭāqata lanal-yawma bijālūta wa junūdih, qālal-ladhīna yaẓunnūna annahum mulāqullāhi kam min fiʾatin qalīlatin ghalabat fiʾatan kathīratam biʾidhnillāh, wallāhu maʿaṣ-ṣābirīn.

And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, Allāh will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand." But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, "There is no power for us today against Goliath and his soldiers." But those who were certain that they would meet Allāh said, "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allāh. And Allāh is with the patient."

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُواْ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرٗا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ ٢٥٠

Wa lammā barazū lijālūta wa junūdihī qālū rabbanā afrigh ʿalaynā ṣabraw wa thabbit aqdāmanā wanṣurnā ʿalal-qawmil-kāfirīn.

And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, "Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people."

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٥١

Fahazamūhum biʾidhnillāhi wa qatala dāwūdu jālūta wa ātāhullāhul-mulka wal-ḥikmata wa ʿallamahū mimmā yashāʾ, wa lawlā dafʿullāhin-nāsa baʿḍahum bibaʿḍil lafasadatil-arḍu wa lākinnallāha dhū faḍlin ʿalal-ʿālamīn.

So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds.

۞ إِنَّآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ كَمَآ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٖ وَٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِۦۚ وَأَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبۡرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسۡمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسۡحَٰقَ وَيَعۡقُوبَ وَٱلۡأَسۡبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورٗا ١٦٣

Innā awḥaynā ilayka kamā awḥaynā ilā nūḥiw wan-nabiyyīna mim baʿdih, wa awḥaynā ilā ibrāhīma wa ismāʿīla wa isḥāqa wa yaʿqūba wal-asbāṭi wa ʿīsā wa ayyūba wa yūnusa wa hārūna wa sulaymān, wa ātaynā dāwūda zabūrā.

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants,¹ Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon; and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

وَرَبُّكَ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ وَلَقَدۡ فَضَّلۡنَا بَعۡضَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖۖ وَءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورٗا ٥٥

Wa rabbuka aʿlamu biman fis-samāwāti wal-arḍ, wa laqad faḍḍalnā baʿḍan-nabiyyīna ʿalā baʿḍ, wa ātaynā dāwūda zabūrā.

And your Lord is most knowing of whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And We have made some of the prophets exceed others [in various ways], and to David We gave the book [of Psalms].

وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَ عِلۡمٗاۖ وَقَالَا ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٖ مِّنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ١٥

Wa laqad ātaynā dāwūda wa sulaymāna ʿilmā, wa qālal-ḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī faḍḍalanā ʿalā kathīrim min ʿibādihil-muʾminīn.

And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise [is due] to Allāh, who has favored us over many of His believing servants."

وَعَلَّمۡنَٰهُ صَنۡعَةَ لَبُوسٖ لَّكُمۡ لِتُحۡصِنَكُم مِّنۢ بَأۡسِكُمۡۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُمۡ شَٰكِرُونَ ٨٠

Wa ʿallamnāhu ṣanʿata labūsil lakum lituḥṣinakum mim baʾsikum, fahal antum shākirūn.

And We taught him the fashioning of coats of armor to protect you from your [enemy in] battle. So will you then be grateful?

۞ وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلٗاۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ ١٠

Wa laqad ātaynā dāwūda minnā faḍlā, yājibālu awwibī maʿahū waṭ-ṭayr, wa alannā lahul-ḥadīd.

And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], "O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well]." And We made pliable for him iron,

أَنِ ٱعۡمَلۡ سَٰبِغَٰتٖ وَقَدِّرۡ فِي ٱلسَّرۡدِۖ وَٱعۡمَلُواْ صَٰلِحًاۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ ١١

Aniʿmal sābighātiw wa qaddir fis-sard, waʿmalū ṣāliḥā, innī bimā taʿmalūna baṣīr.

[Commanding him], "Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing."

ٱصۡبِرۡ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَٱذۡكُرۡ عَبۡدَنَا دَاوُۥدَ ذَا ٱلۡأَيۡدِۖ إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٌ ١٧

Iṣbir ʿalā mā yaqūlūna wadhkur ʿabdanā dāwūda dhal-ayd, innahū awwāb.

Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allāh].

إِنَّا سَخَّرۡنَا ٱلۡجِبَالَ مَعَهُۥ يُسَبِّحۡنَ بِٱلۡعَشِيِّ وَٱلۡإِشۡرَاقِ ١٨

Innā sakhkharnal-jibāla maʿahū yusabbiḥna bil-ʿashiyyi wal-ishrāq.

Indeed, We subjected the mountains [to praise] with him, exalting [Allāh] in the [late] afternoon and [after] sunrise.

وَٱلطَّيۡرَ مَحۡشُورَةٗۖ كُلّٞ لَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٞ ١٩

Waṭ-ṭayra maḥshūrah, kullul lahū awwāb.

And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].

وَشَدَدۡنَا مُلۡكَهُۥ وَءَاتَيۡنَٰهُ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَفَصۡلَ ٱلۡخِطَابِ ٢٠

Wa shadadnā mulkahū wa ātaynāhul-ḥikmata wa faṣlal-khiṭāb.

And We strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech.

وَدَاوُۥدَ وَسُلَيۡمَٰنَ إِذۡ يَحۡكُمَانِ فِي ٱلۡحَرۡثِ إِذۡ نَفَشَتۡ فِيهِ غَنَمُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ وَكُنَّا لِحُكۡمِهِمۡ شَٰهِدِينَ ٧٨

Wa dāwūda wa sulaymāna idh yaḥkumāni fil-ḥarthi idh nafashat fīhi ghanamul-qawmi wa kunnā liḥukmihim shāhidīn.

And [mention] David and Solomon, when they judged concerning the field - when the sheep of a people overran it [at night],¹ and We were witness to their judgement.

فَفَهَّمۡنَٰهَا سُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيۡنَا حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَسَخَّرۡنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحۡنَ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۚ وَكُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ ٧٩

Fafahhamnāhā sulaymān, wa kullan ātaynā ḥukmaw wa ʿilmā, wa sakhkharnā maʿa dāwūdal-jibāla yusabbiḥna waṭ-ṭayr, wa kunnā fāʿilīn.

And We gave understanding of it [i.e., the case] to Solomon, and to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge. And We subjected the mountains to exalt [Us], along with David and [also] the birds. And We were doing [that].¹

۞ وَهَلۡ أَتَىٰكَ نَبَؤُاْ ٱلۡخَصۡمِ إِذۡ تَسَوَّرُواْ ٱلۡمِحۡرَابَ ٢١

Wa hal atāka nabaʾul-khaṣmi idh tasawwarul-miḥrāb.

And has there come to you the news of the adversaries, when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber -

إِذۡ دَخَلُواْ عَلَىٰ دَاوُۥدَ فَفَزِعَ مِنۡهُمۡۖ قَالُواْ لَا تَخَفۡۖ خَصۡمَانِ بَغَىٰ بَعۡضُنَا عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٖ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَنَا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تُشۡطِطۡ وَٱهۡدِنَآ إِلَىٰ سَوَآءِ ٱلصِّرَٰطِ ٢٢

Idh dakhalū ʿalā dāwūda fafaziʿa minhum, qālū lā takhaf, khaṣmāni baghā baʿḍunā ʿalā baʿḍin faḥkum baynanā bil-ḥaqqi wa lā tushṭiṭ wahdinā ilā sawāʾiṣ-ṣirāṭ.

When they entered upon David and he was alarmed by them? They said, "Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed [it] and guide us to the sound path.

إِنَّ هَٰذَآ أَخِي لَهُۥ تِسۡعٞ وَتِسۡعُونَ نَعۡجَةٗ وَلِيَ نَعۡجَةٞ وَٰحِدَةٞ فَقَالَ أَكۡفِلۡنِيهَا وَعَزَّنِي فِي ٱلۡخِطَابِ ٢٣

Inna hādhā akhī lahū tisʿuw wa tisʿūna naʿjataw waliya naʿjatuw wāḥidatun faqāla akfilnīhā wa ʿazzanī fil-khiṭāb.

Indeed this, my brother, has ninety-nine ewes, and I have one ewe; so he said, 'Entrust her to me,' and he overpowered me in speech."

قَالَ لَقَدۡ ظَلَمَكَ بِسُؤَالِ نَعۡجَتِكَ إِلَىٰ نِعَاجِهِۦۖ وَإِنَّ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡخُلَطَآءِ لَيَبۡغِي بَعۡضُهُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ وَقَلِيلٞ مَّا هُمۡۗ وَظَنَّ دَاوُۥدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنَّٰهُ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرَ رَبَّهُۥ وَخَرَّۤ رَاكِعٗاۤ وَأَنَابَ۩ ٢٤

Qāla laqad ẓalamaka bisuʾāli naʿjatika ilā niʿājih, wa inna kathīram minal-khulaṭāʾi layabghī baʿḍuhum ʿalā baʿḍin illal-ladhīna āmanū wa ʿamiluṣ-ṣāliḥāti wa qalīlum mā hum, wa ẓanna dāwūdu annamā fatannāhu fastaghfara rabbahū wa kharra rākiʿaw wa anāb.

[David] said, "He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many associates oppress one another, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds - and few are they." And David became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord¹ and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allāh].

فَغَفَرۡنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَۖ وَإِنَّ لَهُۥ عِندَنَا لَزُلۡفَىٰ وَحُسۡنَ مَـَٔابٖ ٢٥

Faghafarnā lahū dhālik, wa inna lahū ʿindanā lazulfā wa ḥusna maʾāb.

So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return.

يَٰدَاوُۥدُ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰكَ خَلِيفَةٗ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱحۡكُم بَيۡنَ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰ فَيُضِلَّكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَضِلُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمۡ عَذَابٞ شَدِيدُۢ بِمَا نَسُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡحِسَابِ ٢٦

Yādāwūdu innā jaʿalnāka khalīfatan fil-arḍi faḥkum baynan-nāsi bil-ḥaqqi wa lā tattabiʿil-hawā fayuḍillaka ʿan sabīlillāh, innal-ladhīna yaḍillūna ʿan sabīlillāhi lahum ʿadhābun shadīdum bimā nasū yawmal-ḥisāb.

[We said], "O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allāh." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allāh will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account.