Complete servitude to Allah Almighty: David, peace be upon him...
Selections from the Book The King Prophets...
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Sallabi...
Episode (20)
Allah Almighty said: {Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, David, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah]}:
A- {Be patient over what they say}:
Allah Almighty says in his remembrance of his Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, be patient, O Muhammad, with what the polytheists of your people say to you, which you hate to hear, We will test you with hardship, and We have tested all of our messengers before you, then We will give you exaltation and victory over those who deny you and refuse to follow you, as is the case with the messengers who We sent them to Our servants before you, and among them was Our servant David, so Allah Almighty commanded Muhammad - despite the greatness of his position - to imitate David (peace be upon him) in patience in obeying Allah. This is a great honor to the Prophet of Allah, David. Allah commanded the best of creation, Muhammad, to imitate him in good morals, and praised him for his good qualities.
B- {and remember Our servant}:
As Allah Almighty described David (peace be upon him) him by saying: {Our servant}; The description of servitude to Allah Almighty indicates that complete servitude is achieved through diligence in obedience.
David (peace be upon him) was one of the most worshipful people, and our honorable Prophet told us about his prayers and fasting. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Omar bin Al-Aas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me: "The most beloved fasting to Allah, the mighty and sublime, is the fast of David, peace be upon him. He used to fast one day and not the next. And the most beloved prayer to Allah, the mighty and sublime, is the prayer of David, peace be upon him. He used to sleep half the night, stand for one-third of it (in prayer), and sleep for one-sixth of it".
This hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with them both) has an occasion, and Abdullah bin Amr himself explained it in another hadith, which we present to the readers so that they know the call of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to Abdullah bin Amr to imitate David (peace be upon him) in his fasting and prayer.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated on the authority of Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas, may Allah be pleased with them both, who said: I used to observe fast uninterruptedly and recited the (whole of the) Qur'an every night. It (the uninterrupted fasting and recital of the Qur'an every night) was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, or he sent for me, and I went to him and he said to me: “I have been informed that you fast continuously and recite (the whole of the Qur'an) every night?”. I said: Apostle of Allah, it is right, but I covet thereby nothing but good, whereupon he said: “It suffices for you that you should observe fast for three days during every month”.
I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this. He said: “Your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right upon you, your body has a right upon you; so observe the fast of David, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), for he was the best worshipper of Allah”.
I said: Apostle of Allah, what is the fast of David? He said: “He used to fast one day and did not fast the other day”. He (also) said: “Recite the Qur'an during every month”.
I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: “Recite it in twenty days”.
I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: “Recite it in ten days”.
I said: Apostle of Allah, I am capable of doing more than this, whereupon he said: “Recite it every week, and do not exceed beyond this, for your wife has a right upon you, your visitor has a right upon you, your body has a right upon you”.
Amr bin Al-Aas said: I insisted, and he insisted on me. The Apostle of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had told me: “You do not know you may live long (thus and bear the hardships for a long time)”.
Amr bin Al-Aas said: I accepted that which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had told me. When I grew old, I wished I had availed myself of the concession (granted by) the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him..
In this educational dialogue between the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, declares that David, peace be upon him, was the most worshipper of Allah.
C- {the possessor of strength}
David, peace be upon him, has great strength and determination in the essence of Allah and patience in obeying Him, great strength in worship and obedience in his body and heart, and strength in knowledge, working to fulfill the trust, carrying out the burdens of the call, and avoiding weakness; This is a praiseworthy force if it is committed to truth, goodness, and supporting the religion of Allah.
David (peace be upon him) was strong in all these matters.
D- {indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah]}:
That is: He often returns to Allah in all matters, and repents to Him with love and obedience, fear and hope, and frequently supplicates, and returns to Him when some fault or shortcoming occurs on his part by abstaining from sin and sincere repentance.
Episode references:
- Ali Muhammad Al-Sallabi, The King Prophets, pp. 116-120.
- Jami’ al-Bayan, Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari (23/136).
- Praise in the Holy Qur’an, Hatun Sami Abdul Rahman Felemban, Dar Ibn Hazm, Beirut, 1st edition, 2016 AD, p. 337.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of King Prophets on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad Al-Sallabi:
