Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him) was also a warrior and a king. Prophet Dawood (known as David in other Abrahamic faiths) is one of the most remarkable figures in Islamic history. His life is filled with many lessons, from his humble beginnings as a shepherd to his leadership as a fair king.
Allah SWT gifted Dawood (peace be upon him) with unique talents, including a melodious voice that moved mountains and birds to join him in praising Allah. He was also a wise leader and an example of humility and gratitude.
Learning about Prophet Dawood’s story helps us understand the values of courage, faith, and dedication to Allah. It also helps us to pass down these qualities to our kids with not only exciting but also interactive storytelling! Let's get started.
Who Was Prophet Dawood in Islam?
In the Quran, Allah describes Prophet Dawood as a man of strength and gratitude who always returns to Allah.
"Be patient over what they say and remember Our servant, Dawood, the possessor of strength; indeed, he was one who repeatedly turned back [to Allah].” (Surah Sad 38:17)
From Humble Shepherd to Prophet: Dawood's Early Life
Before Dawood became a king and prophet, he lived a simple life as a shepherd. He spent his days tending to his family’s sheep in the peaceful countryside. Shepherding may seem like a modest task, but let's think of it as a form of training.
How so? Being a shepherd means you must be patient and responsible—qualities that would later define his character and lay the foundation of his role as a compassionate leader.
Moreover, shepherds spend a lot of time alone in nature, which gives them plenty of time to contemplate the beauty of the universe and Allah's creation. The Quran highlights the significance of reflection in nature:
"Do they not look at the camels—how they are created? And at the sky—how is it raised?" (Surah Al-Ghashiyah 88:17-18)
Being alone in the fields, Prophet Dawood often turned to Allah in prayer. You can use this part of the story to teach children the importance of being humble and finding time to reflect on Allah’s blessings.
The Epic Battle: Prophet Dawood vs Jalut (Goliath)
One of the most famous events in Prophet Dawood’s (peace be upon him) life is his courageous battle against Jalut (Goliath).
Let's look at this test of courage that he passed successfully.
The Israelites turned away from Allah; they oppressed non-Israelites and treated them with injustice. Thus, Allah sent one of the worst tyrants to press, torture, and humiliate them. That was Jalut (Goliath).
He was a giant, strong warrior whom everyone feared, and no one dared to stand up to him! After many years, the Israelites begged their prophet to ask Allah for a strong king. Allah appointed Taloot (Sual) as king, as he was wise and strong.
Their prophet told them, “Allah has appointed Saul to be your king.” They protested, “How can he be our king when some of us are more deserving of kingship than he, and he has not been blessed with vast riches?” He replied, “Allah has chosen him over you and blessed him with knowledge and stature. Allah grants kingship to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” Surah Al-Baqarah (2:247)
Taloot led the Israelites into battle against their enemy, Jalut (Goliath), who led a massive army of fully equipped, strong men. Among the army of Taloot was the prophet Dawood.
He was a young shepherd, not a mighty warrior. He was not trained, and he had no experience in battle. So your kids may ask, How can he play a role in this war? That is the time to highlight the most important quality any prophet has: unwavering faith in Allah!
Jalut was certain no one would stand against him; thus, he challenged any soldier to a one-to-one combat. No one dared to do so despite the king offering to marry his beloved daughter to any soldier willing to confront Jalut.
Only one stepped in: Prophet Dawood. No one believed this! They thought, How on earth can he, with no experience, defeat this giant warrior?
With nothing but a slingshot and a few stones, Dawood faced the mighty Jalut. With Allah’s help, he launched a single stone from his sling that struck Jalut down and ended the battle with victory for Talut's army.
“So they routed them by Allah’s Leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him [Dawud (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Talut (Saul) and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. (Surah Al-Baqarah (2:251)
This story can be very exciting and entertaining for your kids; you can teach them by keeping them engaged, so check this video out and watch it with your kids.
How Prophet Dawood Became a Wise and Just King
After his victory over Jalut, Dawood earned the people's respect; after Talut's death, he was chosen to be the king. Allah blessed Dawood with both leadership and prophethood. Like all the prophets before him, his mission was to guide his people with wisdom. As king, he ruled with justice and fairness.
"And we strengthened his kingdom and gave him wisdom and discernment in speech.” (Surah Sad 38:20)
Prophet Dawood understood the importance of justice to keep harmony within society. Thus, he ensured that everyone under his rule was treated with equity. He knew that this role was a trust from Allah; thus, he ruled not for personal gain but to fulfill Allah's command.
˹We instructed him:˺ “O David! We have surely made you an authority in the land, so judge between people with truth. And do not follow ˹your˺ desires or they will lead you astray from Allah’s Way. Surely those who go astray from Allah’s Way will suffer a severe punishment for neglecting the Day of Reckoning.” (Surah Sad 38:26).
One example of his fairness is found in the Quran, where he was presented with a dispute between two men. Dawood’s ability to listen, reflect, and deliver just decisions exemplifies his dedication to truth and morality.
What made Dawood’s leadership unique was his sense of responsibility, which was deeply rooted in his faith. His strong connection to Allah and the divine wisdom he was granted guided every aspect of his leadership. Not only was he a wise, fair king, but he was also humble.
The Humble King Who Worked with His Own Hands
Despite his high status, Prophet Dawood stayed humble and approachable. He worked with his own hands as a weaver to earn his living instead of relying on his kingdom's wealth.
"The best earning is what a man earns with his own hands. Indeed, Dawood, the Prophet of Allah, used to earn his livelihood with his own hands.” (Sahih Bukhari)
"It was We Who taught him the art of making coats of mail for your benefit so that it may protect you from each other’s violence. Do you, then, give thanks?" Surah Al-Anbiya, 80
He didn't see himself as a superior king. He often listened to his people's concerns and personally resolved disputes.
This is shown clearly in the Quran, where Allah mentions an instance that beautifully highlights his role as a just judge. Let's look at this story.
Two men came to Prophet Dawood with a dispute while he was praying in his room.
Has the story of the two plaintiffs, who scaled the ˹wall of David’s˺ sanctuary, reached you, ˹O Prophet˺? When they came into David’s presence, he was startled by them. They said, “Have no fear. ˹We are merely˺ two in a dispute: one of us has wronged the other. So judge between us with truth—do not go beyond ˹it˺—and guide us to the right way. (Surah Sad 38:21–22).
One of them claimed the other had unfairly taken his ewe (female sheep).
This is my brother.1 He has ninety-nine sheep, while I have ˹only˺ one. ˹Still˺, he asked me to give it up to him, overwhelming me with ˹his˺ argument.” (Surah Sad 38:23).
However, Prophet Dawood later realized that he had quickly judged without considering the other point of view. He immediately sought Allah’s forgiveness and prostrated in repentance.
David ˹eventually˺ ruled, “He has wronged you in demanding ˹to add˺ your sheep to his. And certainly many partners wrong each other, except those who believe and do good—but how few are they!” Then David realized that we had tested him, so he asked for his Lord’s forgiveness, fell in prostration, and turned ˹to Him in repentance˺. (Surah Sad 38:24–25).
This moment shows how even in his wisdom, Dawood remained open to self-reflection and correction. This teaches us not to judge situations based on strong emotions.
We must be patient and gather evidence before passing judgment.
"...so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah." Indeed, those who go astray from the way of Allah will have a severe punishment for having forgotten the Day of Account." — (Surah Sad ayah 26)
Prophet Dawood was both humble and responsible. Did you also know that he had a very beautiful voice?
Prophet Dawood's Beautiful Voice That Moved Mountains
When Allah SWT bestowed prophethood on Dawood, he revealed the Zaboor (Psalms).
"And to Dawud (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) We gave the Psalms." — (Surah Al-Isra, ayah 55)
However, he gave him one more unique blessing: Dawood had a beautiful voice. Too beautiful that when he recited the Zabur (Psalms) so melodiously, even the mountains, trees, and birds joined in his praises to Allah.
"Indeed, we subjected the mountains to praise with him [Dawood], exalting [Allah] in the late afternoon and [after] sunrise. And the birds were assembled, all with him repeating [praises].” (Surah Sad 38:18-19)
Imagine how beautiful his voice must have been for the mountains echoing his praises and the birds gathering to harmonize with his recitation. You can use this part of the story to encourage your children to recite the Quran and read it with care.
Along with his beautiful voice, Allah gave Dawood the ability to talk with animals and mold iron.
"We made iron mouldable for him." (Surah Saba, 10)
Prophet Dawood's Love for Prayers and Fasting
Prophet Dawood was not just known for his leadership but also for his devotion to worship. He used to fast every alternate day, which is now known as the "fast of Dawood. He also spent a significant part of the night in prayer.
"The most beloved prayer to Allah is the prayer of Dawood, and the most beloved fasts to Allah are the fasts of Dawood. He used to sleep half the night, stand in prayer for one-third of it, and then sleep for one-sixth, and he used to fast every other day.” (Sahih Bukhari 3420)
Now that we know the story of Dawood, let's see what lessons we can learn from all its inspiring aspects!
Islamic Lessons from Prophet Dawood's Story for Children
The life of Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him) is rich with many lessons:
Faith in Allah
Prophet Dawood trusted Allah completely, whether he was a young shepherd or a warrior standing against Jalut. His reliance on Allah teaches us that no challenge is too great when we place our trust in Him.
True courage comes from trusting Allah
Dawood’s courage in the battle against Jalut shows that true strength comes from conviction and faith, not physical power, even when facing seemingly impossible challenges.
You can give real-life examples where courage can shine, like standing up for a friend being bullied or trying something new despite being nervous.
Gratitude
Dawood’s dedication to night prayers and alternate fasting days as a way to show gratitude to Allah serves as a beautiful, inspiring reminder. Despite his royal duties, he would spend part of the night standing in prayer, seeking closeness to Allah.
This reminds us to acknowledge Allah’s blessings and use them to benefit others. Gratitude was at the heart of his worship and life as a leader.
Like Prophet Dawood, we can show our gratitude to Allah by praying and fasting with sincerity. Encourage your kids to say Alhamdulillah for the little things, like food, family, or even a sunny day.
The Simplest role can make a big difference
The story of Prophet Dawood started as a humble shepherd. This teaches us that even the simplest roles in life can make the biggest difference. They shape our characters, teach us responsibility, and prepare us for bigger roles.
Justice and Humility
Despite being the king, Prophet Dawood stayed humble and treated everyone fairly. He resolved disputes with justice and never let power cloud his sense of equality. Tell your kids that true leadership is not about power or status but about serving others with integrity and fairness.
No matter how much success or power we achieve, we must stay grounded and thankful to Allah.
Final words,
Discussing the story of Prophet Dawood with your children and teaching them about it using fun interactive games can keep those lessons alive in their minds. This will strengthen their understanding of Islamic teachings and make them love to hear more inspiring stories of the prophets!
We hope today's story was both inspiring and entertaining; see you next chapter!
