What Special Gifts Did Allah Give Prophet Dawoud?
ما الهبات التي خصّ الله تعالى بها داوود عليه السلام؟
Allah Almighty subjected the mountains and birds to him to echo the hymns. So when Dawoud pbuh praised Allah Almighty, the mountains and birds echoed his Glorification to God. Allah gave him knowledge, and made him skillful at making coats of mail for war. The metal was soft under his hands.
(We guided ˹young˺ Solomon to a fairer settlement, and granted each of them wisdom and knowledge. We subjected the mountains as well as the birds to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with David. It is We Who did ˹it all˺. And We taught him the making of metal coats of mail ˹for battles˺, to protect you in your fighting. Are you then grateful?) Al-Anbiya 21:79-80
(Indeed, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said ˹in acknowledgment˺, “All praise is for Allah Who has privileged us over many of His faithful servants.”) An-Naml 27:15
(Indeed, We granted David a ˹great˺ privilege from Us, ˹commanding:˺ “O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.” We made iron mouldable for him,) Saba 34:10
(Be patient ˹O Prophet˺ with what they say. And remember Our servant, David, the man of strength. Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺. We truly subjected the mountains to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with him in the evening and after sunrise. And ˹We subjected˺ the birds, flocking together. All turned to him ˹echoing his hymns˺. We strengthened his kingship, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment.) Sad 38:17-20
كان داوود يسبح الله وكانت الجبال والطيور يسبحن معه. وكذلك أعطاه الله تعالى علما وكيفية صنع دروع من حديد للحرب. وكان الحديد لينا بين يديه.
قال الله تعالى: (فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ وَكُلًّا آتَيْنَا حُكْمًا وَعِلْمًا ۚ وَسَخَّرْنَا مَعَ دَاوُودَ الْجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحْنَ وَالطَّيْرَ ۚ وَكُنَّا فَاعِلِينَ ﴿٧٩﴾ وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَّكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُم مِّن بَأْسِكُمْ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُمْ شَاكِرُونَ ﴿٨٠﴾) (الأنبياء 21: 79-80)
وقال تعالى: (وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا وَقَالاَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ) (النمل 27: 15)
وقال تعالى: (وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلاً يَاجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ) (سبأ 34: 10)
وقال تعالى: (اصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿١٧﴾ إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِشْرَاقِ ﴿١٨﴾ وَالطَّيْرَ مَحْشُورَةً ۖ كُلٌّ لَّهُ أَوَّابٌ ﴿١٩﴾ وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ ﴿٢٠﴾) (ص 38: 17-20)
1. Mountains and Birds Joining His Praise | الجبال والطير يسبّحن معه
When Dawoud (peace be upon him) glorified Allah in the evening and after sunrise (38:18), the mountains and birds echoed his praise alongside him. This was a sign given specifically to Dawoud, nature itself responding audibly to his worship, distinguishing his relationship with glorification from that of any ordinary worshipper.
كان داوود عليه السلام إذا سبّح الله بالعشي والإشراق سبّحت الجبال والطير معه: (إِنَّا سَخَّرْنَا الْجِبَالَ مَعَهُ يُسَبِّحْنَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِشْرَاقِ) (ص 38: 18). وهذه آية خُصّ بها داوود، إذ كانت المخلوقات تجيب تسبيحه بصوت مسموع، فتميّز بذلك تسبيحه عن تسبيح عامة العابدين.
2. Iron Made Soft in His Hands | حديدٌ أُلين بين يديه
Allah made iron mouldable for Dawoud, letting him shape it into protective coats of armor; early commentators such as al-Hasan al-Basri and Qatada said he did not need to heat it in fire or beat it with a hammer. The Quran frames this ability explicitly as a benefit meant for the people around him, protection in battle, not simply a personal skill or spectacle.
ألان الله تعالى الحديد لداوود عليه السلام فكان يصنع منه الدروع الواقية، وقال بعض السلف، كالحسن البصري وقتادة، إنه لم يكن يحتاج إلى أن يدخله النار أو يضربه بمطرقة. وقد جعل الله تعالى هذه الصنعة منفعة للناس، يتحصّنون بها في الحرب: (وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ صَنْعَةَ لَبُوسٍ لَّكُمْ لِتُحْصِنَكُم مِّن بَأْسِكُمْ) (الأنبياء 21: 80)، لا مهارةً شخصية أو أمرًا يُتعجب منه فحسب.
3. Knowledge Shared With His Son | علمٌ اشترك فيه مع ابنه
Surah An-Naml pairs Dawoud with his son Sulaiman, both given knowledge, and both responding with the same shared gratitude: praise to Allah for favoring them above many of His faithful servants. Naming their response together highlights that this gift, unlike the softened iron, was one father and son held in common.
قرن الله تعالى في سورة النمل داوود بابنه سليمان عليهما السلام، فقد أوتيا العلم كلاهما، وشكرا الله شكرًا واحدًا: (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي فَضَّلَنَا عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ) (النمل 27: 15). وفي ذكر شكرهما معًا بيان أن هذه الهبة، بخلاف إلانة الحديد، كانت مشتركة بين الأب وابنه.
4. A Strengthened Kingdom and Decisive Judgment | مُلكٌ مشدود وفصل الخطاب
Surah Sad closes its list of Dawoud’s gifts with two more: a strengthened kingship, and wisdom paired with “fasl al-khitab,” decisive, clear judgment. This last gift in particular becomes central to Dawoud’s role as a ruler who judged between people, a responsibility explored further in how Allah tested Dawoud in his judging.
وختم الله تعالى ذكر هبات داوود عليه السلام في سورة ص بهبتين: (وَشَدَدْنَا مُلْكَهُ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحِكْمَةَ وَفَصْلَ الْخِطَابِ) (ص 38: 20)، وفصل الخطاب هو الحكم الفاصل البيّن. وهذه الهبة الأخيرة على الأخص أصلٌ في مقام داوود حاكمًا يقضي بين الناس، وهو ما نبيّنه في جواب: كيف امتحن الله تعالى داوود عليه السلام بقضية الخصمين؟
5. Called “The Man of Strength” Who Constantly Returned | ذو الأيد الأوّاب
Before listing any of his miraculous gifts, Surah Sad first describes Dawoud as “the man of strength” who constantly turned back to Allah. Sad 38:17-20 names his strength in worship and his constant turning to Allah first, then the mountains, the birds, his strengthened kingship, wisdom and decisive judgment; the softened iron is mentioned separately, in Saba 34:10.
قبل أن يذكر الله تعالى شيئًا من هبات داوود عليه السلام في سورة ص، وصفه بأنه ذو قوة كثير الرجوع إليه: (وَاذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَا دَاوُودَ ذَا الْأَيْدِ ۖ إِنَّهُ أَوَّابٌ) (ص 38: 17). فذكر في الآيات (ص 38: 17-20) قوته في العبادة ودوام رجوعه إلى الله أولًا، ثم تسخير الجبال والطير، وشدّ مُلكه، والحكمة وفصل الخطاب، وأما إلانة الحديد فذُكرت في موضع آخر (سبأ 34: 10).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What special gift did Dawoud have with the mountains and birds?
They echoed his glorification of Allah in the evening and after sunrise (Surah Sad 38:18).
What craft did Allah teach Dawoud?
Making protective armor, since Allah made iron soft and mouldable in his hands.
Who else received knowledge alongside Dawoud?
His son, Sulaiman (peace be upon him).
What quality does Surah Sad name before listing his gifts?
That he was “the man of strength” who constantly turned back to Allah.
Which verses of the Quran describe these gifts?
Al-Anbiya 21:79-80, An-Naml 27:15, Saba 34:10, and Sad 38:17-20.