نبيل العوضي | قصة نبي الله داود و جالوت وسر تابوت بني إسرائيل

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Prophet of Allah, Samuel, was urging the Israelites to enter a new era

We were humiliated and fought all these years

The years of humiliation are done!

Now, he is urging people to fight in the cause of Allah alongside a new king called Saul

The sign is that the Ark returned to them

Therefore, their morale hightened

Thousands were mobilizing under Saul's banner

He was the king who will lead them to victory against their enemies

Who was the enemy?

The Amalekites led by Goliath

Goliath was a strong man

He used to be a criminal and a disbeliever who oppresses people

His objective was defeat the Israelites

He knows that the Israelites are preparing themselves to fight him

The army was ready

It was constituted of 80.000 warriors led by Saul

With them was the Prophet Samuel, peace be upon him

They marched towards Palestine until they reached a river between Jordan and Palestine

They had to cross it to reach their enemy

Here, Saul tested them

He said that Allah, the Almighty, wants to test you with this river

Samuel was with him, of course

How will our test will be regarding the river?

The weather is hot and the road is long alongside the war that we will fight

He commanded them not to drink from the river

They went to the river to stock up and drink

He commanded them not to drink anything

It's a river and we are so thirsty, why can't we drink from the river?

He said that this is Allah's test

Those who drink from the river should not engage in the battle with me

It would be better for him to return

How so? We are thirsty!

He gave them an exception, they have the right to drink one time and if you drink twice you have to go back

They were 80.000

When Saul marched forth with his army,

He was with them on the road

he cautioned: “Allah will test you with a river.

So whoever drinks ˹his fill˺ from it is not with me,

and whoever does not taste it—except a sip from the hollow of his hands—is definitely with me.”

Imagine that 80.000 went to the river, drank the water and ignored the king's command

Imagine that those are going to the battle

They all failed in the test except 4000 people

Those are the only ones who passed the test

More than 70.000 soldiers returned

We don't want you in battle with us

How can you fight Goliath and his army?

He said: I won't fight them with you

"People like you who are cowardly and do not follow orders, I don't want you at all."

"You will weaken the army!"

Imagine!

They all drank ˹their fill˺ except for a few!

Then, he took the few which reached 4000 and crossed the river

He went towards the Amalekites under Goliath's leadership

Goliath was aware that a huge army was going towards him

They were approaching until the two armies faced each other

The people of faith represented by Samuel and Saul

The people of disbelief represented by Goliath

The two armies met

What did the 4000 say when they saw the huge army of Goliath?

they said, “Now we are no match for Goliath and his warriors.”

This is what most of them said

O Saul, do you want us to fight this huge army?

We won't be able to fight them!

We are returning!

“Now we are no match for Goliath and his warriors.”

But those ˹believers˺ who were certain they would meet Allah reasoned,

How many of them?

Nearly 311 or 312 or 315 among the 4000

But those who knew that they would meet God said, “How many a small group has defeated a large group by God’s will. God is with the steadfast.”

That is, the 80.000 became 4000

and of the 4000 only 300 and a few remained

The rest returned saying that this is a form of suicide

Only Saul, Samuel, and 300 and a few

This is the elite that remained from the 80.000

Rather, more than eighty thousand, because those who called to fight were more than eighty thousand

They were gradually eliminated little by little until only this number remained

It would be difficult for 300 to fight Goliath

The battle started

Goliath and his army started to be defeated

When they advanced to face Goliath and his warriors, they prayed,

“Our Lord! Shower us with perseverance, make our steps firm, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”

O Lord make us patient and make our steps firm

Those were the sincere, the 300 and a few

Among them was a righteous man who had 13 child

The youngest of them was a young man who used to be a shepard called David

He was a professional in using the slingshot

The people of Palestine are the best teachers of using the slingshot

He was a professional in using the slingshot

People were using swords, daggers, and spears

However, he was an artist in using the slingshot

When the battle intensified, people went to Saul telling him that they are unable to do anything except one thing

They said that if they were able to kill their leader, they can lose the battle

It's Goliath but who can draw near him to kill him?

Saul asked his small army that he will marry my daughter to anyone who kills Goliath

and he will become my successor

He will marry the daughter of the king

People tried to reach Goliath but they couldn't

He had body guards around him

No one was even able to approach him

The people of faith started to be killed

Suddenly, a young man called David

He wasn't known among people

They do not know even his name

He was the son of a righteous man

He took the slingshot and tried to draw near to Goliath

He took three stones and drew near to Goliath

He took the slingshot and started wrapping it around until he threw a stone which hit Goliath between his eyes

Goliath fell dead because of the strength of the hit

All he needed was one hit

It was a strike from that strong boy

The professional boy who was fighting for Allah's cause using his slingshot hit Goliath between his eyes

People were looking as Goliath fell dead

When he died, the army of disbelievers started to swallow defeat

How many a small group has defeated a large group by God’s will.

The army of the disbelievers started to shaken until the whole army was defeated

You can only hear people saying: David killed Goliath

They began looking for David among people

When they found him, they lifted him up and began to glorify God

David killed Goliath

So they defeated them by Allah’s Will, and David killed Goliath.

At this moment, a new man rose in stature among the Children of Israel,

so much so that even the Prophet of God admired him

It is David: a young, righteous, and strong boy

People started to mention his name

This young man was the reason behind their truimph against the people of disbelief

From that very moment, the Israelites' victories have began

Glory returned to them once again

A new era began, an era of victory, strength, and empowerment

The Ark and the Prophet of Allah were with them

When David grew in age, Saul handed him kingship

David married Saul's daughter

When Saul passed away, David became king

Allah has also appointed him Prophet

The Children of Israel mentioned prophets like Moses and Aaron in their glory, but they did not mention a might like that of David

So they defeated them by Allah’s Will, and David killed Goliath.

And Allah blessed David with kingship and wisdom and taught him what He willed.

This is the way of Allah in creation

Had Allah not repelled a group of people by ˹the might of˺ another, corruption would have dominated the earth,

but Allah is Gracious to all.

A new era started with the Prophet of Allah, David and the Children of Israel

David, peace be upon him, became the king and the prophet over the Children of Israel

He began to erect the state on faith making everyone return to the obedience of Allah, the Almighty

He was strong in his judgement

Strong in truth, in worship, and in religion

And remember Our servant, David, the man of strength. Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.

Allah blessed him with a son called Solomon

Solomon became a boy and began to help his father in his kingship and his ruling

He used to be a genious

David was deeply devoted in worship and abundant in remembrance;

he would sleep for half the night, stand in prayer for a third of it, and sleep for a sixth

He used to fast one day and do not fast the second

and Allah revealed to him a new book called the Zabur (Psalms)

and to David We gave the Psalms.

One of his miracles was that if he passed between the mountains, the mountains would glorify Allah with him,

and even the birds would do so as well

The animals would listen to him, and sometimes they would even echo his praises

How beautiful was the voice of David!

He would chant the Zabur with seventy different voices, each more beautiful than the other

He would chant the Zabur to such an extent that the mountains and birds would echo his praises and listen to him

Look at the joyful scene

We truly subjected the mountains to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with him in the evening and after sunrise.

He used to listen to their praises

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.

He was the best at judging between people, and Allah granted him prophethood

“O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.”

He walks in the valley while reciting the Zabur

Even the Prophet said to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari that he was given a flute from the flutes of the family of David

When he recites the Zabur, the birds flutter above him in the sky to listen and echo his voice

Imagine this scene

“O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.”

How beautiful was the voice of David and how huge was his worship!

How wise and knowledgeable was he!

For hundreds of years, there has not been a king among the Children of Israel

like this strong and decisive one whom Allah granted the power of clear judgment

Allah also granted him other abilities, such that he could soften iron with his hands

We made iron mouldable for him,

He did not need fire; rather, he would melt and soften iron, and this was a miracle from Allah

He would make armor for battle and sell it because he earned his living from his own work

David was not given any money or took from the public treasury; rather, he worked himself and sold the armor

He would take this money to spend on his wives and children

The nails he used in the armor were carefully crafted, as he was an artist in this craft;

he would make them and work with them

He divided his days into three: one day for his family, one day for his worship, and the third day for judging between people

His nights were devoted to Allah, and he would fast one day and break his fast the next

Indeed, We granted David a ˹great˺ privilege from Us,

˹commanding:˺ “O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.”

Even the animals used to listen to him

Even the jinn and humans would stand and listen whenever they heard David

“O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.” We made iron mouldable for him,

instructing: “Make full-length armour, ˹perfectly˺ balancing the links.

And work righteousness ˹O family of David!˺. Indeed, I am All-Seeing of what you do.”

The kingdom of David, peace be upon him, became strong, and Allah made him a vicegerent on Earth

O David, you are not like any other king

You are ruling over all the villages of the Israelites

You must gather all this fragmentation and strengthen every weakness

˹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.”

The court sessions began, and David, peace be upon him, took his seat to judge between the people with his rulings

And with him was the young man who sometimes assisted him; he was a prodigy in judgment and very intelligent

Who was he? It's Solomon who is prepared for another mission after David

How great was the rule and kingship of the Children of Israel in that time!

History has recounted many stories of the court sessions of David, peace be upon him

Among the greatest judges in history are those rulers who judge among people with truth and justice

What if David were to meet with Solomon? How would it be if the two minds came together?

Some stories mention that Solomon corrected his father, emphasizing that judgment should be just

But sometimes Allah would reveal something new to Solomon

One day, two individuals came to David to settle a dispute before him

The plaintiff said, 'O Prophet of Allah, this man has sheep, and I have a vineyard.

He allowed his sheep to enter my vineyard and they destroyed it.'

I want my right, for he has destroyed my harvest and my crops

David ruled that he should take the sheep as compensation for his loss in the harvest

Take the sheep that entered and destroyed your harvest

Then Solomon sat with his father and said, 'O my father, what do you think about giving him another ruling?'

What is it?

Look at the intelligence of Solomon

He said, 'What do you think about allowing the owner of the vineyard to benefit from the milk and wool of the sheep for a while?'

And the owner of the sheep would restore the vineyard to its original state, repair it, and plant it again as it was

The owner of the vineyard will benefit from the sheep during this period, and the owner of the sheep will not lose his sheep

Restore the vineyard to its original state, and then return your sheep afterward

David appreciated this ruling and presented it to both men

And ˹remember˺ when David and Solomon passed judgment regarding the crops

ruined ˹at night˺ by someone’s sheep, and We were witness to their judgments.

Who was the witness of this judgement?

It's Allah, the Almighty

The arbitration was conducted by David and Solomon, peace be upon them

That kingdom experienced a period of glory that had not occurred for hundreds of years

From the days of Moses, Joshua, and Aaron, defeats continued until this period came.

When David finishees his court sessions, he would go to his family or dedicate himself to worship, spending his nights in devotion to Allah

He was among the most devoted people, excelling in recitation, remembrance, and drawing closer to Allah.

We ordered:˺ “Work gratefully, O family of David!”

David, his wives and his children are all worshipping

We ordered:˺ “Work gratefully, O family of David!”

Being grateful for your blessings must be made with worship and nothing else

We ordered:˺ “Work gratefully, O family of David!” ˹Only˺ a few of My servants are ˹truly˺ grateful.

During that time, the rule was strong, monotheism was renewed, and worship among the Children of Israel returned once again

By the sea, not far from Palestine, there was a tribe called Ailah

Ailah experienced a great event and a strange occurrence during the time of David

People were in a new organization, rebuilding the villages of the Children of Israel and returning to the faith once again

Except for this village, where a strange and astonishing event occurred

What happened there? We will hear, God willing.