One day Dawood, his brothers and their father went out to take part in the battle organized by Taloot. But Dawood (a.s.) did not accompany them saying: In what way would it help me from this aspect? The father and brothers of Dawood (a.s.) made fun of him and he began to graze the sheep belonging to his father. When the battle intensified and people faced terrible hardships, the father of Dawood (a.s.) came to him and said: Take some food and provis ions for your brothers so that through it they may be able to defeat the enemies. Dawood (a.s.) was of a short stature and there was scanty hair on his head. But from the aspect of conscience and morals he was absolutely pure. Thus when he came to the battlefield he saw that all the people of his side were close to each other and all of them had returned to their centers. When he passed by a stone it spoke up in a loud voice: “O Dawood, take me with you and through me slay Jaloot. Indeed I have been created to kill him.” So Dawood (a.s.) picked it up and put it in his bag that he used for carrying stones when he was grazing sheep and goats. When he entered the army he found that those people considered Jaloot very great and they thought that it was no use trying to subdue him. So he said: “Why do you consider it a difficult proposition. By Allah if I were to see him, I would slay him.” The people began to discuss about him and at last he was taken to Taloot. Taloot asked him: O young man, how much strength do you posses and how have you tested yourself? Sometime a lion attacks my flock and carries off an animal. So I used to chase the lion, catch it by its head, pry open its jaws to release my animal. Now the Almighty Allah had previously revealed to Taloot that none can slay Jaloot except one who can wear Taloot’s coat of mail with a perfect fit. So he called for his coat of armor and when Prophet Dawood (a.s.) wore it, it fitted him perfectly. Taloot was amazed and so were the people of Bani Israel who were present at the scene. Taloot said: It is hoped that Allah will kill Jaloot through him. When it was morning and the people met him, Dawood (a.s.) said: Show Jaloot to me. When Jaloot was shown to him, he took that stone and shot it at Jaloot. It hit him between the eyes and split his head upto the brain. Jaloot crashed down from his mount. There was a furor in the people that Dawood has killed Jaloot and in this way they made Dawood their king. Gradually the influence of Taloot waned and people gathered around Dawood (a.s.). The Almighty Allah revealed the Psalms upon him, taught him the skill of working iron and made the iron soft for him. Allah ordered the mountains and birds to sing the divine praises with Dawood (a.s.). The Almighty Allah gave him such a melodious voice that no one had ever heard such a voice. He also bestowed him the strength for the worship of God and made him His prophet in Bani Israel.
Hazrat Dawood (as)
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