Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Abbas al-Ummi says: It has reached me that Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) used to say in his supplication: Glory be to You, O Allah! You are my Lord, You are manifest upon Your Throne (in a manner befitting Your majesty), You have cast Your awe over the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth, among the creation the one who fears You the most is the one closest to You. The knowledge of the one who does not fear You is useless! Or (he said) the one who does not obey You is senseless.

Hazrat Abu Abdullah Jadali says: Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) did not raise his head towards the sky for his entire life.

Hazrat Mujahid says: When Dawud (peace be upon him) made a slip, and the state of his slip was such that as soon as he realized it, he disliked it and abandoned it, and never went near it again, then two disputants came to him (with their dispute), and they climbed over the wall and entered the place of worship. When he saw them, he approached them and said: Go away from me, why have you entered like this? The narrator says: They replied: We will speak to you about a small matter, this is my brother, he has ninety-nine sheep and I have (only) one sheep, and he wants to take (that one sheep) from me as well. Upon this, Dawud (peace be upon him) said: By Allah, he deserves that he be split from here to here, meaning from the nose to the chest. The narrator says: That man said: This is Dawud who (so easily) gave a decision. Dawud (peace be upon him) understood that he had been admonished, and he recognized his mistake. So he remained in prostration for forty days and forty nights, and that slip was written on his blessed hand in such a way that he kept seeing it, so that he would not become heedless. (This state of lamentation continued) until so much tall grass grew around him that it covered his head as well. After forty days, he cried out: My forehead has become wounded, my eyes have become dry, but Dawud’s case has not been heard. Then a call was heard: Are you hungry that you should be fed, are you unclothed that you should be clothed, are you oppressed that you should be helped? The narrator says: When he saw that (in this call) his mistake was not even mentioned, he wept so intensely that the grass growing around him also dried up. (When Dawud’s state became like this) then at that time his slip was forgiven. So when the Day of Resurrection comes, their Lord, the Possessor of Majesty, will say to him: Stand before Me. So he will say: O my Lord, my sin (prevents me), my sin. Allah, Glorious is He, will say: Stand behind Me. So he will (again) say: O my Sustainer, my sin (makes me ashamed), my sin. Upon this, Allah, the Most Glorious and Exalted, will say: Come to My feet. So he (peace be upon him) will come to His feet.

Hazrat Abu Al-Ahwas says: Two disputants came to Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) in such a state that one of them was holding the other by the hair.

Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair says: Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) was tested through wisdom.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed Jariri that Dawood (peace be upon him) said: O Jibreel! Which part of the night is the best? Jibreel replied: I do not know this, but I do know that the time just before morning is such that (due to the surge of Allah Almighty's mercy) even the Throne trembles.

Hazrat Khalid Rab'i says: I have been informed that the beginning of the Zabur, which is called the Zabur of Dawood, starts with this sentence: "The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord of Majesty."

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates: Allah, the Exalted, revealed to Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him): Say to the oppressors, do not mention Me, because those who remember Me have a right over Me that I also remember them, and for these (oppressors), My remembrance is that I curse them.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Harith narrates: Allah, the Exalted, revealed to Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) that: Love Me, and love those who love Me, and make Me beloved among My servants. Dawood (peace be upon him) submitted: O my Lord! I love You and I love those who love You, but how can I make You beloved among Your servants? Allah Almighty said: Mention Me before them, for surely when you mention Me, they will speak of good things about Me (and thus, love for Me will be created in their hearts).

Hazrat Ibn Abza says: The Prophet of Allah, Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him), said: Ayub (peace be upon him) was the most forbearing among the people, and the most patient, and the one who suppressed his anger the most.

Hasan says: Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) used to say: O Allah! Do not afflict me with such an illness that renders me completely useless, nor grant me such health that makes me heedless (of the truth), but bestow upon me a state of moderation.

Hazrat Safwan bin Muhriz says: The Prophet of Allah, Dawood (peace be upon him), would sometimes become very sorrowful and would say: I am grieved by the thought of Allah’s punishment, I am grieved by the thought of Allah’s punishment, I am grieved by the thought of Allah’s punishment, I am grieved by the thought of Allah’s punishment; apart from this, I have no other sorrow. The narrator says: One day, in a gathering, the thought of Allah’s punishment came to him, and he was so overcome with wailing and lamentation that he had to leave from there.

Hazrat Thabit says: Whenever Allah’s Prophet Dawood (peace be upon him) would think of Allah’s punishment, every joint of his would slip out of place to such an extent that it would have to be properly set back (through the art of surgery).

Hazrat Buraidah says: If the lamentation of all the people living on the face of the earth is compared to the lamentation of Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) alone, then (the lamentation of those people would not be equal to the lamentation of Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him)).

Hazrat Malik bin Mughul says: In the Zabur (Book) revealed to Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him), it was written: Surely, I alone am the God of all; there is no god except Me. (I am) the King of kings. The hearts of kings are in My control. So, whichever nation persists in obedience to Me, I will make the kings merciful towards them. And whichever nation persists in disobedience to Me, I will make the kings take revenge on them. (So) do not keep busy in speaking ill of the kings, nor turn to them (for your needs), rather turn to Me, I will soften the hearts of the kings for you.

Hazrat Abdur Rahman ibn Abzi narrates: Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) said: For a foolish person to deliver a speech in a gathering of people is like someone standing by the head of a deceased person and singing songs.

Hazrat Ahnaf bin Qais narrates from the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him), he (peace be upon him) said: Indeed, Dawud (peace be upon him) said: O my Lord! Indeed, the Children of Israel ask You by the means of Ibrahim, Ishaq, and Yaqub (three prophets), so make me the fourth among them. He (peace be upon him) said: Upon this, Allah the Exalted revealed to him: O Dawud! Ibrahim was thrown into the fire for My (Oneness being proclaimed), and he was patient over it, and you did not go through this trial. Ishaq had to offer his life as a sacrifice for My (pleasure), and he was patient over it, and this test did not come upon you. And Yaqub, I kept his beloved separated from him, until (from weeping) whiteness came into his eyes, and he was patient over it, and this affliction also did not befall you.

Hazrat Ka'b says: When the time for iftar would come, a fasting person would face the qiblah and say: O Allah! Grant me deliverance from every calamity that is to descend from the sky to the earth tonight. (He would say this) three times. And when the sunlight would begin to spread, he would say: O Allah! Grant me a share in every goodness that is to descend from the sky. (He would also say this) three times. The narrator says: This person was asked (about these words), so he replied: This is the supplication of Dawud (peace be upon him); grant comfort to your tongues with it, and attach it to your hearts.

Hazrat Ibn Abzi says: Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) said: The best assistance in following the religion is ease (in practicing it). Or (he, peace be upon him, said): (The best assistance) is wealth.

Hazrat Mujahid says: Hazrat Dawood (peace be upon him) said: O my Lord! My life has become long, and I have grown old, and my strength has diminished. So Allah Almighty revealed to him: O Dawood! Fortunate is the person whose life is long and whose deeds are good.