RECORD OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF DÂUD [DAVID], THE SON OF AISHA.* HIS GOING TO FIGHT JALÛT, WITH HIS HAPPY AND VICTORIOUS RETURN FROM THE BATTLE-FIELD.

Dâud was a prophet and a descendant of Yahuda, the son of Ya’qûb. According to a tradition, Aisha had thirteen sons, the youngest of whom was Dâud, and also the smallest in stature. By the advice of his father he always carried about a sling, a bag full of stones, and a shepherd’s staff. It is related that one day he said to his father: ‘Every­thing which the stone of my sling hits is killed.’ Aisha said: ‘It appears that God—w. n. b. e.—has appointed thy fortune to depend upon thy sling.’ On another occasion Dâud said: ‘I have in yonder dale seen, in a vision, a lion who was tame. I mounted him, took him by the ears, and he obeyed me.’ His father replied: ‘It appears that the Gracious Lord will subject a man of high station to thy power.’ On another occasion he said to his father: ‘When I am walking about in the mountains, and praising God, they likewise do so.’* Aisha replied: ‘This is good news, for the boundless and disinterested Bestower will grant thee benefits and signs.’

Several historians have related that when Tâlut was ordered to wage war against Jalût, Shamuil had received the divine revelation that one of the sons of Aisha would slay Jalût, and that if the horn containing the holy oil were placed upon his head it would flow out, and become stationary thereon, in the form of a diadem; and that a certain cuirass would fit his body, being neither too small nor too large for it. Shamuil then went to the house of Aisha, who presented to him his twelve sons. They were all young, well-shaped, and beautiful. One, however, being superior to all the others in freshness, height, and strength, Shamuil imagined that this youth would probably become the destroyer of Jalût, but the following Divine allocution reached him: ‘O Shamuil! thou selectest the people according to their comeliness and beauty; I, however, choose my servants according to the purity of their hearts.’ Shamuil prayed, and said: ‘O Lord, I have tried the sons of Aisha, and have not found among them the promised individual.’ Then the revelation came: ‘He has yet another son, and to whom that important matter will be entrusted.’ Shamuil then said to Aisha: ‘Produce also thy last son.’ The father replied: ‘I have no other son.’ Shamuil con­tinued: ‘The Lord, who knows what is patent and what is concealed, has informed me that thou hast another son.’ Aisha said: ‘I have a little son, but on account of his small stature, blue eyes, and want of beauty, I do not consider him to be a man. Now he is engaged in yonder place pasturing the sheep.’ Shamuil went to the locality, arrived in a valley abundantly provided with water, and there perceived Dâud, taking up two sheep at a time and crossing the water with them. Shamuil now perceived by the light of prophecy that in this individual the promise would be fulfilled. He therefore accosted Dâud with a salutation, placed the above-mentioned oil on his head,* and dressed him in the coat of mail; the former over­flowed its vessel, fixed itself on the youth’s head in the shape of a crown, and the latter perfectly fitted his august body. After that Shamuil asked Dâud whether he had in these days experienced anything strange. He replied: ‘One of these days I heard a stone saying: “O Dâud! I am the stone of Harûn; with me he has killed such and such an enemy. Take me up, for I shall be of use to thee.” From another stone I also heard the following words: “I am the stone of Mûsa; with me he has slain such and such an enemy.” In the same manner I heard also another stone say: “I am the stone of Dâud, and by means of me he will kill Jalût.” Then the two other stones again said: “We shall assist thee to kill Jalût.” His own stone then said: “When thou meetest Jalût place me into thy sling, throw me at him, and I shall prostrate him;” and when I placed these three stones into my bag they became one stone.’ When Shamuil had heard these words, he said: ‘Be of good cheer, Dâud, because the royal and the prophetic dignity of the people of Esrâil has fallen to thy share; thou must, however, conceal this information, and reveal it to no one.’

Some accredited historians have, however, narrated this story in their books in another manner, informing us that Aisha had with his twelve sons been in the army of Tâlut, and that Dâud was preparing some food, when he was all of a sudden addressed by a stone as follows: ‘O Dâud, take me up! I am the stone of Esahâq, and by my assistance he has killed such and such an enemy; I shall slay also Jalût.’ Dâud took it up and placed it into his bag, but after he had walked a few steps he heard another voice from a stone as follows: ‘O Dâud, take me up! I am the stone of Ya’qûb; he has killed such and such an enemy with me.’ This stone he likewise took, and placed it near the first one. After a short while he again heard a voice from another stone, thus: ‘O Dâud, take me up! for I am the stone of Ebrahim. By means of me he has killed his enemies.’ Dâud then picked up this stone also and placed it in his bag. When he arrived in the camp he perceived a herald, who shouted: ‘The king says, Whoever will come forward and slay Jalût in single combat shall obtain my daughter for a spouse, and become my partner in the government.’ After hearing these words Dâud said to his brothers: ‘Why does not one of you attack Jalût, and kill him, and become the son-in-law of the king?’ His brothers replied: ‘Thou art but a senseless fool, and therefore thou speakest thus! Knowest thou not that no one is able to meet and to fight Jalût?’ Dâud rejoined: ‘I shall enter the lists with Jalût, and slay him.’ His brothers replied: ‘Be silent! for thou art void of the ornament of intellect.’ Dâud then approached the herald without the leave of his brothers, and said: ‘Inform the king that I am the man who will attack Jalût, and will exterminate him.’ The herald went to the foot of Tâlut’s throne and informed him that no one had accepted the challenge to fight Jalût, except a boy of the children of Esrâil. The king then ordered Dâud to be brought forward, and examined his lordship, who replied: ‘O king, if thou wilt keep thy promise, I shall this moment conquer Jalût and his army!’ Tâlut, being astonished at this offer, asked: ‘How wilt thou, who hast a despicable body and a weak stature, obtain the strength to resist Jalût, who is a valorous man of strong body?* Hast thou ever tried to strike or pierce?’ He replied: ‘When I was pasturing the sheep sometimes a wild beast, such as a lion or tiger, attacked my flock, but I tore the body of my enemy to pieces by the strength of my fist without the assistance of sword or knife.’ When Tâlut perceived that Dâud was determined to fight Jalût he provided him with a horse and cuirass, and sent him to attack Jalût. It is said that this coat of mail was the same which Shamuil had given to Tâlut, with the informa­tion that he whom it fitted perfectly would kill Jalût; and as it suited Dâud excellently, Tâlut was greatly pleased. After that sublime youth had mounted the horse and had progressed a few paces, he returned, alighted, and sent the horse with the cuirass to the king, who with his courtiers then imagined that the boy was awed by Jalût, and had repented of his intention to fight him. Tâlut accordingly called Dâud, and asked why he had returned the horse and the arms. His prophetic lordship, however, replied: ‘I am not accustomed to fight with accoutrements and arms.* If you will allow me I shall enter the lists in my own way, and shall fight in that manner.’ The king said: ‘Take thy choice.’ Therefore Dâud went with his sling bag, and staff to meet Jalût, who asked him for what purpose he had come. Dâud replied: ‘I have come to fight and to kill thee.’ Jalût asked by way of sarcasm: ‘With what arms wilt thou fight me? Strike me with all thy might with this staff.’* Dâud pointed to his sling, and after some conversation put his blessed hand into the bag and drew forth the three stones which had become one, placed them into the sling, projected them at Jalût and opened his mouth, praising the Benign Sovereign. On that occasion the angels, beasts, birds, and trees united with him in magnifying God,* so that the whole universe resounded. The enemies heard terrible voices; fear and trembling overwhelmed their hearts, and a vehement storm commenced to blow, which took off the helmet from Jalût’s unhallowed head, though, according to tradition, it weighed one hundred and twenty pounds. The stone [thrown by Dâud] was in the air divided into three pieces, one of which struck the forehead of Jalût, passed through the brain, came out at the back of his head, and he fell from his horse. The remaining [two] stones sped towards the right and the left [flank of the army], and the opponents of the religion were put to flight, the children of Esrâil pursuing them with the pitiless sword. Dâud approached the corpse of Jalût, separated its head from the body, and brought it to Tâlut,* throwing it to the ground in front of him. The adherents of monotheism greatly rejoiced, and returned victoriously to their own country. After the expiration of a few days Dâud requested Tâlut to fulfil his promise; as the king had already repented thereof he was displeased with the words of Dâud, but nevertheless said to him: ‘I am determined to keep my word, but the marriage portion of my daughter is quite different from that of other persons, and consists of something particular.’ Dâud inquired what it was to be, and Tâlut replied: ‘Thou must cut out the tongues of three hundred men of the enemies of my exalted monarchy and must bring them here, that I may give thee my daughter.’ Tâlut spoke thus, because he imagined Dâud would be unable to fulfil this condition, and would be slain in the attempt to comply therewith. When, however, Dâud heard these words he started on a warlike expedition, whereon he put to flight an army as numerous as locusts; he also took many captives, and having cut out the tongues of three hundred of them, brought them to Tâlut, who was nevertheless reluctant to fulfil his agreement with Dâud, until the elders of the children of Esrâil, with Shamuil, went to Tâlut and reproached him greatly, whereon he was under the necessity of bestowing one of the inmates of his chamber of modesty for a consort upon the Lord Dâud, whose praises were in the mouths of the high and the low, so that all the children of Esrâil obeyed and loved him; but for this reason the flames of envy were kindled in the breast of Tâlut;* as long, however, as Shamuil was alive, he felt restrained from giving vent to his ire, but after the demise of his lordship, the king said to one of his sons: ‘Slay Dâud,* because I fear the dominion and government will be trans­ferred from our to his family.’ The son objected, saying: ‘How could we act thus, considering the obligations under which we are toward Dâud?’ This remark, however, proved to be useless, and the father persisted in his wrath and rancour; therefore the son informed his sister that the king intended to kill David, and that she was to warn the latter to be on his guard. After that Tâlut consulted his intimate ministers concerning the murder of Dâud, and they assured him that it might be easily accomplished with the assistance of Dâud’s wife. Tâlut accordingly hastened to the house of his beloved daughter, and said to her: ‘Thy father has a wish which may be fulfilled with thy aid and co-operation.’ The daughter asked: ‘What is it, that I may employ my best efforts to accomplish thy will?’ The king said: ‘It is the murder of thy husband Dâud.’ The daughter answered: ‘I dread, lest Dâud become aware of thy intention, and, girding the loins of enmity, destroy thee.’ Tâlut rejoined: ‘Thou lovest thy consort more than me, and therefore thou agreest not with me to remove him.’ The daughter continued: ‘By a stratagem we may attempt to destroy Dâud, and I shall inform your majesty when the first opportunity presents itself.’ After hearing these words, Tâlut departed joyfully to his castle; that faithful wife, however, informed her husband of the danger, and put him on his guard; and with his approbation she placed shortly afterwards a leather bag, equal to him in length and full of wine, into his bed on a certain night, dressed in the garments of his lordship.* Then she hastened to her father, and said: ‘I have given much wine to Dâud; now he is asleep in his bed.’ It is said that in their religion the drinking of wine was not forbidden. As soon as Tâlut had received the above information he rejoiced at the opportunity, approached the couch of David with an excellent sword, and struck it with such force that he cut the garments and the leather bag in twain, so that a few drops of wine were squirted into the face of Tâlut, and he exclaimed: ‘May Allah have mercy on Dâud for having been so intemperate in drinking wine.’ There are various traditions that the repentance of Tâlut dated from this act, whilst according to others he never repented at all, but according to some he did so near the end of his life; some of these only will be narrated, lest this recital should become too long.

Some say that as Tâlut imagined he had slain Dâud he immediately repented, and intended to commit suicide by throwing himself on his own sword; his daughter, however, hindered him, and asked for the motive of such a rash deed? Tâlut answered: ‘I repent having killed Dâud, and as I know the children of Esrâil will slay me in return, and that I have incurred the wrath of the Mighty Avenger, I shall kill myself with my own hand as an expiation for my crime.’ When the daughter beheld the weeping and distress of her father, she said: ‘Be not dismayed, for Dâud is alive.’ Tâlut then went aside, and his daughter called Dâud, who issued from his hiding-place and said to Tâlut: ‘I knew that Satan had seduced thee to commit this act; I forgive thee, but if God punishes thee for it I shall not be responsible.

It is narrated according to accredited traditions, that when Tâlut imagined he had slain Dâud, he returned from his daughter’s house to his own castle, and sat down with a relieved mind. The night after this event, Dâud— u. w. b., etc.—came to the couch of Tâlut, and fixed one of his arrows at the head, and another at the foot of it, as well as a third arrow on the left side thereof; then he immediately departed. When it was morning Tâlut awoke from his sleep, recognised the arrows, and knew that Dâud was alive. He then heaved a deep sigh from his sorrowful heart, and said: ‘The Almighty will pardon Dâud because he is more noble-minded and better than myself, because I have, with the intention of overcoming him, causelessly meditated his death, and he, who, after this my crime, has overcome me, nevertheless spared my life.’

After this event Dâud kept himself concealed, and roamed about secretly in the town and the desert, but the spouse of his lordship spread the rumour of her husband’s death among the people. It is related that one day Tâlut discovered Dâud in the plain, and tried to overtake him on horseback; the latter, however, with whom [even] the ambling nag of the sphere was unable to cope in celerity, began to run, and disappeared from the sight of the tyrant, obtaining refuge in a cave, over the entrance of which a spider had, by divine command, stretched her net at that very moment. A short time afterwards Tâlut reached the cavern, but, seeing the cobweb, returned disappointed and hopeless. After that he sent spies in pursuit of Dâud, but, attracted by these and similar blameworthy deeds, the Jewish divines and priests then prohibited him from injuring Dâud. For this reason Tâlut was overpowered with anger, and issued orders for the extermination of the nobles of the kingdom. The ignorant, who were constantly boasting of their enmity towards the learned, then killed them wherever they could find them. They went even so far as to bring a woman who possessed some instruction, and to whom the ineffable name of God—whose majesty be magnified—had been revealed, into the presence of Tâlut, who delivered her to an official for execution; he, however, unwilling to carry out the sentence upon the unfortunate woman, concealed her in his house. Some time afterwards Tâlut repented of his deeds, became peni­tent, wandered every night into cemeteries with wailings and lamentations, saying: ‘Who knows whether the repentance of a disobedient servant like myself has been accepted or not?’ Then he heard a voice as follows: ‘O Tâlut, thou hast done what thou hast done, and hast taken mortal vengeance on the learned and the priests of the children of Esrâil; now, however, thou hast come to distress us, and allowest not the dead to take their rest! How is it that the living and the dead are suffering at thy hands?’ The grief and sorrow of Tâlut were aug­mented by these words, so that he was in agonies of distress. The above-mentioned official, being moved by pity for him, once asked: ‘What is ailing thee, O king?’ He answered: ‘I repent of my crimes, but I know not whether my penitence is accepted or not. If thou knowest one learned man who has been left alive in the realm, lead me to him, that we may inquire from him concerning the truth of the case.’ The official replied: ‘Thy case is like that of the king who arrived in his travels at a village where a cock was crowing at an improper time. The potentate became angry, and issued orders to kill all the cocks in that village, which were duly executed. At bed­time the king said: “Awaken me when the cock crows, that we may depart from this place.” One of the courtiers, however, said: “O king! this is impossible, because in thy wrath thou hast not left one single cock alive, that we might awaken thee by his crowing.”’ The anxiety of Tâlut increased at these words, and after he had made a solemn promise to the official that he would hereafter not commit any such deeds, the latter informed him that the woman whom he had formerly ordered to be killed was yet alive. Tâlut then met her and asked her whether his repentance had been accepted or rejected? The old woman replied: ‘I do not know; we will, however, go to the tomb of Shamuil, and may possibly obtain a reply there concerning this important matter.’ Accordingly Tâlut went with the old woman and the official to the sepulchre of Shamuil, where she offered her prayers, and, craving intercession through the ineffable name, said: ‘O tenant of this grave, come forth from it by the permission of the Most High!’ Shamuil then arose from the sepulchre, shook off the dust from his head, face, and body, manifested his astonishment on beholding these three persons, and asked: ‘Has perchance the day of the resurrection dawned?’ They replied: ‘No. But Tâlut has a great matter in hand, by which he is greatly troubled. He desires to inquire from thee whether his repentance is accepted or not.’* Shamuil asked: ‘O Tâlut, what hast thou committed after my decease?’ He replied: ‘O prophet of Allah! there is no blameworthy act which I have not committed.’ Then he narrated all he had done. Shamuil asked: ‘How many sons hast thou?’ He replied: ‘I have ten brave and valiant children. Shamuil con­tinued: ‘Thy penitence will be accepted if thou consentest to abdicate royalty, to abandon the government, and to engage in a religious war, together with thy sons, until they are killed before thee, and thou quaffest the unsavoury beverage of their calamity. After that thou must fight until thou likewise attainest the dignity of martyrdom.* If thou doest all I have told thee, it is possible that the Lord Most High will pardon thee, and will have mercy on thee.’ Uttering these words, Shamuil returned to his grave and to his former condition. Tâlut went home, and his grief was augmented by the thought that his sons would not comply with his wishes. He reposed on the couch of weakness and inability until he one day asked his sons the following question: ‘If your father is taken to hell, will any one of you offer himself as a ransom for him?’ They replied: ‘We are ready to sacrifice our lives for thee; but tell us the reason of thy question.’ Tâlut then informed them of his repentance, and of the advice of Shamuil. The sons replied: ‘Thou wilt perish.’ He said: ‘It is so.’ They continued: ‘After thee we do not wish to live, and we are prepared most willingly to do anything thou mayest command.’ Tâlut was rejoiced at the readiness of his children to obey him; therefore he ordered the doors of his treasuries to be opened, and all the materials of war to be procured. He then started on a warlike expedition, in which his sons were one by one made to taste the draught of martyrdom. At last Tâlut himself attacked the centre of the enemy’s forces, and was likewise slain. After him the government devolved upon Dâud—u. w. b., etc.—for obeying whom the high and the low girded their loins of submission.