RECORD OF THE TRIAL OF DÂUD, U. W. B., ETC.

Allah the Most High has said: ‘Hath the story of the two adversaries come to thy knowledge when they ascended over the wall into the upper apartment, when they went in unto Dâud and he was afraid of them? They said, “Fear not.”’* Some historians inform us that once certain theologians were asserting in the presence of Dâud, that not a day passes among any of the children of Esrâil without their committing sin; but Dâud [boasted], and said to himself: ‘On the day of the altar [i.e., at the time of prayers] I endeavour not to commit any unworthy act,’ wherefore the Sempiternal Will decreed that his lordship should fall into an error. Several chroniclers narrate that the temptation originated as follows: One day Dâud prayed as follows: ‘O Lord, I have read in Thy Book that Thou hast before my time distinguished prophets by precious gifts, nor do I know by the performance of what acts they merited Thy favours, so that I might follow their steps and be rejoiced by Thy sublime presents.’ The allocution then came: ‘I have tried the former prophets with various temptations, during which they have taken hold of the roots of confidence, and have become worthy of numerous favours from Me.’ Dâud said: ‘My God! send me a trial that I may be patient under it, and that I may thereby become worthy of Thy favours.’ Then this revelation from the Lord arrived: ‘O Dâud, thou hast preferred affliction to safety; be therefore on thy guard, for in such and such a month, and on such and such a day, a mis­fortune will befall thee.’ Some have said that the promised day was Monday, the 17th of Rajab. On that day Dâud— u. w. b., etc.—was at the altar of his oratory, engaged in reading the Psalms, when suddenly a bird in the shape of a dove made its appearance. Its body was of gold, its wings of brocade encrusted with pearls; its beak was of red rubies, its eyes of emeralds, and its feet of turquoises. This bird entered the oratory by the window and took up a position near Dâud, who was astonished at its beauty and elegant form. He intended to take it and to present it to his youngest son, which would be a source of joy and pleasure; but when he stretched out his hand to catch it the bird receded a little, whereon his lordship, becoming oblivious of his duty to God, left off reading the Psalms and arose to pursue the dove, which, however, flew out by the window. Hereon Dâud ascended to the roof and looked in all directions to see where the bird had gone; after a while he perceived it soaring in the direction of the garden of Aoria’ [Uriah]. When Dâud approached the edge of the roof he cast a glance into the said garden, and his blessed eyes alighted on a handsome woman who was bathing on the brink of a tank.* When that modest woman perceived the reflection of the figure of a man in the water, she scattered her hair in such a manner that it covered her whole stature. When his lordship returned to the oratory, he felt an inclination [to know the woman]. He therefore sent two men of his confidants to make inquiries about the lady, and they brought him the information that she was the spouse of Aoria’, who happened at that time to be engaged in the retinue of Thoâb [Joab], the son of Dâud’s sister, in besieging a fortress in the direction of Balqâr. The Lord Dâud thereon sent a message to Thoâb to despatch Aoria’ with the ark of tranquillity to the gate of the fort, to combat the enemies of the religion, and to conquer the citadel. At that time it was customary that everyone who occupied the foremost rank in a battle with the ark of tranquillity either carried the day or was slain. When Thoâb com­municated the contents of this injunction to Aoria’ he was one of the champions, and hastened to attack the garrison of the fort, which he succeeded in conquering. Thoâb despatched the news of the victory to Dâud, who again sent word to detach Aoria’ for beleaguering another place. Thoâb complied. Aoria’ took the fort again, but was killed on the next occasion.*

According to some traditions Aoria’ had lost his life in the first battle, but other verifiers and commentators assert that Thoâb’s sending Aoria’ into war and bloodshed is an imputation attributed to Dâud by inventors [of falsehoods], because prophets are not liable to such follies and attempts [upon the lives of innocent men]. The sin of Dâud con­sisted, however, in harbouring in his mind the intention of marrying the wife of Aoria’, in case he should fall in battle. According to another opinion his lordship’s sin was that he had asked Aoria’ to divorce his spouse, which he, however, refused to do; but afterwards went of his own accord to attack the obstinate and rebellious, whereby he lost his life in battle. After this event his lordship the prophet waited for the time of the expiration of the mourning, and desired to marry the widow, who sent him the reply that she assented, on the condition that the first son to whom she might give birth should become the heir apparent and successor of Dâud. His lordship agreed, married the lady, and begat with her Sulimân, who became a prophet and king after Dâud, as will—if it pleaseth Allah—be narrated in these pages in detail.

When a considerable time had elapsed after this event, Dâud was not aware of having committed an error, until God the most High and Magnificent vouchsafed to admonish him for his sin as follows: One day his lordship was engaged in his oratory in devotions and reading the Psalms, whilst several thousand individuals were watching him. He had, however, on that day issued orders that, except his body-guard at the door of the oratory, no one should be admitted to his presence; a great crowd had, nevertheless, assembled, and he thought the people could not have entered without permission or on account of some unpropitious event, but [two men approached him and] ‘they said, Fear not, we are two adversaries [who have a controversy to be decided]. The one of us hath wronged the other; wherefore judge between us with truth, be not unjust, and direct us into the even way.’* Dâud asked about the quarrel, and one of them replied: ‘This is my brother; he has ninety-nine sheep, and I had only one ewe, and he said: “Give her to me to keep”; and he prevailed against me in the discourse which we had together.’ Dâud answered: ‘Verily he hath wronged thee in demanding thine ewe [as an addition] to his own sheep; and many who are concerned together [in business] wrong each other, except who believe, and do that which is right; but how few are they!’* When Dâud had finished these words, the two men looked at each other, smiled, and said, ‘The man has judged his own self,’ and immediately dis­appeared from his sight. Dâud now knew that they were angels, who had admonished him for his fault, of which he was now convinced; therefore he repented and implored God for pardon. It is said that during forty days and nights he was prostrated in adoration, without raising his head, except in prayer and to renew his sacred ablutions.* He wept so much that grass grew around the place from the tears of his eyes. Whilst he was crying and suppli­cating he heard the words: ‘O Dâud,’ to which he replied: ‘I hear and obey, O Lord.’ Then the allocution came: ‘I have pardoned thy sin, and passed over thy transgres­sion. “Wherefore we forgave him this [fault], and he shall be admitted to approach near unto us, and [shall have] an excellent place of abode [in paradise].”’* His­torians have related, and the responsibility rests with them, that after the lamentations and supplications of Dâud had been protracted beyond all bounds, Jabrâil arrived and brought him the glad tidings of his pardon. Dâud then raised his head from adoration and said: ‘O Lord, though Thou hast forgiven my sin, and drawn the line of pardon over the volume of my crime, I do not know how I shall be able to meet Aoria’ on the day of the resurrection. I have injured him by exposing him to danger, and by marrying his wife. Thou art a righteous judge, but what will be my condition if Aoria’ quarrels with me in Thy presence?’ Wuhub Bin Muniah narrates that when Dâud represented his case at the Palace of Self-existence the allo­cution came: ‘Go to the tomb of Aoria’ and crave his pardon, for I shall resuscitate him.’ Dâud obeyed, went to the sepul­chre and exclaimed: ‘O Aoria’!’ The latter replied: ‘Who is awakening me from my sleep and interrupting my delight?’ His lordship said: ‘I am Dâud.’ Aoria’ then asked: ‘O prophet of Allah, what is the reason of thy coming to this place?’ Dâud said: ‘Pardon me for what I have done to thee.’ Aoria continued: ‘What is it?’ Dâud rejoined: ‘I have sent thee to the war, and therefore thou hast been killed.’ Aoria’ said: ‘I thank thee, because on that account I am now dwelling in the gardens of paradise.’ Dâud returned comforted and joyous from the grave of Aoria’, whereon the allocution reached him: ‘O Dâud, I am a righteous judge. To crave only pardon is not sufficient; thou oughtest to have explained to him the whole case.’ There­fore Dâud again went to the tomb of Aoria’, and after calling him, he asked: ‘Who is it again disturbing my sleep?’ His lordship replied: ‘I am Dâud!’ Aoria’ rejoined: ‘O prophet of Allah, why hast thou come again?’ He said: ‘I have come that thou mayest forgive me.’ Aoria’ replied: ‘I have forgiven thee before.’ Dâud con­tinued: ‘I have sent thee to the war, to cause thee to drink the beverage of martyrdom, that I might take posses­sion of thy wife.’ Aoria’ gave no reply, although Dâud repeated these words thrice; therefore he despaired and began near the tomb to throw dust on his own head, saying: ‘Woe to Dâud on the day when all the weights will be righteously adjusted! Woe to Dâud on the day when the oppressed will obtain justice against the oppres­sors! Woe to Dâud on the day when he will be dragged to hell in the company of sinners!’ Whilst thus lamenting and wailing, Dâud heard the words: ‘O Dâud, I have pardoned thee!’ Dâud said: ‘O Lord, Thou art a par­doner of crimes, but Aoria’ does not forgive me.’ Then the allocution came: ‘O Dâud! how can Aoria’ on the day of the resurrection quarrel with thee, after I bestow upon him the blessings of paradise, hûris and palaces, when he will be pleased with thee, and will place the ledger of enemity upon the balcony of oblivion?’ Dâud said: ‘Now I know that Thy pardon has reached me, and no apprehension remains in my mind concerning Aoria.’ Accredited historians have stated that after this event Dâud lived thirty years more, during the whole of which time his penetrating mind was in a state of perpetual melancholy and repentance.

It is the opinion of some that his lordship obtained the gift of the above-mentioned chain after the pardon of his fault, and that, having fixed it on a mountain near the Holy House, he decided by means of it judicial cases among the people with righteousness, and that the strata­gem above alluded to likewise took place during the life­time of Dâud. After the disappearance of the chain, Dâud besought the Lord God to grant him means to enable him to distinguish an oppressor from an oppressed individual, and a guilty from an innocent man; whereon the Absolute Sage sent him the revelation to decide the cases of His servants by means of witnesses and oaths.