Shrine of Dawud (a.s)

This is believed to be the tomb of the Prophet Dawud (a.s.) who was the father of the Prophet Sulayman (a.s.). Some historians believe that this is not his tomb but a shrine, to mark the place where he once stayed.

- Dawud (a.s.) is mentioned by name 16 times in the Holy Quran.

- Dawud (a.s.) ruled the Children of Israel [Banu Israil] for forty years, seven years in Hebron (al-Khalil) and thirty-three in Jerusalem, which became known as the City of Dawud.

- In the Bible Dawud (a.s.) [David] commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. Bathsheba becomes pregnant and David sends for Uriah, who is with the Israelite army at the siege of Rabbah, so that he might lie with his wife and so conceal the identity of the child's father. Uriah refuses to do so while his companions are in the field of battle and David sends him back to Joab, the commander, with a message instructing him to abandon Uriah on the battlefield, "that he may be struck down, and die.“

- In Islam Dawud (a.s.) is regarded as one of the great Prophets, to whom the Zabur (Psalms) were revealed by Allah (swt). The Islamic tradition includes many elements from the Jewish history of David, such as his battle with the giant Goliath, but rejects the Biblical portrayal of David as an adulterer and murderer.

- Dawud (a.s.) was the first person skilled in making armour from iron. Allah (swt) mentions in Surah Saba in the Holy Quran:

“And certainly We gave Dawud bounty from Us (and said), ‘O mountains! Repeat Our praises with him, and the birds you too’. And we softened for him iron, (saying) ‘Make wide coats of mail, and measure well the links and do righteous deeds. Surely I am Seer of what you do.” [34:10-11]

- The Prophet (saw) said, “The most loved Salah (prayer) in the sight of Allah is the Salah of Dawud and the most loved of Saum (fasting) in the sight of Allah is the Saum of Dawud. He used to sleep for the first half of the night and offer prayer for one-third of it and sleep (again) for one-sixth of it. And he used to observe fast on alternate days. And when he encountered an enemy he never fled.” [Bukhari]

- Allah (swt) had given him a very sweet voice such as not had been given to anyone before. When he used to recite the Zabur (Psalms) human beings, jinn, birds and animals stood devotedly listening to him.

References:
Atlas of the Quran – Dr. Shauqi Abu Khalili
Al-Quds - Mohammed Abdul Hameed Al-Khateeb
Stories of the Prophets – Ibn Kathir

Note that this entry has been shown for information purposes only. On no account should anybody pray towards a grave or seek supplication through them as this is tantamount to committing shirk, associating partners with Allah (swt).