ABSTRACT
Al-Tha‘labc’s story of David’s caliphate (18 pages of the 1985 Beirut edition of al-Tha‘labc, some 7,400 words) opens with a composite account from experts on tales of the prophets, explaining how David came to be king after Saul’s death (with reference to Q. 38:26 and Q. 2:251), and providing his genealogy along with his distinguishing characteristics (illustrated by a oadcth on blue eyes) and a list of God’s gifts to him: the psalms (with reference to Q. 4:162) and related blessings (with reference to a number of oadcth); the subservience of the mountains and the birds (with reference to Q. 34:10 and Q. 21:79), with illustrating anecdotes (one unascribed, citing Q. 38:13, and one from Ibn ‘Abbas); wisdom, judicial insight (Q. 38:20, the meaning of which is discussed via the opinions of Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn Mas‘ed, al-oasan, ‘Alc b. Abc ralib and Ziyad), and the chain of judgement (a lengthy account of Ibn ‘Abbas’, to which al-Tha‘labc adds his own comments, and an anecdote featuring ‘Umar b. al-Khayyab); strength of worship (Q. 38:17), strength of power (Q. 38:20, with comments from al-oasan, Ibn ‘Abbas and al-Suddc, and a lengthy anecdote from Ibn ‘Abbas), and bravery; and the softening of iron (with explanatory narrative, reference to Q. 21:80 and Q. 34:10, and details of an encounter between David and the prophet Luqman).
