The story of young Sulaiman's cleverness when helping his father, Prophet Dawud, decide in a case of sheep damaging a vineyard, and Allah's trial of Dawud through two angels disguised as people in dispute.
The Story of Prophet Dawud and Prophet Sulaiman in Islam
Prophet Dawud had a son named Sulaiman. Sulaiman was an intelligent child and his intelligence was evident from his childhood. Sulaiman reached eleven years of age when this story occurred. Allah said:
"And [mention, O Muhammad], when Dawud and Sulaiman judged concerning the field when the sheep of a people overran it [at night] and We were witness to their judgment. And We gave understanding of the case to Sulaiman. And to each [of them] We gave judgement and knowledge." (QS. al-Anbiya': 78-79)
The Story of Prophet Dawud and Prophet Sulaiman in Islam
As usual, Dawud sat and gave legal decisions to people and resolved their matters. A man who owned a vineyard came to him accompanied by another man. The vineyard owner said to him: "My lord, O Prophet, this male sheep has entered my vineyard and eaten all the grapes in it. I come to you so that you judge between us. And I demand compensation."
Dawud said to the sheep owner: "Is it true that your sheep ate this man's vineyard?" The sheep owner said: "Yes, my lord." Dawud said: "I have decided to give your sheep as compensation for what was damaged by your sheep." Sulaiman said: "Allah has given him wisdom in addition to the knowledge inherited from his father - I have a different judgment, O my father." Dawud said: "Tell me, O Sulaiman." Sulaiman said: "I decide that the sheep owner should take this vineyard whose fruit has been eaten by his sheep. Then he should repair it and plant in it so that new grapevines grow. And I decide that the vineyard owner should take the sheep so that he can benefit from its wool, milk, and meat. If the grapevine has grown large and the vineyard is not damaged or returned to its former state, then the vineyard owner can take back his vineyard and likewise the sheep owner can take back his sheep." Dawud said: "This is a great judgment, O Sulaiman. Praise be to Allah, the Almighty, who has given you this wisdom. You are truly a wise Sulaiman." Prophet Dawud—despite his closeness to Allah and his love for Him—always learned from Allah. Allah taught him not to decide a matter except after hearing the statements of both disputing parties.
Dawud intended to build a "house of rest for the Ark" and "a footstool for Allah," in the form of "the House of Allah." He also made preparations to build it. But Allah said to him: "You will not build a house for My name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." But Allah chose Dawud from among all to be king over the Children of Israel forever. And from among Dawud's sons—because Allah granted him many sons—He chose Sulaiman to sit upon the throne of the Children of Israel. Allah said to Dawud: "Sulaiman, your son, is he who will build My house and My courtyards."
Dawud began the construction of the Sacred House, namely Baitul Muqaddas, which was later completed by his son Sulaiman, which is now the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Until now, the Al-Aqsa Mosque is believed by both Muslims and Jews to be the key to finding the Ark again.
Controversy Between Hebrew and Qur'anic Versions: The Story of Two Quarreling Brothers
Dawud often spent time alone in a special chamber to worship Allah several times a day. One day his peace was disturbed by the arrival of two people who entered his prayer chamber by climbing the wall. Dawud was shocked, but the two explained that they were two brothers who came intentionally to Dawud to settle a dispute between them. One of them said to Prophet Dawud, "My brother has 99 female sheep, while I have only 1 sheep. But he is greedy and wants my only sheep. He defeated me in argument and almost snatched my sheep. What is your opinion, O Dawud?" Prophet Dawud immediately advised them about how a servant who should be grateful for already receiving many blessings, was still jealous of others. Prophet Dawud tended to side with the man who had only 1 sheep, because only that 1 person gave testimony. Prophet Dawud should have listened to the opinion of both parties first. He immediately realized his mistake and prostrated in repentance, asking for forgiveness from Allah.
The two people were angels sent by Allah to test Dawud. It turned out that Prophet Dawud did not listen to the testimony from all parties in the dispute, and that was a grave mistake that he regretted deeply.
The following is the Qur'anic account of this story:
QS. Sad [38]: 21-25
"(21) And has the story of the dispute reached you, [O Muhammad], when they climbed over the wall of [his] prayer chamber?"
"(22) When they entered upon Dawud and he was alarmed by them. They said, 'Fear not. [We are] two adversaries, one of whom has wronged the other, so judge between us with truth and do not exceed bounds and guide us to the sound path.'"
"(23) This is my brother; he has ninety-nine ewes, and I have [only] one ewe; so let me tend it, and let him not oppress me."
"(24) [Dawud] said, 'He has certainly wronged you in demanding your ewe [in addition] to his ewes. And indeed, many partners oppress one another, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds; and few are they...' And Dawud became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and bowed down and turned in repentance [to Allah]."
"(25) So We forgave him that; and indeed, for him is nearness to Us and a good place of return."
There is another popular tafsir of this verse. It is said that the arrival of the angels disguised as two quarreling brothers was to criticize Prophet Dawud who wanted to marry a woman who was still the wife of his military commander, even though Prophet Dawud already had 99 wives.
The Story of Prophet Dawud and Prophet Sulaiman in Islam
However, many scholars consider this tafsir, which comes from Israiliyat reports, to be very weak, because it is not possible that a noble prophet would desire such an evil thing. But the Qur'anic verse above clearly serves as a reminder to Prophet Dawud of a certain mistake, which mistake is the subject of controversy. In the story in the Torah, there is a similar ending to this controversy: Allah rebuked Prophet Dawud, and Prophet Dawud asked forgiveness from Allah, and his sin was forgiven.
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