The Palace of Prophet Dawud (A.S.)

Of course! Here's your corrected, polished, and expanded version of the story. I’ve kept the language simple and flowing to make it around 1200 words and easy to read:

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# The Palace of Prophet Dawud (A.S.)

Long ago, there was a place called "Shaarayim," which was once part of Jerusalem. Today, it lies in modern-day Israel, about 30 kilometers south of Jerusalem. In 2007, archaeologists made an astonishing discovery there — the ruins of a grand palace. Covering an area of 1,000 square meters, it appeared to have been a large settlement. Evidence showed that this settlement was inhabited around 1020 BCE and was abandoned by 980 BCE.

The settlement was located on a hilltop. During the excavations, researchers uncovered a massive wall surrounding the area, featuring two gates. For seven years, archaeologists studied the site, carefully examining every detail. Finally, they confirmed that the palace belonged to none other than Prophet Dawud (A.S.). His lifetime is recorded between 1040 BCE and 970 BCE.

The Palace of Prophet Dawud (A.S.) was already famous in historical records. Pages of ancient history describe its beauty and grandeur. However, despite these accounts, many people were skeptical. They considered it a myth or an exaggeration. But this archaeological discovery validated the divine scriptures and confirmed the historical reports. The story of how Prophet Dawud (A.S.) came to possess this palace is truly heartwarming.

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In Bethlehem, about ten miles south of Jerusalem, lived a humble shepherd named Jesse (also known as Isha). He had eight sons, and the youngest of them was Dawud (David). From a very young age, Dawud was admired throughout the region for his extraordinary qualities and abilities. His personality was so captivating that anyone who met him was immediately charmed.

He had a fair complexion, handsome features, polite speech, a medium height, brown eyes, and a small bald spot on one side of his head. His inner beauty was even greater than his outward appearance.

Prophet Dawud (A.S.) belonged to the tribe of Judah. His lineage could be traced back to Prophet Jacob (Yaqub A.S.) and ultimately to Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim A.S.). He stood out among the descendants of Ephraim, the son of Prophet Yusuf (A.S.), as he was not only a prophet but also a messenger, a king, and the bearer of a divine book.

He was a master of speech; his words were clear, wise, and filled with meaning. He spent much of his time praising and glorifying Allah. His recitation of the Psalms (Zabur) was so melodious that birds would gather to listen, and mountains would echo back in remembrance of Allah.

Prophet Dawud (A.S.) was married twice. Among his children, the most famous was Prophet Sulaiman (A.S.), who later became a renowned king and prophet himself. Sulaiman (A.S.) was born to his second wife, while from his first wife, Dawud (A.S.) had a son named Absalom (Abshalom).

For his profession, Prophet Dawud (A.S.) was a skilled armor maker. Allah blessed him with a miracle: iron would soften in his hands, allowing him to mold it without the need for a forge or hammer. His era came about 500 years after Prophet Musa (A.S.) and approximately 1,200 years before Prophet Isa (A.S.). Allah also granted him the divine book "Zabur," a book filled with songs of praise and guidance.

In the final years of his life, Prophet Dawud (A.S.) worked on constructing the sacred Temple in Jerusalem, a project that would later be completed by his son, Prophet Sulaiman (A.S.). He passed away during this blessed project.

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Prophet Dawud (A.S.) was incredibly skilled in the use of a sling. He always carried a staff, a sling, and a pouch filled with stones. Such was his bravery that he could even ride lions, grabbing them by their ears, and they would submit humbly before him.

One day, while passing through a forest, a remarkable event occurred. A stone called out to him, saying, "O Dawud! I am the Stone of Aaron (Harun A.S.). Harun struck a man with me. Take me; I will be useful to you." Dawud (A.S.) picked up the stone and continued walking.

After a short distance, another stone called out, "I am the Stone of Musa (A.S.). Musa killed a man with me. Keep me; I will serve you well." Dawud (A.S.) picked it up and placed it in his pouch.

Soon after, a third stone spoke, "I am the Stone of Dawud (A.S.), and I will be used by you to kill Goliath (Jalut)." Dawud (A.S.) picked up this stone too, placing it carefully with the others.

At that time, Goliath was a fearsome giant — a tyrant who terrorized the people across the lands of present-day Israel and Palestine. He was known for his cruelty and especially hated the Israelites. The king of the Israelites and his ministers were desperate to find a way to rid their land of Goliath’s oppression.

One wise advisor suggested, "Your Majesty, announce that whoever kills Goliath shall be granted half of the kingdom." The king approved, and the announcement spread quickly.

When Dawud (A.S.) heard the news, he remembered the blessed stones he had collected. He confidently approached the town crier and declared that he would fight Goliath.

The town crier quickly informed the king, who summoned Dawud (A.S.) to his court. After meeting him, the king was amazed by Dawud’s courage and faith. He agreed to allow him to face Goliath.

The Israelites and Philistines prepared for battle. Upon seeing Goliath’s monstrous form and heavy armor, many Israelites grew fearful and refused to fight. But Dawud (A.S.) remained calm and full of faith.

Goliath stepped forward from the Philistine ranks, fully armored, challenging anyone who dared to face him. Dawud (A.S.) stepped out from the Israelite side, armed only with his sling and his faith in Allah.

He took one of the blessed stones, placed it in his sling, and swung it with great force. The stone flew straight and true, striking Goliath’s forehead with immense power. Goliath stumbled and fell, lifeless, to the ground.

The Israelites were stunned for a moment, but then they cheered and rushed forward, defeating the Philistines completely. True to his promise, the king awarded Dawud (A.S.) half of his kingdom and married his daughter, Aniyah, to him.

Thus, Dawud (A.S.) became king, and the palace he lived in was the very one discovered by archaeologists thousands of years later.

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The ruins of this ancient palace send a profound message to the world: nothing in this world lasts forever. If even the grand palace of a prophet could not withstand the passage of time, what significance do the palaces of today's rulers truly hold?

Since reading about the discovery of Prophet Dawud’s (A.S.) palace, I often think: pictures of these ruins should be displayed inside the luxurious palaces of modern rulers — a reminder that no matter how grand their empires may seem, time spares no one.

**Request for prayers.**