The discourse below was a question I asked and the answer given by alfarouq. However, I could not continue because the thread was moved to the Islamic section. Hence I copied it here so that the respondent (and others who may want to join in) can bring their input.




Scholar8200:
alfarouq, pls answer, according to the Quran, who did God give the Psalms?

alfarouq:
One of the divine Books that Allah (Glory be to Him) revealed, which contains light and guidance, is the Zaboor (Psalms). The Zaboor is a Book of God which He (Glory be to Him) revealed to Prophet Dawood (David). Allah (Glory be to Him) has said in the Holy Quran, (وأتينا داود زبورا) “Wa atayna Dawood Zaboora” (And to David we gave the Psalms) [4:163] So what is the Zaboor (Psalms)? How does it look like? And where can we find it?



As we mentioned, the Psalms is a Book from God which He (Glory be to Him) revealed to His Prophet David (Peace be upon Him). As for how this book looks like, it is divided into parts or chapters referred to as “Mazameer” [single tense is Mazmoor (Psalm)]. Each Mazmoor (Psalm) is designated a number, beginning at one and ending at 150. As for why these chapters were named Mazameer (Psalms), it is because Prophet David (Peace be upon Him) used to intone the Mazameer (Psalms) in a regulated tone and in a clear and beautiful voice that was filled with sorrow, while he was weeping out of humility. The mountains and birds used to recite Tasbeeh (glorification) and submit to Allah (Glory be to Him) along with him, as Allah (Glory be to Him) states in the Quran:

(ولقد أتينا داود منا فضلً يا جبال أوبي معه والطير وألنا له الحديد) “Wa laqad atayna Dawood menna fadlan ya jebaal aweby ma’aho wal tayr wa Alana laho al hadeed” (We endowed David with blessings from us: ‘O mountains, submit with him, and you too, O birds.’ We softened the iron for him.) [34:10] He (Glory be to Him) also said, إنا سخرنا الجبال معه يُسبحن بالعشي والإشراق. والطير محشورة كلٌ له أوابُ) (“Inna sakharna al jebaal ma’aho yosabehna bil ashey wal eshraaq. Wal tayr mahshooraton kolon laho awaab” (We committed the mountains in his service, glorifying with him night and day. Also the birds were committed to serve him; all were obedient to him.” [38:18-19]

As for the Zaboor (Psalms), it composed of a collection of prayers, supplications, invocation, in addition to wisdom, admonition, teachings, glorification, veneration, and grateful praise to Allah (Glory be to Him). It also mentions and enumerates His signs and bounties, as well as containing some stories of past events and prophecies to come. As is the tradition of divine inspirations in every Book, these prophecies are not direct and they are mysterious and vague to a certain degree. They take the form of hints, clues, pointers, metaphors, and allegories. It often requires a lot of analysis, thought, comprehension, intelligence, religious, historical, and common knowledge in order to fully understand these prophecies and make correct deductions from them. This applies to all the prophecies of divine revelations. It is not permissible to simply imitate and copy others without recognition, deep understanding, and study that is based on the intellect, knowledge, and logical reasoning. If you successfully analyze a prophecy and reach the correct conclusion, if the prophecy was already fulfilled in the past, this should increase your faith in Allah (Glory be to Him), His Messengers, His Revelations, and the Day of Judgment. This will be a great blessing from Allah (Glory be to Him) upon you. On the other hand, if the prophecy was not fulfilled until now, then you are waiting and anticipating its occurrence during the days of your life. And if the prophecy does take place while you are alive and you were able to recognize and believe in it, then you have surely attained a great bounty from Allah (Glory be to Him) that is unlimited. However, if you do not live long enough to see the fulfillment of that prophecy, then you will attain the reward of those who are waiting and anticipating the fulfillment of the prophecies, and you will be among those who believed in the unseen.

Now, alfarouq, are you aware that David was not the author of the 150 psalms? And that he authored just 73 of them? Other authors include Moses, Asaph etc. I used the word authored to show that the people mentioned were the ones inspired.

1.Why were the other authors not mentioned as part of those that received the Psalms?Especially considering the fact that David did not author up to half of the Psalms!

2. Since David wrote Psalm 38 & 51, why then do some muslims deny that David ever did any wrong doing?

Nice one scholar.