One criticism that Islamic apologists have often leveled against the Bible is that it portrays the prophets of God as immoral people. Lot, Noah, and David are commonly cited examples (an example would be in Yusha Evans' convert story to Islam). In this article, I will be giving some quotes from Muslim scholars from the past (in particular Al-Tabari) which show that earlier generations of Muslims believed that David did indeed commit adultery with Bathsheba.
I have used Khaleel Mohammed's scholarly work David in the Muslim Tradition: The Bathsheba Affair for some of my research on this issue.
In Surah 38:17-25 of the Qur'an, we find what is taken by many to be an allusion to the story of David and Bathsheba:
"Have patience at what they say, and remember our servant David, the man of strength: for he ever turned (to Allah). It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide and at break of day, And the birds gathered (in assemblies): all with him did turn (to Allah). We strengthened his kingdom, and gave him wisdom and sound judgment in speech and decision. Has the Story of the Disputants reached thee? Behold, they climbed over the wall of the private chamber; When they entered the presence of David, and he was terrified of them, they said: "Fear not: we are two disputants, one of whom has wronged the other: Decide now between us with truth, and treat us not with injustice, but guide us to the even Path. "This man is my brother: He has nine and ninety ewes, and I have (but) one: Yet he says, 'commit her to my care,' and is (moreover) harsh to me in speech." (David) said: "He has undoubtedly wronged thee in demanding thy (single) ewe to be added to his (flock of) ewes: truly many are the partners (in business) who wrong each other: Not so do those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and how few are they?"... and David gathered that We had tried him: he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down, bowing (in prostration), and turned (to Allah in repentance)." (Surah 38:17-25 Yusuf Ali translation)
Now we will be going through some quotes from classic Muslim scholars and commentators which prove that they believed in the story of David committing adultery with Bathsheba.
Abdullah ibn Wahb
Tafsir ibn Wahb (aka al-Wāḍiḥ fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-Karīm) in volume 2, pg. 229 say interpret this passage as meaning that angels were making up a hypothetical situation in order to make David realize his sin against Uriah (David in the Muslim Tradition, pg. 37).
Muqatil bin Sulayman
-"David went to grab the bird, but it flew to the garden. He looked down, saw a woman bathing and was struck by her beauty. The woman saw his shadow and shook down her hair which covered her body, at which David marveled further. She entered her house, and David sent a messenger to her. It turned out that she was Tasāmuh, wife of Udriyya (Uriah) b. Hanan, and her husband was at war in Balqā in greater Syria with Nawāb (Joab) b. Ṣuryā, David’s nephew. David then wrote his nephew with the order to send Udriyya to the front lines to fight the people of Balqā, and to not return until he had captured it or was killed. So the man was sent forth, and he was killed in battle (May God’s mercy be upon him). When the mourning period of the woman was over, David married her, and she bore him Solomon. God then sent two angels to David to rescue him through penance" (Tafsir Muqatil ibn Sulayman, Vol. 3, pgs. 115-116, quoted in David in the Muslim Tradition, pg. 38)
Al-Tabari
"He saw a woman bathing herself on her roof, one of the most beau-tiful women in form . She happened to turn around, and she saw him.She let down her hair, covering herself with it. That only increased his desire for her.He asked about her and was told that she had a husband who was absent at such-and-such a garrison. He sent to the garrison commander an order to send Uriah against such-and-such an enemy.He therefore sent him, and [the enemy] was conquered by him. The commander wrote back to David about the victory, and David wrote to him again, saying, "Send him against such-and-such an enemy, who is even stronger than they." So he sent him, and they again were conquered by him, and he wrote to David about the second victory. David wrote to him, "Send him to such-and-such an enemy." So he sent him, and on the third time, Uriah was slain. David married Uriah's wife. " (The History of Al-Tabari, Vol. III: The Children of Israel, pgs. 144-145)
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