Chapter 11 Images of David in Several Muslim Rewritings of the Psalms
In: The Character of David in Judaism, Christianity and IslamPurchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):
Abstract
The paper identifies several different versions of the Arabic “Psalms of David,” each of which starts with a shared core of one hundred psalms and then edits, reorganizes, rewrites, and adds to that core material. It demonstrates that although all of them present David as a model of repentance and piety, each version depicts him differently: some emphasize his sin and repentance, while others minimize it, promoting a piety of strict orthodoxy and obedience. It shows that each editor uses the shared symbol of David and his Psalms to advance his own vision of Islamic piety.