It is said that Hz. Dawud prayed by playing an instrument. Will you explain it?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Once, the Prophet (pbuh) listened to Abu Musal-Ash'ari recite the Quran and said,

"You were indeed given one of the mizmars of the Prophet Dawud (David)." (Mizmar is actually a wind instrument like flute. In the hadith above, "mizmar" means nice voice, tone, timbre.) (Bukhari, Fadailul-Qur'an 31; Muslim, Salatul-Musafirin 34; Tirmidhi, Manaqib 55)

Hz. Dawud had a very nice voice. He recited nice odes and hymns. His nice voice was used as a metaphor among people. Therefore, when people heard a person with a nice voice, they would say, "He was given one of the mizmars of the Prophet Dawud."

Hz. Dawud glorified Allah and praised Him with his nice voice; he would read the Psalms, sent down to him by Allah; the mountains and birds would glorify Allah together with him. Allah states the following regarding the issue in the Quran:

"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)."  (Sad 38/18-19)

"We bestowed Grace aforetime on David from ourselves: "O ye Mountains! Sing ye back the Praises of Allah with him! And ye birds (also)..."  (as-Saba': 34/10)

Hz. Dawud recited the Psalms with a touching voice and fast but he meditated on the meaning of what he recited; he would read tunefully. He did not neglect awe when he read.

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