PSALMS

Allah (swt) sent down a book called Psalms to Prophet Dawud (David). (Nisa, 4/163; Isra, 17/55) Islamic scholars say that the Psalms consists of words of prayer, hamd (praise) and compliments taught to Prophet Dawud, that it does not contain provisions on halal, haram, orders and prohibitions, and that it is a book of wisdom and advice. The Qur'an states that mountains and birds were given to Prophet Dawud's command and they repeated praises with him. (Saba’, 34/10; Sad, 38/18-19; Anbiya, 21/79) Prophet Dawud's voice was both sonorous and beautiful. When he recites the Psalms with his sonorous and beautiful voice, the wolves and the birds would stop and listen and his voice would echo in the mountains. 

The following is stated in the Qur'an regarding the content of the Psalms: “And We have already written in the book [of Psalms] after the [previous] mention that the land [of Paradise] is inherited by My righteous servants." (Anbiya, 21/105) According to the preferred view, what is meant by "the mention" in the verse is the Torah, and what is meant by "Psalms" is the book given to Prophet Dawud. An expression resembling the one in the above-mentioned verse is found in the book of Psalms, most of which is attributed to Dawud, in Jewish tradition: “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.” (Psalms, 37/29) Some similarities can be observed between the book of Psalms and the Qur'an in terms of creation, the order of the universe and the omnipotence of Allah (swt). (See: Psalms, 104)

On the other hand, the phrase passed on Islamic sources, “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Allah” (Al-Bayhaqi, Shuab al-Iman, II, 201)  It stated in Psalms as “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;” (Psalms, 111/10; Also see: Ayoub, 28/28)

The book of Psalms, which is a book of prayer-wisdom is included in the “Holy Writings” section of the Hebrew Bible and it comprises of 150 psalms or hymns written in poetry. Two-thirds of these psalms are stated to whom they belong in the opening sentence, and seventy-three of them are attributed to Prophet Dawud. The book of Psalms which contains praises laments, and supplications, confession of faith, prayers, and advice accompanied by music has an important place in the prayer tradition of Jews and Christians. However, it is understood that the Psalms in its current form is a composed text of doubtful belonging to the persons to whom it is attributed, and that its inclusion in the Bible took place at a late period. Therefore, the Psalms included in the Bible are the falsificated or subsequently written version of the book sent to Prophet Dawud. What must be believed by Muslims is the undistorted Psalms that was revealed to Prophet Dawud.