David — Dawud in Arabic — holds a special place in Islam as both a prophet and a king, a combination given to few.567
Victory over Goliath, kingship, and prophethood
As a young man, David defeated the tyrant Goliath (Jalut), after which God raised him to leadership:
"And David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed."
— Quran 2:251 (Saheeh International)1
A just ruler
The Quran presents David as a model of just leadership, charged to judge fairly:
"[We said], 'O David, indeed We have made you a successor upon the earth, so judge between the people in truth and do not follow [your own] desire.'"
— Quran 38:26 (Saheeh International)2
The Psalms (Zabur)
God revealed to David a scripture, the Psalms (Zabur) — one of the revealed books Muslims believe in:
"And We gave to David the book [of Psalms]."
— Quran 17:55 (Saheeh International)4
A voice of praise, and gifts from God
David is remembered for his beautiful praise of God — so moving that the Quran describes the mountains and birds joining him — and for being taught to work iron:
"[We said], 'O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].' And We made pliable for him iron."
— Quran 34:10 (Saheeh International)3
In short
David (Dawud) is honored in Islam as a prophet-king — the slayer of Goliath, a just ruler, the recipient of the Psalms, and a servant whose praise of God was so beautiful that creation echoed it. He was the father of the prophet Solomon (Sulayman).