then returning to prostration for a full forty days, without eating or drinking. He wept until grass grew around his head, while he called upon his Lord, exalted is He, and asked Him to accept his repentance. Among his supplications while prostrating was:

“Glory be to the Supreme King, who tests His creatures as He wills. Glory be to the Creator of light. Glory be to Him who comes between hearts. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, You left me to contend with my enemy Iblis, and I could not withstand his temptation when it came upon me. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, You created me, and it was already in Your prior knowledge what I would come to. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, woe to David when the veil is lifted from him and it is said, ‘This is David, the sinner.’ Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, with what eye shall I look upon You on the Day of Resurrection, while the wrongdoers will look on only with furtive glances? [Glory be to the Creator of light.] (1) My God, on what feet shall I walk before You and stand in Your presence on the day when the feet of sinners slip? Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, from whom can a servant seek forgiveness other than from his Master? Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, I cannot bear the heat of Your sun, so how can I bear the heat of Your Fire? Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, I cannot bear the sound of Your thunder, so how can I bear the scourge of Hell? Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, woe to David for the grave sin he has committed. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, You know my secrets and what I disclose, so accept my excuse. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, by Your mercy forgive me my sins, and do not distance me from Your mercy because of my vain desires. Glory be to the Creator of light. My God, I seek refuge in the light of Your noble Countenance from the sins that have ruined me. Glory be to the Creator of light. I have fled to You with my sins and confessed my wrongdoing; so do not make me one of those who despair, and do not disgrace me on the Day of Recompense. Glory be to the Creator of light.” (2)

Mujahid said: He remained in prostration for forty days without raising his head, until pasture grew from the tears of his eyes and covered his head. Then he was called: “O David, are you hungry, that you should be fed? Or thirsty, that you should be given drink? Or naked, that you should be clothed?” He replied, “Yet I am being answered concerning something other than what I ask.” He then gave a cry of such anguish that the wood was stirred and burned from the heat within him. Then Allah granted him repentance and forgiveness. (3)

Wahb said: David received a call: “I have forgiven you.” He said, “My Lord, how can that be, when You wrong no one?” He said, “Go to Uriah’s grave and call out to him. I shall make him hear your call, so seek his pardon.” He set out, having clothed himself in coarse garments, until he sat beside Uriah’s grave. Then he called, “O Uriah!” Uriah replied, “Here I am. Who is this that has interrupted my repose and awakened me?” He said, “I am David.” Uriah said, “What has brought you here, O Prophet of Allah?” He said, “I ask you to absolve me of what I did to you.” Uriah said, “And what did you do to me?” He said, “I exposed you to being killed.” Uriah replied, “You exposed me to Paradise, so you are absolved.” Allah then revealed to him: “O David, did you not know that I am a Just Judge and that I do not judge harshly? Why did you not tell him that you had married his wife?” So he returned to him and called out to him,