The phrase “the family of David” here is meant to point to David himself—peace be upon him. David was granted a remarkably fine, elevated voice, to the extent that Allah said, “O mountains, echo with him, and so too the birds; and We softened iron for him” (Q 34:10). Whenever he recited the Zabur, the very mountains—lifeless rock—would answer him, and the birds would return to him: they would gather in the sky and repeat his praise. Thus, whenever the mountains and the birds heard David chant the Zabur, they joined him in responsive glorification.

For this reason the Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Musa, “You have been given a flute from among the flutes of the family of David,” meaning a beautiful voice like that of David’s household. Abu Musa later said that when the Messenger told him, “Had you seen me while I was listening to your recitation last night,” he replied, “Had I known you were listening—or even hearing—I would have adorned it with an even finer adornment,” that is, he would have beautified his recitation still more.

The scholars hold that this ḥadith proves that if a person beautifies his voice while reciting the Quran so that listeners may relish it and feel joy, there is no harm in doing so and it is not counted as ostentation. On the contrary, it invites people to listen to the Speech of Allah and to rejoice in it. For this reason one finds