"Did you not see a group from the children of Isra'il, after (the time of) Musa when they said to a prophet of theirs: "Send us a King so that we may fight in the way of Allah." He said: "Is it (not) likely, if fighting is enjoined upon you, that you would not fight." They said: "What is wrong with us that we would not fight while we have been driven away from our homes and our sons?" But, when fighting was enjoined upon them, they turned away, except a few of them. And Allah is All-Aware of the unjust. And their prophet said to them: "Allah has sent you 'Taloot' * as king. They said: "How could he have kingship over us when we are more entitled to the kingship than he? And he has not been given a wide measure of wealth." He said: "Allah has chosen him over you and has increased his size in knowledge and physique. And Allah gives His kingship to whom He wills. And Allah is Ail-Embracing, All-Knowing." And their prophet said to them: "The sign of his kingship is that the Ark shall come to you having therein tranquility from your Lord, and the remains of what the House of Musa and the House of Haroon had left, carried by the angels. Surely, in it there i.-; a sign for you, if you are believers." So, when 'Talut' set out along with the troops, he said: "Allah is going to test you by a river, so, whoever drinks from it is not my man, and whoever does not taste it is surely a man of mine, except the one who scoops a little with his hand." Then, they drank from it, except a few of them. So, when he crossed it and (crossed) those who believed with him, they said: "There is no strength with us today against 'Jaloot' ** and his troops." Said those who believed that they were to meet Allah: "How many small groups have overcome the large groups by the will of Allah. And Allah is with the patient." And when they faced 'Jalut' and his troops they said: "Our Lord, pour out patience on us, make firm our feet and help us against the disbelieving people." So, they defeated them by the will of Allah, and Dawood killed 'Jaloot', and Allaah gave him the kingdom and the wisdom and taught him what He willed. Had Allaah not been pushing back some people by means of some others, the earth would have been spoiled. But Allaah is all-gracious to all the worlds." (2:246-251)

* (Known in the Bible as Saul)
** (Known in the Bible as Goliath)

Commentary

1) Verse 246: "(When they said to a prophet of theirs: "Send us a king so that we may fight in the way of Allah")." These people from the Bani Isra'il had abandoned the injunctions given by Allah Almighty. When the infidel Amalekites were made to rule over them, they began thinking about correcting the situation. The name of the prophet mentioned here is Samu'eel (Samuel) (as).

Verse 248: The story of Taloot and Jaloot

The Bani Isra'eel used to have the legacy of a wooden chest (also identified as the Ark of the Covenant). Moosa (Moses) (as) and other prophets of Bani Isra'il would keep this chest in the frontline of the battlefield. Its barakah (blessing, benediction) used to give them victory. When Jaloot (Goliath) overcame Bani Isra'il, he took this chest away with him. When Allah Almighty willed the return of the chest, it so happened that the infidels were struck by some epidemic or calamity at places where they carried this chest. Five cities were turned desolate. Nonplussed, they loaded it on two bullocks and drove them off. Then, the angels took control of the bullocks and made it reach Taoout's doorsteps. (Taloot is the Qur'anic name of the king known in the Bible as Saul) When the Bani Isra'il saw this sign, they believed in the kingdom of Taloot, who then mounted an attack on Jaloot while the weather was very hot.

Verse 249: (He said: Allah is going to test you by a river). The wisdom behind this test, as perceived by this humble commentator, appears to be as follows. Not difficult to imagine is the excitement created on such occasions but there are not many who would stay firm in their hour of trial. And should such a time come, the weakness shown by such people becomes contagious making others panic as well. Allah Almighty willed that such people be pruned out. This purpose was accomplished by this test, which is very appropriate, because steadfastness is necessary in fighting. So, being patient, when water is made available without asking in a state of intense thirst, is a proof of steadfastness, and dashing for water is a proof of its absence. Later on comes the unusual: Those who drank too much water became mysteriously more incapacitated. This has appeared in Ruh al-Ma'ani on the authority of Ibn Abi Hatim (ra) from Ibn 'Abbas (ra). Now the events and sayings mentioned in this story tell us that there were three kinds of people among them:

(1) The weak in faith who failed to make the grade in their hour of
trial.
(2) The perfect who fully succeeded in their trial but did feel
concerned about how low they were in numbers.
(3) The most perfect who did not bother even about that.

» Posted by Seifeddine-M on 12th September 2011

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