Surah 2:249
Show Full Scripture Context (2:249) — 1 Verse
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلۡجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُبۡتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٖ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنۡهُ فَلَيۡسَ مِنِّي وَمَن لَّمۡ يَطۡعَمۡهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّيٓ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱغۡتَرَفَ غُرۡفَةَۢ بِيَدِهِۦۚ فَشَرِبُواْ مِنۡهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٗا مِّنۡهُمۡۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُۥ هُوَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُۥ قَالُواْ لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلۡيَوۡمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَٰقُواْ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةٖ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتۡ فِئَةٗ كَثِيرَةَۢ بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
When Ṭālūt set out with his forces, he said, ‘Surely God is going to test you by means of a river. Whoever drinks from it is not on my side, but whoever does not taste it is surely on my side, except for whoever scoops (it) up with his hand.’ But they (all) drank from it, except for a few. So when he crossed it, he and those who believed with him, they said, ‘We have no strength today against Jālūt and his forces.’ But those who thought that they would meet God said, ‘How many a small cohort has overcome a large cohort by the permission of God? God is with the patient.’
249. Then when Talut set out with the army, he said: “Verily, Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me ; and xohoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a faro of them . So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, tftey said: "We have no power this day against Jdliit (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who ktmv with certainty that they were going to meet Allah, said: "Hoiv often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave?" And Allah is with As-Sdbirin (the patient).}
Allah states that TalQt, the king of the Children of Israel, marched forth with his soldiers and the Israelites who obeyed him. His army was of eighty thousand then, according to As-Suddi, but Allah knows best. Talut said:
meaning, He will test you with a river, which flowed between Jordan and Palestine, i.e., the Shari'ah river, according to Ibn ‘Abbas and others. He continued.
meaning, shall not accompany me today,
meaning, there is no harm in this case. Allah then said:
Ibn Jurayj stated that Ibn ‘Abbas commented, “Whoever took some of it (the river’s water) in the hollow of his hand, quenched his thirst; as for those who drank freely from it, their thirst was not quenched.”
Ibn Jarir reported that Al-Bara’ bin ‘Azib said, “We used to say that the Companions of Muhammad who accompanied him on the battle of Badr were more than three hundred and ten, just as many as the soldiers who crossed the river with Talut. Only those who believed crossed the river with him.” Al-Bukhari also reported this.
This is why Allah said:
This Ayah indicates that the Israelites (who remained with Saul) thought that they were few in the face of their enemy who were many then. So, their knowledgeable scholars strengthened their resolve by stating that Allah’s promise is true and that triumph comes from Allah Alone, not from the large numbers or the adequacy of the supplies. They said to them:
— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 1, Page 691-693)