Surah 2

Surah 2:250

"So when they went forth to (battle) Jālūt and his forces, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour out on us patience, and make firm our feet, and help us against the people who are disbelievers.’"
Tafsir Ibn Kathir Verses 2:250-252
Show Full Scripture Context (2:250-252) — 3 Verses
Verse 250

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُواْ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرٗا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

So when they went forth to (battle) Jālūt and his forces, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour out on us patience, and make firm our feet, and help us against the people who are disbelievers.’

Verse 251

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

And they routed them by the permission of God, and David killed Jālūt, and God gave him the kingdom and the wisdom, and taught him about whatever He pleased. If God had not repelled some of the people by means of others, the earth would indeed have been corrupted. But God is full of favor to the worlds.

Verse 252

تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱللَّهِ نَتۡلُوهَا عَلَيۡكَ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ

Those are the signs of God. We recite them to you in truth. Surely you are indeed one of the envoys.

250. And when they advanced to meet Jdliit (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked: "Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience, and set firm our feet and make us victorious over the disbelieving people."

251. So they routed them by Allah's leave and Dawud (David) killed Jdliit (Goliath), and Allah gave him (Ddwud) the kingdom [after the death of Tdlut and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Alldh did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Alldh is full of bounty to the 'Alarnin (mankind. Jinn and all that exists).

252. These are the verses of Alldh, We recite them to you (O Muliammad) in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allah.}

When the faithful party, who were few under the command of Taltit, faced their enemy, who were many under the command of Jalut,

Quoted Scripture
"they invoked: "Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience...""

meaning, send down patience on us from You.

Quoted Scripture
"and set firm our feet"

meaning, against the enemy and save us from running away and from feebleness,

Quoted Scripture
"and make us victorious over the disbelieving people."

Allah said:

Quoted Scripture
"So they routed them by Allah's leave"

meaning, they defeated and overwhelmed them by Allah’s aid and support. Then,

Quoted Scripture
"and Ddwud killed ]alut"

Israelite accounts claimed that (Prophet) David killed Goliath with a slingshot that he had, which he launched at Goliath causing his death.

TalCit promised that whoever killed Jalut, would marry his daughter and would share his kingship and authority. He kept his promise. Later, the kingship was transferred to Prophet Dawud in addition to being granted Prophethood by Allah. So, Allah said:

Quoted Scripture
". . .and Allah gave him (Ddwud) the kingdom"

that TalQt had and,

{and Al-Hikmah} that comes with the prophethood, meaning, after Shamwil. (Allah then said:)

Quoted Scripture
"and taught him of that which He willed."

meaning, what He willed of the knowledge that He bestowed on (Prophet) Dawud.

Next, Allah said:

Quoted Scripture
"And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief."

This Ayah indicates that if it were not for the fact that Allah checks one set of people with another, such as when Talut and the bravery of Dawud helped the Children of Israel (against Goliath), then people would have perished. Similarly, Allah said:

{For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and Masjids, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much, would surely, have been pulled down.} 22:40

Allah then said:

Quoted Scripture
"But Allah is full of bounty to the 'Alamitt (mankind, Jinn and all that exists)"

meaning, by His mercy and favor He fixes some of them by some others. Surely, Allah has the wisdom, the supreme authority and the clear proof against His creation in all of His actions and statements.

Allah said:

Quoted Scripture
"These are the verses of Allah, We recite them to you (O Muhammad) in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allah)."

This Ayah states, These Ayat (verses) of Allah that We have narrated for you in truth conform to the exact manner that these stories have occurred and to the truth that still remain in the (Divine) Books that the scholars of the Children of Israel have and know. Allah said: O Muhammad,

{you arc)

{otie of the Messengers (of Allah)) emphatically stating the truth of his prophethood

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 1, Page 693-696)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.