King

Have you not seen the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses? They said to their prophet, ‘Appoint for us a king so we may fight in Allah’s cause.’ He replied, ‘What if you refuse to fight when commanded?’ They said, ‘Why would we not fight when we have been driven from our homes and children?’ Yet when fighting was ordained, they turned away, except for a few.

2:246Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.

Their prophet said, ‘Allah has appointed Saul (Talut) as your king.’ They objected, ‘How can he be king when we are more worthy, and he has no great wealth?’ He replied, ‘Allah has chosen him over you and granted him knowledge and strength. Allah gives kingship to whomever He wills

2:247Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

Their prophet continued, ‘The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, carrying tranquility from your Lord and relics left by Moses and Aaron’s family. It will be brought by angels. Surely, this is a sign for you if you are truly believers.’

2:248And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if (in truth) ye are believers.

When Saul set out with his troops, he said, ‘Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks from it is not with me, but whoever refrains, except for a handful, is with me.’ Yet most of them drank their fill. When he and the believers crossed it, they said, ‘We have no strength today against Goliath and his army.’ But those who were certain they would meet Allah said, ‘How often has a small group triumphed over a larger one by Allah’s will? Allah is with those who remain steadfast.’

2:249And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.