Abiyāl son of Dirār, son of Laḥūb, son of Afīḥ, son of Arīsh, son of Benjamin, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham the Friend.

ʿIkrimah and al-Suddi said, "He was a water-carrier." Wahb ibn Munabbih said, "He was a tanner." Other opinions exist, and Allah knows best. For this reason they protested: “How can he have authority over us when we are more entitled to authority than he, and he has not been granted ample wealth?”

They maintained that prophethood belonged to the tribe of Levi while kingship belonged to the tribe of Judah. When this man appeared from the tribe of Benjamin they recoiled and disparaged his leadership, saying, “We are more deserving of sovereignty than he,” and arguing that he was poor, lacking any abundance of wealth—so how could someone like that be king?

Their prophet replied, “Allah has chosen him over you and has endowed him with great breadth in knowledge and physique.”

It is related that Allah revealed to Samuel: “The one among the Children of Israel whose height matches this staff, and in whose presence this horn containing the holy anointing oil boils over, is their king.” They therefore came in one by one and measured themselves against the staff; none equaled its length except Ṭālūt. When he appeared before Samuel, the horn overflowed, so Samuel anointed him from it and appointed him king over them, saying, “Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him greatly in knowledge”—some say knowledge of warfare, others say knowledge in general—“and in stature.” Some interpret stature as height, others as beauty. The context suggests that he was the most handsome among them and the most knowledgeable after their prophet, peace be upon him.

“Allah grants His dominion to whom He wills”—His is the judgment, the creation, and the command—“and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)

Their prophet went on: “The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing tranquility from your Lord and relics left by the families of Moses and Aaron, borne by the angels. Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.”

This, too, was a blessing and an auspicious token of the leadership of this righteous man: Allah would restore to them the Ark that had been taken when their enemies overpowered them. Through it they used to be granted victory over their foes.

“In it is tranquility from your Lord.” Some say this was a golden basin in which the hearts of the prophets were washed. Others say the Sakīnah was like a gentle breeze. Still others say it took the form of a cat; when it cried out in the midst of battle the Children of Israel were sure of victory.

“and relics left by the families of Moses and Aaron”—it is said that it contained fragments of the Tablets and a portion of the manna.