(249–252) “When Saul set out with the troops, he said, ‘Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks from it does not belong with me, while whoever does not taste it belongs with me—except one who scoops up a single handful with his hand.’ Yet they drank from it, except for a few of them. When he and those who believed with him had crossed it, they said, ‘We have no strength today against Goliath and his troops.’ Those who were certain that they would meet Allah said, ‘How often has a small force overcome a large force by Allah’s permission! And Allah is with the steadfast.’ When they advanced to face Goliath and his troops, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our feet firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.’ They defeated them by Allah’s permission, and David killed Goliath. Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and taught him whatever He willed. Were it not for Allah’s repelling some people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted. But Allah is bountiful to all creation. These are the verses of Allah, which We recite to you in truth, and you are indeed one of the messengers.”
That is, once Saul had become king over the Children of Israel and his rule was firmly established, they prepared to fight their enemy. When Saul set out with the troops of the Children of Israel, who were very numerous and formed a vast host, he tested them at Allah’s command so that those who were steadfast and confident might be distinguished from those who were not. He said, “Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks from it does not belong with me.” Such a person was disobedient and would not accompany them because of his lack of patience and steadfastness and because he had disobeyed. “Whoever does not taste it”—that is, does not drink from it—“belongs with me, except one who scoops up a single handful with his hand.” There was no blame upon him for doing so, and perhaps Allah would place such blessing in that handful that it would suffice him.
This trial indicates that water had become scarce for them, making the test a real one. Most of them disobeyed and drank from the river in the prohibited manner. They then turned on their heels and recoiled from fighting their enemy. Their inability to refrain from water for even a single hour was the clearest proof that they would be unable to endure a battle that would be prolonged and involve great hardship. Their departure from the rest of the army caused those who remained steadfast to increase in reliance upon Allah, humble supplication, submission, and disavowal of their own power and strength. It also increased their patience, despite their own small numbers and the multitude of their enemy.
Allah Most High therefore said, “When he had crossed it”—that is, the river—“he”—namely, Saul—“and those who believed with him.” These were the ones who obeyed Allah’s command and did not drink from the river in the prohibited manner. When they saw … how few they were and how numerous their enemies were, many of them said, “We have no strength today against Goliath and his troops,” because of their great numbers, manpower, and equipment.
“Those who were certain that they would meet Allah said”—these were the people of firm faith and deeply rooted certainty. Strengthening the resolve of the others, calming their minds, and commanding them to remain steadfast, they said, “How often has a small force overcome a large force by Allah’s permission!” That is, by His will and decree. The whole affair belongs to Allah Most High: mighty is the one whom Allah makes mighty, and abased is the one whom Allah abases. Great numbers are of no avail when He withholds His support, while small numbers do no harm when He grants victory. “And Allah is with the steadfast,” granting them victory, assistance, and success. The greatest means of attracting Allah’s assistance is for His servant to remain steadfast for His sake. This exhortation reached their hearts and had its effect upon them.
Thus, when they advanced to face Goliath and his troops, they all said, “Our Lord, pour patience upon us”; that is, strengthen our hearts, inspire us with patience, make our feet firm against wavering and flight, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.
From this we know that Goliath and his troops were disbelievers. Allah answered their prayer because they had adopted the means conducive to its fulfillment, and He granted them victory: “They defeated them by Allah’s permission, and David”—peace be upon him, who was among Saul’s troops—“killed Goliath.” That is, through his courage, strength, and patience, he personally slew the king of the disbelievers. “Allah gave him”—that is, Allah gave David—“kingship and wisdom.” He favored him with rule over the Children of Israel together with wisdom, meaning prophethood, which encompassed a magnificent divine law and the straight path. Hence He said, “and taught him whatever He willed,” including knowledge of Sacred Law and governance.
Allah thus combined kingship and prophethood for him. Before him, kingship among the prophets had belonged ⦗109⦘ to others. Once Allah Most High had granted them victory, they lived securely in their homes and worshiped Allah in safety and tranquility, for Allah had forsaken their enemies and established them in the land. All of this was among the fruits of jihad in His cause. Had it not taken place, none of this would have been attained. Allah Most High therefore said, “Were it not for Allah’s repelling some people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted.” That is, were Allah not to use those who fight in His cause to repel the schemes of the wicked and the concerted assaults of the disbelievers, the earth would be corrupted by the disbelievers gaining dominion over it, establishing the rites of disbelief, and preventing people from worshiping Allah Most High and making His religion manifest.
“But Allah is bountiful to all creation”: He prescribed jihad for them, wherein lie their welfare and their protection from aggression, and He established them in the land through means known to them and means unknown to them.
Allah Most High then said, “These are the verses of Allah, which We recite to you in truth”; that is, with truthfulness in which there is no doubt and which contains lessons, insight, and clarification of the realities of all matters. “And you are indeed one of the messengers.” This is Allah’s testimony to His Messenger concerning his messengership. Among its proofs are the accounts Allah related to him concerning earlier nations, the prophets, their followers, and their enemies. Had Allah not informed him of them, he would have possessed no knowledge of them; indeed, no one among his people knew anything of these matters. This proves that he is truly Allah’s Messenger and genuinely His Prophet, whom He sent with the truth and the religion of truth to make it prevail over every religion, even though the polytheists detest it.
This account contains signs and lessons by which people of understanding may take heed. One is that when influential people and those vested with decision-making authority gather, examine and understand the course by which their affairs may be set right, and then act upon it, this is among the greatest means of their advancement and attainment of their objective. This is what occurred with these chiefs when they approached their prophet about appointing a king around whom their ranks could unite, who would gather their scattered people together, and whom they would obey.
Another lesson is that whenever the truth is opposed and objections are raised against it, it becomes clearer and more distinct, and complete certainty is thereby attained. This occurred when they objected to Saul’s entitlement to kingship and received answers that convinced them and removed their doubts and uncertainties.
Another lesson is that knowledge and sound judgment, together with the strength to put them into effect, constitute perfection in leadership. The absence of both, or of either one, causes deficiency and harm.
Another lesson is that reliance upon oneself leads to failure and abandonment, whereas seeking Allah’s assistance, remaining steadfast, and turning to Him lead to victory. The former is illustrated by their words to their prophet, “Why should we not fight in the cause of Allah when we have been driven from our homes and separated from our children?” It was as though the consequence of this self-reliance was that, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away. The latter is illustrated by His words: “When they advanced to face Goliath and his troops, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our feet firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.’ They defeated them by Allah’s permission.”
Another lesson is that Allah Most High, in His wisdom, distinguishes the wicked from the good, the truthful from the liar, and the steadfast from the cowardly. He would not leave His servants as they were, intermingled and undifferentiated.
Another lesson is that, by His mercy and established practice, He repels the harm of the disbelievers and hypocrites through the believers who fight. Were it not for this, the earth would be corrupted by disbelief and its rites gaining dominion over it. Then Allah Most High said: