All-Hearing of every word, however hidden, and All-Knowing of the righteous intentions—and their opposites—contained within hearts.

Moreover, when one who strives in His cause knows that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing, the hardship becomes easier for him. He knows that whatever those who endure for His sake must bear is under His watchful eye, and that He will surely sustain them with His aid and grace.

Consider also this gentle encouragement to spend: the one who spends has lent to Allah, the One rich beyond all need and Most Generous, and He has promised him a manyfold return. Allah Most High says: “The example of those who spend their wealth in Allah’s cause is like a grain that produces seven ears, each bearing a hundred grains. Allah multiplies the reward for whomever He wills. Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.”

Since the greatest deterrent to spending is the fear of poverty, Allah Most High informs us that wealth and poverty are in His hand. He withholds provision from whomever He wills and grants it abundantly to whomever He wills. Therefore, anyone wishing to spend should not hold back for fear of poverty or imagine that what he spends will be lost. Rather, all servants will return to Allah, and those who spent and performed righteous deeds will find their reward stored with Him when they need it most. Its tremendous effect upon them will then be beyond expression.

A goodly loan is one that possesses every good quality: a righteous intention, a willing generosity in giving, expenditure in the proper place, and the giver’s not following it with reminders of his generosity or hurtful words, nor with anything that would invalidate or diminish it.

﴿246﴾ “Have you not considered the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, when they said to one of their prophets, ‘Appoint for us a king, and we will fight in Allah’s cause’?”—to the end of the account. Allah Most High relates this account to the Muslim community so that they may take heed, become eager for jihad, and not shrink from it. Those who remained steadfast attained good outcomes in this world and the Hereafter, whereas those who shrank back lost in both.

Allah Most High informs us that the people of sound judgment and influence among the Children of Israel conferred about jihad. They agreed to ask their prophet to appoint a king over them, so that his appointment would put an end to dispute, secure complete obedience, and leave no one any room for objection.

Their prophet feared that their request was merely words that would not be followed by action. They therefore assured him of their firm resolve and pledged themselves to it fully, explaining that fighting had become necessary for them because it was the means of recovering their homes and returning to their land and homeland.

﴿247﴾ Their prophet appointed Saul as their king to lead them in this undertaking, which necessarily required a capable commander. They were surprised that Saul had been appointed, for there were among them men of nobler lineage and greater wealth who, in their view, had a stronger claim than he.

Their prophet replied, “Allah has chosen him over you,” because Allah had granted him both knowledge of governance and physical strength. These two qualities equip a person with courage, prowess, and sound administration. Kingship is not based on abundant wealth, nor must its holder come from a family in which kingship and leadership have traditionally resided. Allah grants His kingship to whomever He wills.

﴿248﴾ That noble prophet did not stop at persuading them by mentioning Saul’s competence and his possession of the required qualities. He also said to them: “The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, containing reassurance from your Lord and relics left by the families of Moses and Aaron.” The enemy had seized this Ark.

Saul’s inner qualities and Allah’s appointment of him through their prophet did not suffice for them until that appointment was further confirmed by this miracle. Hence he said: “Surely in that is a sign for you, if you are believers.” At that point, they submitted and obeyed.

﴿249﴾ When Saul assumed command over them, mustered and organized them, and set out with them to fight their enemy, he had already observed such weakness in their resolve and determination that it became necessary to distinguish the steadfast from those who would shrink back. He therefore said: “Allah will test you with a river,” which they would pass while in need of water.

“Whoever drinks from it is not of me”—that is, he is not to follow me, for drinking would demonstrate his lack of patience and great want of fortitude. “But whoever does not taste it is indeed of me,” because of his sincerity and steadfastness, “except one who scoops up a single handful with his hand”—he would be excused for that.

When they reached the river in need of water, they all drank from it “except a few of them,” who remained steadfast and did not drink.

“When he and those who believed with him had crossed it, they said”—either those who had shrunk back or those who had crossed—“We have no strength today against Goliath and his forces.”

If those who said this were the ones who had shrunk back, it was an assertion by which they sought to justify their withdrawal. If the speakers were those who had crossed with Saul, then they had begun to feel weak. However, those of complete faith encouraged them to stand firm and advance, saying: “How many a small company has overcome a large company by Allah’s permission! Allah is with the steadfast” through His aid, support, and victory. They therefore stood firm and patiently faced their enemy, Goliath and his forces.

﴿250﴾ “David—peace and blessings be upon him—killed Goliath,” and through this they achieved triumph and victory over their enemy.

“And Allah gave him”—that is, David—“kingship and wisdom,” meaning prophethood and beneficial knowledge. Allah granted him wisdom and decisive judgment.

﴿251﴾ Allah Most High then explains the benefit of jihad, saying: “Were it not for Allah repelling some people by means of others, the earth would surely have been corrupted” through the domination of disbelievers, evildoers, and those who spread wickedness and corruption.

“But Allah is gracious to all creation,” for He has shown grace to the believers and defended them and their religion through what He has ordained in His law and what He has decreed.

﴿252﴾ After relating this account, Allah said to His Messenger—peace and blessings be upon him: “These are Allah’s verses, which We recite to you in truth, and you are indeed one of the messengers.”

This account is among the proofs of his messengership, for he conveyed it through revelation from Allah in accordance with what had actually occurred. The account contains many lessons for the Muslim community.

One is the virtue of jihad in Allah’s cause, together with its benefits and fruits. It is the sole means of preserving the religion, homelands, lives, and property. Those who strive in jihad ultimately enjoy a praiseworthy outcome, even if they undergo hardship, whereas those who shrink back will suffer for a long time, even if they enjoy a brief respite.

Another is that a person possessing the necessary competence should be selected for leadership. Competence rests upon two qualities: knowledge—namely, knowledge of governance and sound administration—and the strength needed to enforce what is right. Whoever possesses both qualities has a stronger claim to leadership than anyone else. Another is that this account supports the scholars’ statement that the commander of armies should