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246. " have you
not seen the chiefs of the children of israel, after moses,
when they said to a prophet of theirs:
`raise up for us a king, that we will fight in allah's way'.
he said: ` might it be that, if fighting is written for you,
then you will not fight? '
they said: ` why should we not fight in the way of allah, while we have
been expelled from our dwellings and our children? '
but when fighting was written for them,
they turned back save a few of them,
and allah is all-knowing of the unjust. "
* * * *
247. " and their
prophet said to them: ` verily allah has raised up saul for
you as a king.' they said: ` how can he hold kingship over us,
while we are more rightful to kingship than he,
and he has not been given abundance of wealth? ' he said:
` verily allah has chosen him over you,
and he has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature.
allah gives his kingdom unto whomso he wills;
and allah is all-embracing, all-knowing ',"
* * * *
248. " and their
prophet said to them: ` verily the sign of his kingship is
that the ark of the covenant will come to you,
wherein shall be a tranquility from your lord,
and the relics of what the family of moses and the family of aaron
have left behind, the angels bearing it.
surely in that shall be a sign for you, if you are (truly) faithful."
* * * *
249. " so when
saul marched out with the troops he said:` verily allah will
try you by a river, whoever drinks from it he is not of me,
and whoever tastes it not, he is surely of me, including the one who
tastes but a single handful.' but they all drank of it, except a few of them.
and when he (saul) crossed it (the river), those who believed with him said:
` we have no power today against goliath and his troops.'
those who knew that they would meet allah said:
` how often a small party has overcome a numerous host by allah's leave!
and allah is with the (steadfast) patient ones '."
* * * *
250. " so when
they encountered goliath and his troops, they said:
` our lord! pour down upon us patience,
and make our steps firm, and help us against the disbelieving people '."
* * * *
251. " thus
they routed them by allah's leave, and david slew goliath;
and allah gave him the kingship and wisdom and taught him of
what he willed. and were allah not to repel some people by means of
other
people, the earth would certainly be full of mischief;
but allah is gracious to all (his) creatures."
* * * *
252. " these are
the signs of allah; we recite them to you (muhammad) in
truth, and verily, you are (one) of the messengers."
* * * *
explanation
an introduction to the above group of verses
in these verses providence, the great, points to one of the
wonderful adventures of a group of the israelites that happened after
the time of moses (a.s.). the statement of this happening, of course, is
following the statement of holy war and the defence from the limits of
the religion of allah, which is, in fact, the same as the limits of
humanity. it is stated, indeed, for the muslims to take lesson from that
marvellous incident.
a marvellous incident!
the israelites who had become weak and poor under the
domination of pharaoh, gained great power and splendour under the
wise leadership of moses (a.s.).
allah showered many blessings upon them with the sanctity of
this great prophet, including the ark of the covenant. the jews, by
carrying the ark before the troops, got a kind of confidence and
spiritual capability. this power and glory continued a length of time
after moses (a.s.). but the same victorious capacity and blessful
bounties they had, gradually made them proud and, thereby, they
became disobedient.
finally, they were defeated with a great slaughter by philistines
when they lost their power and authority accompanied with loosing the
ark. after that, they became so weak and inflicted with dispersion that
they were not able to defend themselves even against the smallest
enemies. it was so that their enemies expelled a great many of them
from their own land and captured their children, too.
that status continued for years. at last, their prayer was heard
and allah raised a prophet for them called samuel, to save them and
guide them.
those people, who had become tired and worn from the cruelty
and transgressions of their enemies, were seeking for a shelter to take
refuge in. therefore, they gathered around him and asked him to
appoint a king for them.
they all had decided to follow the command and leadership of
such a king to fight unitedly against their enemy with heart and soul in
order to regain their last honour and glory.
prophet samuel, who was well acquainted with their spirituality
and knew their disloyal characteristics from before, told them he was
afraid that they might disobey their commander, as to face with their
enemy, when the order of holy war in the way of allah would be
prescribed for them.
they objected that how they could disobey their commander and
do not do their own duty in the case that the torturous enemy had
expelled them from their home and had occupied their land and
captured their children.
when prophet samuel found that those people had recognized
their ailment and were seeking for the remedy, as if they had realized
the secret of their state of being retarded, he prayed and asked the lord
what those people wanted. it was revealed to him to introduce saul as
their king.
samuel invoked allah that he had not seen saul yet and he did
not know him. the revelation came down indicating that he would be
sent to him. samuel was commanded that when saul came to him, he
(samuel) would give him (saul) the commandership of the troops and
holy war.
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