Baqarah 249-252

249- WHEN TALOOT (SAUL) SET OUT WITH HIS ARMY HE SAID: “ALLAH IS TESTING YOU WITH A RIVER, HE WHO DRINKS FROM IT, IT NOT ONE OF MINE AND HE WHO DOES NOT, IS ONE OF MINE, UNLESS THOSE WHO SCOOP A HANDFUL.  THEY DRANK FROM IT EXCEPT FOR A FEW.  WHEN HE AND THE BELIEVERS WITH HIM CROSSED THE RIVER, THEY SAID: “WE HAVE LITTLE POWER AGAINST GALOOT (GOLIATH) AND HIS ARMY”, THOSE WHO KNEW THAT THEY ARE TO MEET THEIR LORD SAID: “HOW MANY A SMALL GROUP DEFEATED A LARGE GROUP, AND ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”

250- WHEN THEY MET GALOOT AND HIS ARMY THEY SAID: “OUR LORD, BESTOW PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE UPON US, MAKE OUR FOOT HOLD FIRM, AND SUPPORT US AGAINST THE DISBELIEVING PEOPLE”

251- THEY DEFEATED THEM WITH ALLAH’S PERMISSION, AND DAWOOD (DAVID) KILLED GALOOT (GOLIATH) AND ALLAH GAVE HIM THE KINGDOM AND THE WISDOM, AND TAUGHT HIM WHAT HE DESIRES.  AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR ALLAH REPELLING SOME PEOPLE WITH OTHERS, THE EARTH WOULD HAVE BECOME TOTALLY CORRUPTED.  INDEED ALLAH HAS MANY FAVOURS, UPON ALL HIS CREATION.

252- THESE AYAHS, WE RECITE FOR YOU WITH THE TRUTH.  VERILY YOU ARE ONE OF THE MESSENGERS.

Taloot and his army marched to meet their enemy, but they were to be tested again.  This test was of their discipline and obedience to their leader.   These tests were to sort out the good elements from the bad ones.

They were to reach a river on their way, which Taloot told them that they should not drink from it, except for a handful. They were told, that this is a test.  But most of them drank from it, and those who drank had to leave the army. 

It is important to see that when an army is marching to fight the enemy, their leader, chosen by Allah, their strength is not in their numbers, but in their faith and discipline.

 Instead of doing any thing to recruit more soldiers, Taloot was trying to purge the army of the bad elements.

When the two armies sighted of each other, it was apparent that the army, with Goliath as their champion, was stronger and better equipped. Many in Taloot’s army thought that they would never win the fight.  Those of strong faith and a better knowledge of Allah the Highest, reminded them that number is the not the main factor in victory, but Allah’s support to the faithful who are patient and persevere in fighting.  “HOW MANY A SMALL GROUP DEFEATED A LARGE GROUP, AND ALLAH IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE PATIENT AND PERSEVERE”

Allah the Highest told the Muslims “O PROPHET, ALLAH AND THOSE WHO FOLLOW YOU OF THE BELIEVERS ARE SUFFICIENT FOR YOU * O PROPHET, ENTHUSE THE BELIEVERS TO FIGHT, IF THERE ARE TWENTY PATIENT AND PERSEVERING MEN OF YOU, THEY DEFEAT TWO HUNDRED AND IF THERE IS A HUNDRED, THEY DEFEAT A THOUSAND FROM THE DISBELIEVERS, FOR THEY ARE PEOPLE OF NO UNDERSTANDING”  (S:8 A:64-65)

Victory comes only from Allah the Highest, for He said: “VICTORY COMES FROM ALLAH ONLY, THE MOST EXALTED AND THE MOST WISE” (S: 3 A: 126)

Also Allah the Highest said: “SHOULD ALLAH SUPPORT YOU, NO ONE CAN DEFEAT YOU, BUT IF HE ABANDONS YOU, WHO IS HE WHO CAN SUPPORT YOU AFTER HIM, AND IN ALLAH THE BELIEVERS SHOULD PUT THEIR TRUST” (S: 3 A: 160)

This does not mean that the Muslims should not prepare themselves and strengthen their armies with the best weapons and training to repel their enemies.  Indeed, Allah the Highest commanded us to do so saying: “     AND PREPARE FOR THEM WHAT YOU CAN OF FORCES AND HORSE, TO STRIKE FEAR IN THE ENEMIES OF ALLAH AND YOUR ENEMIES, AS WELL AS OTHERS BESIDES THEM, YOU DO NOT KNOW THEM, HOWEVER ALLAH KNOWS THEM”.  (S: 8 A: 60)

When the time for the battle came, the believers prayed to Allah for strength, endurance, and not to be frightened  and run away.  David, who was a shepherd boy, knocked down the giant Goliath with a stone in sling, and then killed him with his sword, showing us that victory does not depend on muscles alone. Then Taloot’s army won the battle. 

Allah the Highest supported the Muslims throughout their history when we were threatened and regardless of the number.  In Badr; 317 Muslims, defeated a 1000 disbelievers.  In Qadisyah, 30 thousand Muslims defeated 200 thousand Persian soldiers.  In Yarmok, 36 thousand Muslims defeated 240 thousand Roman soldiers.  In Moatah, 3 thousand Muslims fought 200 thousand Romans for 3 days then withdraw on the fourth. Proving that numbers have never been the main issue. 

Allah the Highest choose David (Dawood) to be a prophet and also his son Solomon,  He also made them kings, and bestowed upon them knowledge and wisdom.  It should be noted that the Old Testament speaks of David and Solomon as kings not prophets.

Allah the Highest does not like killing or blood shed, but it is sometimes necessary, in order to stop evil from spreading, and to protect our lives and our families.  Allah the Highest uses the sincere believers to prevent the earth from becoming totally corrupted. “AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR ALLAH REPELLING SOME PEOPLE WITH OTHERS, THE EARTH WOULD HAVE BECOME TOTALLY CORRUPTED”. 

Then Allah the Highest is telling us that this is the true story of the events, given to His messenger, prayer and peace upon him, and the believers who read this book. 

In the event of any difference in the historical accounts, we should always know that the account in the Quran is the True one.  It is the one book from Allah which has never been altered or changed.

End of Second Part of the Quran

Thanks and Gratitude to Allah the Highest