In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
The Summary of Tafsir al-Tabari,
Abridged by Dr. Aqeel Ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Baqarah.
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
“Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.” (2:243)
“Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.” (2:243)
“Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.” (2:243)
Indeed, Allah is full of bounty to the people,
but most of the people do not give thanks.
Have you not considered, O Muhammad,
“Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.” (2:243)
when they went forth in flight from death?
“Bethink thee (O Muhammad) of those of old, who went forth from their habitations in their thousands, fearing death, and Allah said unto them: Die; and then He brought them back to life. Lo! Allah is a Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.” (2:243)
This was an instruction and a reminder to them
that causing death and granting life are solely in His hands and belong to Him alone, not to His creation,
and that taking shelter in fortresses and hiding in homes and dwellings
will never save anyone from His decree once it descends upon their threshold,
just as it availed nothing to those who fled the plague.
Indeed, Allah is full of bounty and grace toward His creation
by showing them the path of guidance
and warning them against the ways of ruin,
along with the rest of His favors which He bestows upon them in their worldly life and their religion.
Yet most people do not give thanks for the blessings I have bestowed upon them
and the bounty that I have conferred upon them,
by worshipping others besides Me
and directing their hopes and fears to beings other than Me,
who possess for them neither harm nor benefit.
And fight in the way of Allah,
and know that Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Fight, O believers, for the cause of Allah's religion,
to which He guided you, against the enemies of your faith,
and do not shrink back from confronting them,
for your life and death rest solely in My hands.
Let not the fear of death hold any of you back from confronting and fighting them,
nor dread of mortality overtaking his soul.
And know, O believers, that your Lord hears the words
of those among your hypocrites who say concerning those slain in My path:
"Had they obeyed us and stayed in their homes, they would not have been killed."
He is fully aware of the hypocrisy, disbelief,
and ingratitude for His blessings that their chests conceal.
Who is it that will lend Allah a goodly loan
so that He will multiply it for him many times over?
“Who is it that will lend unto Allah a goodly loan, so that He may give it increase manifold? Allah straiteneth and enlargeth. Unto Him ye will return.” (2:245)
Who is this that will spend in the way of Allah,
thereby aiding one who is weak,
or strengthening an indigent person who intends to strive in the path of Allah,
and providing for the destitute among them?
For Allah will multiply it for him many times over
as a recompense for his loan and expenditure,
without measure and without limit.
And in Allah's hand lies the withholding and expanding of the provision of His servants:
He restricts by withholding sustenance from whomever He wills among His creation,
and He broadens it by expanding sustenance for whomever He wills among them.
And to Allah is your final return, O people,
so fear Allah concerning your own souls,
lest you neglect His obligations and transgress His bounds.
As when they said to a prophet of theirs:
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
"Appoint for us a king."
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
He said: "Would you perhaps,
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
if battle is decreed upon you, not fight?"
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
"and our children?"
But when fighting was prescribed for them,
they turned away, except
a few of them;
and Allah is All-Knowing
of the wrongdoers.
Have you not considered, O Muhammad,
the notables and nobles of the Children of Israel,
after the soul of Moses was taken and he died?
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
“Bethink thee of the leaders of the Children of Israel after Moses, how they said unto a prophet whom they had: Set up for us a king and we will fight in Allah's way. He said: Would ye then refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for you? They said: Why should we not fight in Allah's way when we have been driven from our dwellings with our children? Yet, when fighting was prescribed for them, they turned away, all save a few of them. Allah is aware of evil-doers.” (2:246)
The prophet said:
"Do you promise that if fighting is decreed for you,
you will not fail to fulfill the pledge you make to Allah from yourselves,
to strive in His cause?"
For you are a people prone to breach of faith and treachery.
The assembly of the Children of Israel said to their prophet:
"And what could prevent us from fighting in the path of Allah
against our enemy and the enemy of Allah,
when those who were subdued from among our men have been driven out,
as well as our women from their homes and children,
and our people have been taken captive by force and subjugation?"
Yet when fighting their enemy was decreed upon them,
along with striving in His path,
they turned their backs, fleeing from battle, and abandoned
the obligation of striving which they had asked their prophet to impose on them,
save for those who crossed the river with Saul.
And Allah is fully aware of those among them who wronged themselves,
breaking the pledge they had made to Allah
and disobeying the command of their Lord.
And their prophet said to them:
“Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)
They said: "How can he have
kingship over us,
“Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)
when he has not been given an abundance of wealth?"
He said: "Indeed, Allah
has chosen him over you and increased him
“Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)
abundantly in knowledge and stature; and Allah grants His kingdom
to whomsoever He wills,
and Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."
And their prophet said
to the assembly
of the Children of Israel:
"Indeed, Allah has granted you what you asked for,
and has sent Saul to you as a king."
They said: "How can Saul possess kingship over us,
when he is from the tribe of Benjamin, son of Jacob,
and the tribe of Benjamin is a tribe with neither kingship
nor prophecy?"
“Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since he hath not been given wealth enough? He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. Allah bestoweth His Sovereignty on whom He will. Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2:247)
For kingship belonged to the tribe of Judah, son of Jacob.
Their prophet said:
"Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you
and granted him vastness in knowledge and physique,
bestowing upon him a superiority of knowledge over what He gave to others.
Kingship belongs to Allah alone, and is in His hand and none other;
He gives it to whomsoever He wills,
bestowing it upon him and singling him out for it,
and granting it to whomever He pleases of His creation.
And Allah is vast in His bounty, bestowing it upon whomever He loves,
fully aware of who is truly worthy of the kingship He confers
and the favor He grants."
And their prophet said to them:
"Indeed, the sign of his kingship
is that the Ark will come to you,
that the Ark will come to you,
“And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if (in truth) ye are believers.” (2:248)
and a remnant,
and a remnant of what was left."
So they said to him:
"Bring us a sign of that,
if you are among the truthful."
Their prophet said to them:
"The sign of Saul's kingship
is that the Ark will come to you,
which the Children of Israel used to have,
so that whenever they met an enemy,
— and they had said to him: 'Bring us a sign of that' —
whenever they met an enemy,
they would place it before them and advance with it,
and no enemy could withstand them in its presence,
nor could any adversary overcome them,
until they disobeyed the command of Allah and their disputes grew frequent
against their prophets.
So Allah stripped them of it time after time,
returning it to them on each occasion,
until He seized it from them the last time and did not return it to them,
so the Ark remained with an enemy of the Children of Israel.
Thus the sign of Saul's kingship
is that the Ark will come to you, through which you used to seek victory,
“And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if (in truth) ye are believers.” (2:248)
and within the Ark is that which brings reassurance to the hearts,
consisting of the signs that you well know,
and the remaining relics left behind by the house of Moses
and the house of Aaron, such as the staff and the fragments of the Tablets,
and the Torah or a portion thereof,
or the courage to strive in the way of Allah,
carried by the angels until they placed it
in the dwelling of Saul right before the eyes of the Children of Israel.
Indeed, in the coming of the Ark to you,
“And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if (in truth) ye are believers.” (2:248)
“And their Prophet said unto them: Lo! the token of his kingdom is that there shall come unto you the ark wherein is peace of reassurance from your Lord, and a remnant of that which the house of Moses and the house of Aaron left behind, the angels bearing it. Lo! herein shall be a token for you if (in truth) ye are believers.” (2:248)
carried by the angels,
is a clear sign and proof for you, O people,
of my truthfulness in informing you that Allah
has appointed Saul as your king,
if you truly believe upon the arrival of the sign
that you demanded of me to verify my truthfulness."
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
by a river.
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
by a river.
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
"and whoever does not taste it
is indeed of me,
except whoever scoops up
a single scoop with his hand."
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
of them.
So when he had crossed it, he
and those who believed with him,
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
against Goliath and his soldiers.
Those who were certain
that they would meet Allah said:
"How often a small company
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
has overcome a large company
by Allah's permission!"
Then the Ark came to them,
whereupon they believed their prophet
and submitted to him in that regard.
So Saul marched out with the army and set forth with them.
Then Saul said to his soldiers,
when they complained of thirst to him:
"Indeed, Allah will test you with a river,
so that your obedience to Him may be made manifest.
Whoever drinks of its water is not of my followers,
and whoever does not taste the water of that river
is truly of my allegiance, obedient to me,
and of those who believe in Allah and in meeting Him,
except for whoever scoops up a single handful of water;
he indeed is of me."
Thus, whoever drank freely from it became ever thirstier,
while whoever scooped up a single scoop had his thirst quenched.
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
So when Saul crossed the river along with the believers
and the disobedient who had drunk copiously from it,
a clear distinction was made between them thereafter
upon seeing Goliath and confronting him.
The people of doubt and hypocrisy said: "We have no strength today against Goliath and his soldiers."
“And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.” (2:249)
But those who knew and were certain of the Resurrection said:
"How often has a small host overcome
a mighty host by the decree and preordainment of Allah!"
And Allah is with those who restrain themselves
in seeking His pleasure and obeying Him.
“And when they went into the field against Goliath and his hosts they said: Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance, make our foothold sure, and give us help against the disbelieving folk.” (2:250)
They said: "Our Lord, pour down upon us
patience."
They said: "Our Lord, pour down upon us
patience, make our steps firm,
make our steps firm,
and grant us victory over the disbelieving people."
And when they emerged into the open battlefield,
the exposed and level ground,
Saul and his companions prayed:
"Our Lord, send down patience upon us,
strengthen our hearts to fight them
so that our feet remain firm and we do not flee before them,
and grant us victory over the people who have disbelieved in You,
denying Your divinity and worshipping others besides You,
taking idols as their lords."
So they routed them by Allah's leave,
and David slew Goliath,
and David slew Goliath.
And Allah gave him kingship
and wisdom, and taught him
of that which He willed.
And were it not for Allah checking
people, some of them
by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted;
the earth would have been corrupted.
“So they routed them by Allah's leave and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of that which He willeth. And if Allah had not repelled some men by others the earth would have been corrupted. But Allah is a Lord of Kindness to (His) creatures.” (2:251)
upon all the worlds.
Thus, Saul and his soldiers defeated the forces of Goliath
by the decree and preordainment of Allah,
and David killed Goliath.
And Allah granted David kingship and prophethood,
and taught him the crafting of chainmail
and the precise measuring of links.
[through] the people of faith against the people of disobedience and polytheism,
just as He repelled harm from those who stayed behind from Saul
by means of those who fought alongside him—the people of faith in Allah,
certainty, and perseverance;
the inhabitants of the earth would have surely perished by Allah’s punishment,
and the earth would thereby have been ruined.
But Allah is full of bounty toward His creation,
by warding off harm from the wicked through the righteous among His creation,
and from the disobedient through the obedient among them.
These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth,
and you are indeed one of the messengers.
These verses in which Allah has recounted
the story of those who left their homes
and the story of the elders of the Children of Israel
are definitive proofs against whoever denies My favor, opposes My command,
and disbelieves in My Messenger among the people of the two Scriptures—
the Torah and the Gospel.
"And I have narrated to you hidden tidings
which they know are from Me,
which you neither fabricated nor invented
yourself, O Muhammad, since you are unlettered.
And you, O Muhammad, are truly a messenger,
following My obedience and preferring My pleasure over your own desire;
thus traversing, in this mission of yours,
the path of My messengers who came before you,
who stood firm upon My command
above their own desires, unaffected by caprice
and worldly ambitions."
Summary from Tafsir al-Tabari.