Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 249
Quran 2:249 · The Cow · Madani · Para 2 · Page 41
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوْتُ بِالْجُنُوْدِ ۙ قَالَ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مُبْتَلِیْكُمْ بِنَهَرٍ ۚ فَمَنْ شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَیْسَ مِنِّیْ ۚ وَمَنْ لَّمْ یَطْعَمْهُ فَاِنَّهٗ مِنِّیْۤ اِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِیَدِهٖ ۚ فَشَرِبُوْا مِنْهُ اِلَّا قَلِیْلًا مِّنْهُمْ ؕ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهٗ هُوَ وَالَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَعَهٗ ۙ قَالُوْا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْیَوْمَ بِجَالُوْتَ وَجُنُوْدِهٖ ؕ قَالَ الَّذِیْنَ یَظُنُّوْنَ اَنَّهُمْ مُّلٰقُوا اللّٰهِ ۙ كَمْ مِّنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِیْلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِیْرَةً بِاِذْنِ اللّٰهِ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِیْنَ ۟
Transliteration
Falamma fasala talootubiljunoodi qala inna Allaha mubtaleekumbinaharin faman shariba minhu falaysa minnee waman lam yatAAamhufa-innahu minnee illa mani ightarafa ghurfatan biyadihifashariboo minhu illa qaleelan minhum falamma jawazahuhuwa wallatheena amanoo maAAahu qaloola taqata lana alyawma bijalootawajunoodihi qala allatheena yathunnoonaannahum mulaqoo Allahi kam min fi-atin qaleelatinghalabat fi-atan katheeratan bi-ithni Allahi wallahumaAAa assabireen
Saheeh International
And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, Allāh will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand." But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, "There is no power for us today against Goliath and his soldiers." But those who were certain that they would meet Allāh said, "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allāh. And Allāh is with the patient."
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir
When Saul set out with his warriors, he said to them, ‘Allah will test you with a river. If anyone drinks from it, he will not be on my path and must not join me in fighting. The person who does not drink from it will be on my path and will join me in the fight. If someone drinks a handful of water, this will be forgiven’. When they reached the river, all the warriors drank from its water, except a few of them who held back despite being extremely thirsty. After Saul had crossed the river with the believers, some of the warriors said, ‘We do not have the ability to fight Goliath and his army’. Those that were convinced that they would meet Allah on the Day of Resurrection said to them, ‘So many believing groups small in number have defeated a disbelieving group large in number with Allah’s permission and assistance. Victory is based on faith and not numbers. Allah is with the patient ones among His servants: He assists and gives them victory’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Then when Talut set out with the army, he said: "Verily, Allah will try you by a river. So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me; and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand." Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them. So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power this day against Jalut (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were going to meet Allah, said: "How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave?" And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient)(249)
Allah states that Talut, the king of the Children of Israel, marched forth with his soldiers and the Israelites who obeyed him. His army was of eighty thousand then, according to As-Suddi, but Allah knows best. Talut said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم
(Verily, Allah will try you) meaning, He will test you with a river, which flowed between Jordan and Palestine, i.e. , the Shari'ah river, according to Ibn 'Abbas and others. He continued,
فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
(So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me;) meaning, shall not accompany me today,
وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ
(and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand.) meaning, there is no harm in this case. Allah then said:
فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ
(Yet, they drank thereof, all, except a few of them.)
Ibn Jurayj stated that Ibn 'Abbas commented, "Whoever took some of it (the river's water) in the hollow of his hand, quenched his thirst; as for those who drank freely from it, their thirst was not quenched."
Ibn Jarir reported that Al-Bara' bin 'Azib said, "We used to say that the Companions of Muhammad ﷺ who accompanied him on the battle of Badr were more than three hundred and ten, just as many as the soldiers who crossed the river with Talut. Only those who believed crossed the river with him." Al-Bukhari also reported this.
This is why Allah said:
فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ قَالُوا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ
(So when he had crossed it (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no power this day against Jalut (Goliath) and his hosts.")
This Ayah indicates that the Israelites (who remained with Saul) thought that they were few in the face of their enemy who were many then. So, their knowledgeable scholars strengthened their resolve by stating that Allah's promise is true and that triumph comes from Allah Alone, not from the large numbers or the adequacy of the supplies. They said to them:
كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
("How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave?" And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient).)