Surah 2. Al-Baqara, Ayah 249
| فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُمْ بِنَهَرٍ فَمَنْ شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَنْ لَمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ ۚ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمْ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ قَالُوا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو اللَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ |
| Transliteration | : | fa- lammaa fas.ala t.aalot bi- al- junod qaala 'inna 'allaah mubtale -kum bi- nahar fa- man shariba min -hu fa- laysa min -ne wa- man lam yat.cam -hu fa- 'inna -hu min -ne 'illaa man ightarafa ghurfah bi- yad -hi fa- sharibo min -hu 'illaa qalel(an) min -hum fa- lammaa jaawazo -hu huwa wa- 'alladhena 'aamano maca -hu qaalo laa t.aaqah la- -naa al- yawm bi- jaalot wa- junod -hi qaala 'alladhena yaz.unnon 'anna -hum mulaaqo 'allaah kam min fi'ah qalelah ghalabat fi'ah katherah bi- 'idhn 'allaah wa- 'allaah maca as.- s.aabiren |
| Pickthall | : | 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 their Lord exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast. |
| Asad | : | And when Saul set out with his forces, he said: "Behold, God will now try you by a river: he who shall drink of it will not belong to me, whereas he who shall refrain from tasting it - he, indeed, will belong to me; but forgiven shall be he241 who shall scoop up but single handful." However, save for a few of them, they all drank [their fill] of it. And as soon as he and those who had kept faith with him had crossed the river, the others said: "No strength have we today [to stand up] against Goliath and his forces!" [Yet] those who knew with certainty that they were destined to meet God, replied: "How often has a small host overcome a great host by God's leave! For God is with those who are patient in adversity." |
| Malik | : | When Talut marched forth with his army, he announced: "Allah will test you at a certain river; anyone who will drink from its water shall cease to be my soldier, and those who will not drink to quench their thirst with its water except a sip or so from the hollow of their hands shall fight on my side." They all drank from it, inspite of this warning, except a few of them. When he and those who believed with him crossed the river, they said: "We have no power left this day against Jalut (Goliath) and his warriors." But the believers, who knew they would meet Allah, replied: "It has often happened that a small group, by the grace of Allah, has vanquished a mighty army. Allah is with those who endure with patience." |
| Yusuf Ali | : | When Talut set forth with the armies he said: "Allah will test you at the stream; if any drinks of its water he goes not with my army; only those who taste not of it go with me; a mere sip out of the hand is excused." But they all drank of it except a few. When they crossed the river he and the faithful ones with him they said: "This day we cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." But those who were convinced that they must meet Allah said: "How oft by Allah's will hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere." 284 285 |
Note - 241Lit., "excepting him". The symbolic implication is that
faith - and, thus, belief in the justice of one's cause -
has no value unless it is accompanied by heightened
self-discipline and disregard of one's material
interests.
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Note - 284A Commander is hampered by a large force if it is not in
perfect discipline and does not whole-heartedly believe
in its Commander. He must get rid of all the doubtful
ones, as did Gideon before Saul, and Henry V. in
Shakespeare's story long afterwards. Saul used the same
test as Gideon; he gave a certain order when crossing a
stream; the greater part disobeyed, and were sent back.
Gideon's story will be found in Judges, vii. 2-7.
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Note - 285Even in the small band that remained faithful, there were
some who were appalled by the number of the enemy when
they met him face to face, and saw the size and strength
of the enemy Commander, the giant Goliath (Jalut). But
there was a very small band who were determined to face
all odds because they had perfect confidence in God and
in the cause for which they were fighting. They were for
making a firm stand and seeking God's help. Of that
number was David; see next note.
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A Commander is hampered by a large force if it is not in perfect discipline and does not whole-heartedly believe in its Commander. He must get rid of all the doubtful ones, as did Gideon before Saul, and Henry V. in Shakespeare's story long afterwards. Saul used the same test as Gideon; he gave a certain order when crossing a stream; the greater part disobeyed, and were sent back. Gideon's story will be found in Judges, vii. 2-7. |
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Even in the small band that remained faithful, there were some who were appalled by the number of the enemy when they met him face to face, and saw the size and strength of the enemy Commander, the giant Goliath (Jalut). But there was a very small band who were determined to face all odds because they had perfect confidence in God and in the cause for which they were fighting. They were for making a firm stand and seeking God's help. Of that number was David; see next note. |
