Surah Baqarah ayat 249 Tafsir Quran 2:249

﴿فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٍ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ ۚ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ قَالُوا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَاقُو اللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ﴾
[ البقرة: 249]

2:249 And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, Allah 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 Allah said, "How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient."

And when Saul went forth with the hosts from the Holy House sc. Jerusalem the heat was intense and so they asked him for water; he said ‘God will try test you in order to distinguish the obedient among you from the disobedient with a river between Jordan and Palestine whoever drinks of it of its water is not of me is not of my followers and whoever tastes it not he is of me except for him who scoops up with his hand’ ghurfa or gharfa ‘a scoop’ satisfying himself therewith and not taking more he is also of my followers. But they drank of it when they reached it and saw that it was abundant except a few of them who restricted themselves to a scoop it is reported that one scoop was enough for each man and his horse and they numbered over three hundred; and when he crossed it with those who believed the ones who confined themselves to the one scoop they the ones that drank profusely said ‘We have no power today against Goliath and his troops’ that is no power to fight them and they were cowardly and did not cross it. Those who thought with certainty that they would meet God at the Resurrection and these were the ones that crossed it said ‘How often kam ‘how’ functions as a predicate meaning kathīr ‘many’ a little company group of men has overcome a numerous one by God’s leave by His will; and God is with the patient’ providing them with help and assistance.

And when Talut advanced his troops and traversed some distance by marching, they came across a river. There and then said Talut to his troops: Allah has preordained that you be tested now for inclination, sincerity and endurance, therefore, he who drinks of the river to satisfy his thirst shall be discharged from my forces, but he who does not drink shall join my forces, but excused is he who takes only a few sips from the palm of one hand. Yet they all satisfied their thirst except for a few. And when Talut crossed the river with those who exercised unqualified obedience to commands, they wrere confronted by Jalut (Goliath) and his superior forces whom they feared. They said: On this day we are not a match for Jalut and his forces. But those who marched under the banner, believers touched by the divine hand, who believe they would be destined to be in Allah, the Creator’s, August Presence Hereafter, ventured to say: How often, Allah willing, has a small force submitted a superior force? Allah upholds the patient and persevering

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, لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّى إِلاَّ 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: فَشَرِبُواْ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً 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 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 ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ قَالُواْ لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنودِهِ ( 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 فِئَةٍ كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّـبِرِينَ ( "How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave" And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ).)

(2:249) And when Saul marched out with his army, he warned: "Allah is going to put you to a test by the side of a river: whoso drinks of its water shall cease to be my companion: he alone shall be~my companion who does not quench his thirst with its water: one may, however, take except a few, drank their fill of it. *271 Afterwards when Saul, and those who had believed with him, crossed the river and advanced forward, the former said to Saul, "We have no power left this day to fight against Goliath and his hosts." *272 But those who believed that one Day they shall meet Allah, declared, "lt has often been that a small host has, by Allah's grace, overcome a big host: for Allah is with those who show fortitude."

And when Saul went forth with the meaning

*271).
This may refer either to the river Jordan or to some other river or stream in that region.
Saul wanted to take the Israelite army across the river.
He was aware, however, that there was little moral discipline and restraint left in them.
Hence he hit upon this device to distinguish the worthy from the worthyless.
Those who could not endure thirst even for a short while, would not be expected to remain steadfast in their confrontation with an enemy at whose hands they had already taken a beating.

*272).
These were presumable the people who had shown their impatience on the bank of the river.
( See the preceding note - Ed. )
 

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, لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّى إِلاَّ 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: فَشَرِبُواْ مِنْهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً 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 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 ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ قَالُواْ لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنودِهِ ( 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 فِئَةٍ كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّـبِرِينَ ( "How often has a small group overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave" And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ).)

When they were given the Ark back, they accepted him as their king and went out with him to fight. ( And when Saul set out ) went forth ( with the army ) through a wasteland and became very thirsty, they asked him to provide them with water, ( he ) i.e. Saul ( said: Lo! Allah will try you by a river ) Allah will test you by a flowing river. ( Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof ) from the river ( he is not of me ) he is not going to be with me in the fight against my enemy and will not go further, ( and whoever tasteth it not he is of me ) against my enemy, but then he made an exception, ( save him who taketh (thereof ) in the hollow of his hand) and this was enough for them, their beasts and transportation. ( But they drank thereof ) when they reached the river however they drank as much as they wanted to, ( all save a few of them ) 313 men who did not drink except as they had been directed. ( And after he had crossed ) the river, ( he ) i.e. Saul ( and those who believed with him, they said ) to each other: ( We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew ) and were convinced ( that they would meet Allah ) in person after they died ( exclaimed: How many a little company ) of believers ( hath overcome a mighty host ) of unbelievers ( by Allah’s leave! ) by the help of Allah. ( And Allah is with the steadfast ) He assists the steadfast in war by giving them victory.

Then when Talut (Saul) 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 to meet their Lord, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah's Leave?" And Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).

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