Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 249

(Ayah 249) ➊ {فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوْتُ بِالْجُنُوْدِ: } {”بِالْجُنُوْدِ“} The word (armies) indicates that a very large number of the Children of Israel set out to fight. Talut considered it necessary to test their obedience, endurance, hunger, thirst, and patience in the battlefield, so that only those who possessed these qualities would accompany him. However, only a few people succeeded in this test; the rest failed. Those who succeeded crossed the river, but upon seeing the enemy’s numbers, some among them who were weak in faith exclaimed that they did not have the strength today to face Jalut and his armies. But those with firm faith, who were certain of meeting Allah, encouraged them, saying that in battle, numbers are not decisive—Allah’s command is decisive. Many times it has happened that when Allah wills, small groups, due to their patience and steadfastness, overcome large groups, because Allah is with those who are patient. There are countless such incidents in the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Look at Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq. In the Battle of Mu’tah, the Muslims were three thousand and the enemy was two hundred thousand. (Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum, Battle of Mu’tah)
➋ Al-Bara’ bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: The companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) who participated in Badr told me that their number was equal to the companions of Talut who crossed the river—slightly more than three hundred and ten. Al-Bara’ says: By Allah! No one crossed with him except a believer. [ بخاری، المغازی، باب عدۃ أصحاب بدر: ۳۹۵۷ ]

249. 1 This river is between Jordan and Palestine (Ibn Kathir).

249. 2 Obedience to the leader is necessary in all circumstances; however, during confrontation with the enemy, its importance is multiplied many times over. Secondly, for success in battle, it is also necessary that the soldiers endure hunger, thirst, and other hardships with great patience. Thus, for the training and testing of both these matters, Talut said that your first trial will be at the river, but despite the warning, the majority drank the water. In this way, the number of those who did not drink is reported as 313, which is the same as the number of the Companions of Badr. And Allah knows best.

249. 3 These believers too, at first, when they saw the large number of the enemy, expressed this opinion in view of their own small numbers. Upon this, their scholars, who had firmer conviction than them, said that success does not depend on the abundance of numbers and weaponry, but rather on Allah’s will and His permission, and for Allah’s support, it is necessary to observe patience.

249. Then when Talut set out with the armies, he said: "Indeed, Allah will test you with a river [348]. Whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is of me—except for the one who takes a handful with his hand." But they drank from it, except a few of them. Then when he and those who believed with him had crossed it, they said: "We have no power today against Jalut and his armies." But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said: "How many a small group has overcome a large group by Allah’s permission! And Allah is with those who are patient."

[348]
Jihad Under the Leadership of Talut:

Thus, under the leadership of King Talut, a massive army of the Children of Israel set out to face Jalut. Talut had already said that whoever wished to show cowardice should not come with us. The Children of Israel were very brave in words. Thus, their number reached seventy thousand. On the way, at one stop, they did not find water, so they complained to Talut. Talut said, "Ahead, there is a river coming, but you must not drink your fill from it, only take a sip or two, and this is a test from your Lord. If you cannot even bear your thirst, then what feats will you accomplish in battle? Therefore, I will only take with me the one who endures his thirst." So, when they reached the river, all of them drank their fill, and some even put their faces into the river and began to drink like cattle. By drinking such a large amount of water at once, their bodies began to weaken, and after walking a short distance, they fell down and said, "Now we no longer have the strength to fight Jalut and his army."

[349]
The Number of Talut’s Army:

And those who endured their thirst numbered only three hundred and thirteen or thereabouts. Among these patient ones were the elderly Prophet Samuel, Dawud, his father, and his six brothers, and according to the narration of Bara bin Azib, this was the same number that remained as the Companions of Badr [بخاري، كتاب المغازي، باب عدة اصحاب بدر]. Where the number of those boasting with words was seventy thousand, and where only a pure three hundred and thirteen remained from among them, meaning that out of every two thousand, only nine proved to be true warriors. The morale of these people was high. They were patient and reliant upon Allah. They said among themselves that if only a few of us remain, it does not matter; victory and defeat, life and death, all are in the hands of Allah. Many times it happens that Allah grants victory to a small, patient group over a very large army, because Allah’s help is with them.