سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 249
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِٱلْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُم بِنَهَرٍ فَمَن شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّى وَمَن لَّمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مِنِّىٓ إِلَّا مَنِ ٱغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةًۢ بِيَدِهِۦ ۚ فَشَرِبُوا۟ مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۚ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُۥ هُوَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ قَالُوا۟ لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا ٱلْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُم مُّلَـٰقُوا۟ ٱللَّهِ كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةًۢ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ﴿249﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then when Tâlût (Saul) set out with the army, he said: "Verily! Allâh 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 Jâlût (Goliath) and his hosts." But those who knew with certainty that they were going to meet Allâh, said: "How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allâh’s Leave?" And Allâh is with As-Sâbirûn (the patient).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
فَصَلَ
faṣala
set out
طَالُوتُ
ṭālūtu
Talut
بِٱلْجُنُودِ
bil-junūdi
with the forces
قَالَ
qāla
he said
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
مُبْتَلِيكُم
mub'talīkum
will test you
بِنَهَرٍۢ
binaharin
with a river
فَمَن
faman
So whoever
شَرِبَ
shariba
drinks
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
فَلَيْسَ
falaysa
then he is not
مِنِّى
minnī
from me
وَمَن
waman
and whoever
لَّمْ
lam
(does) not
يَطْعَمْهُ
yaṭʿamhu
taste it
فَإِنَّهُۥ
fa-innahu
then indeed, he
مِنِّىٓ
minnī
(is) from me
إِلَّا
illā
except
مَنِ
mani
whoever
ٱغْتَرَفَ
igh'tarafa
takes
غُرْفَةًۢ
ghur'fatan
(in the) hollow
بِيَدِهِۦ ۚ
biyadihi
(of) his hand
فَشَرِبُوا۟
fasharibū
Then they drank
مِنْهُ
min'hu
from it
إِلَّا
illā
except
قَلِيلًۭا
qalīlan
a few
مِّنْهُمْ ۚ
min'hum
of them
فَلَمَّا
falammā
Then when
جَاوَزَهُۥ
jāwazahu
he crossed it
هُوَ
huwa
he
وَٱلَّذِينَ
wa-alladhīna
and those who
ءَامَنُوا۟
āmanū
believed
مَعَهُۥ
maʿahu
with him
قَالُوا۟
qālū
they said
لَا
lā
No
طَاقَةَ
ṭāqata
strength
لَنَا
lanā
for us
ٱلْيَوْمَ
l-yawma
today
بِجَالُوتَ
bijālūta
against Jalut
وَجُنُودِهِۦ ۚ
wajunūdihi
and his troops
قَالَ
qāla
Said
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
يَظُنُّونَ
yaẓunnūna
were certain
أَنَّهُم
annahum
that they
مُّلَـٰقُوا۟
mulāqū
(would) meet
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
Allah
كَم
kam
How many
مِّن
min
of
فِئَةٍۢ
fi-atin
a company
قَلِيلَةٍ
qalīlatin
small
غَلَبَتْ
ghalabat
overcame
فِئَةًۭ
fi-atan
a company
كَثِيرَةًۢ
kathīratan
large
بِإِذْنِ
bi-idh'ni
by (the) permission
ٱللَّهِ ۗ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
مَعَ
maʿa
(is) with
ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
l-ṣābirīna
the patient ones
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
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.
[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.
