سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 251
فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿251﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So they routed them by Allâh’s Leave and Dâwûd (David) killed Jâlût (Goliath), and Allâh gave him [Dâwûd (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Tâlût (Saul) and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allâh did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allâh is full of bounty to the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَهَزَمُوهُم
fahazamūhum
So they defeated them
بِإِذْنِ
bi-idh'ni
by (the) permission
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَقَتَلَ
waqatala
and killed
دَاوُۥدُ
dāwūdu
Dawood
جَالُوتَ
jālūta
Jalut
وَءَاتَىٰهُ
waātāhu
and gave him
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
ٱلْمُلْكَ
l-mul'ka
the kingdom
وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ
wal-ḥik'mata
and the wisdom
وَعَلَّمَهُۥ
waʿallamahu
and taught him
مِمَّا
mimmā
that which
يَشَآءُ ۗ
yashāu
He willed
وَلَوْلَا
walawlā
And if not
دَفْعُ
dafʿu
(for the) repelling
ٱللَّهِ
l-lahi
(by) Allah
ٱلنَّاسَ
l-nāsa
[the] people
بَعْضَهُم
baʿḍahum
some of them
بِبَعْضٍۢ
bibaʿḍin
with others
لَّفَسَدَتِ
lafasadati
certainly (would have) corrupted
ٱلْأَرْضُ
l-arḍu
the Earth
وَلَـٰكِنَّ
walākinna
[and] but
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
ذُو
dhū
(is) Possessor
فَضْلٍ
faḍlin
(of) bounty
عَلَى
ʿalā
to
ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
l-ʿālamīna
the worlds
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.
251. Then, by Allah’s command, that small group defeated them, and David [351] killed Goliath. Allah granted David kingship [352] and wisdom, and taught him whatever He willed. And if Allah did not repel some people by means of others [353], there would surely be corruption on the earth [354]. But Allah is Most Gracious to all the worlds.
[351]
Sayyiduna Dawud (A.S.) and the Killing of Jalut:
Hazrat Dawud (A.S.) was the youngest among his brothers and used to graze goats. He was agile, strong, and had a fit body. He was a very good marksman, and whenever wild animals attacked the flock of goats, he would kill or drive them away with stones. He was so courageous and powerful that if a beast fell into his hands, he would place his foot on its lower jaw and pull the upper jaw with such force that he would tear it apart.
[352] When the battle began, Jalut himself came forward and started challenging for single combat. He was completely clad in iron, with only his face and eyes exposed. Dawud (A.S.) picked up two or three stones from the way for this purpose. He placed these three stones one after another in the sling and attacked Jalut with them, which struck his forehead and, tearing through his head, came out at the back of his neck, causing Jalut to fall dead. This incident demoralized Jalut’s army, and Allah Almighty granted victory to Talut’s small army. Later, he became the unanimously accepted and sole king of Bani Israel.
[353] After this incident, Talut married his daughter to Dawud (A.S.), and after Talut, Dawud (A.S.) became his successor. Then, after that, Allah Almighty also honored him with prophethood.
[354] In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated His law for maintaining order on earth, and that is: He grants a nation the strength and ability to gain dominance and power on earth up to a certain limit. Then, when that nation, indulging in corruption on earth, begins to exceed that specific limit, He breaks its power through another nation. And if Allah Almighty did not do so, and the rule of a single nation or party was always maintained on earth, its oppression and violence would reach the extreme, and great corruption would spread in Allah’s land. In this respect, this law of Allah Almighty is a great favor upon all nations.
[351]
Sayyiduna Dawud (A.S.) and the Killing of Jalut:
Hazrat Dawud (A.S.) was the youngest among his brothers and used to graze goats. He was agile, strong, and had a fit body. He was a very good marksman, and whenever wild animals attacked the flock of goats, he would kill or drive them away with stones. He was so courageous and powerful that if a beast fell into his hands, he would place his foot on its lower jaw and pull the upper jaw with such force that he would tear it apart.
[352] When the battle began, Jalut himself came forward and started challenging for single combat. He was completely clad in iron, with only his face and eyes exposed. Dawud (A.S.) picked up two or three stones from the way for this purpose. He placed these three stones one after another in the sling and attacked Jalut with them, which struck his forehead and, tearing through his head, came out at the back of his neck, causing Jalut to fall dead. This incident demoralized Jalut’s army, and Allah Almighty granted victory to Talut’s small army. Later, he became the unanimously accepted and sole king of Bani Israel.
[353] After this incident, Talut married his daughter to Dawud (A.S.), and after Talut, Dawud (A.S.) became his successor. Then, after that, Allah Almighty also honored him with prophethood.
[354] In this verse, Allah Almighty has stated His law for maintaining order on earth, and that is: He grants a nation the strength and ability to gain dominance and power on earth up to a certain limit. Then, when that nation, indulging in corruption on earth, begins to exceed that specific limit, He breaks its power through another nation. And if Allah Almighty did not do so, and the rule of a single nation or party was always maintained on earth, its oppression and violence would reach the extreme, and great corruption would spread in Allah’s land. In this respect, this law of Allah Almighty is a great favor upon all nations.
