Children’s Column
The Qur’an for Young Hearts – 67
Important Notes
1:The translation of the Qur’an being presented here is interpretative. It is meant for children. Those who can understand other translations should better consult them.
2. Parents are advised to hold sessions at home and teach the verses and explanation as given here, and, if they can, add more from Qur’anic commentaries.
3. Answers to exercise below may be attempted. Parents may evaluate them and reward the children suitably.
4. Schools could also include this in their Islamic curriculum.
5. The underlined words have been explained in the Dictionary given below.
Verses from Surah no. 2, Al-Baqarah
[249]WhenTalutstarted with his troops he told them, ‘Verily, Allah is going to test you at the stream. Whoever drank from it, is not of me. But he who did not drink of it is of me, except for him who takes a sip out of his hand.’ But, they drank from it (to their fill) except for a handful of them. When he had crossed it along with those who had believed in him, they began to say, ‘We have no strength this day against Jalut and his army.’ But those who believed that they would meet their Lord called out: ‘How many a small group overcame a big group, with the help of Allah? And Allah is with the patient.’
[250] So, when they came face to face with Jalut and his army, they prayed, ‘O Lord, shower upon us patience, make firm our feet, and help us against the unbelieving people.’
[251] Thereat they defeated them by Allah’s will, and Da’udkilledJalut. Allah gave him kingship and prophethood, and taught him what He wished. And, were not Allah to remove one set of people by means of another, the earth would be completely corrupted, but Allah is bounteous upon all beings.
Understanding these verses:
The story of the chicken-hearted, weakly committed, knee-jerking believers, of the times of Da’ud (about 1000 years before Christ) continues. It is not narrated to teach the Jews their history. They know it very well. It is narrated for Muslims to learn the right lessons. And one lesson is that they cannot sit back doing nothing when faced with enemies, praying and praying, and praying for Allah’s help. And, how can any help come when they break every rule, go against every command, neglect everything ordered? At best, if they respond to the call of the Qur’an and Sunnah, it is tolisten half-believingly, do things incompletely, and run away to TV shows as fast as possible. How can they expect any help?
This is how the Jews were who were with Talut. A cowardly army can never win, no matter how large. So, Allah arranged that they should be tried to see whether they would remain obedient in difficult conditions. When, after the thirst of the march, they came to the shore of a stream, perhaps River Jordan, they were told either not to drink at all, or, take a sip. Many of them ignored the command, and drank until they could drink no more. They were left behind and Talut moved forward with some 315 men who had obeyed him.
But, even this small group seems to have been not too strong in faith. When they saw their enemy in big numbers, with a big man Jalut leading them, they began to murmur: “how can we win over these big numbers?” Perhaps they would have said, “Talut is a fanatic. “ But those who were true in faith reminded them that in the history of wars, many small groups have defeated big groups. They prayed to Allah to give them the power of patience, which is the first requirement in a battlefield. Every battle is a trial not of strength but of patience.
The result was that those who remained in the battle-field, fighting, despite many falling, finally triumphed. The enemy, perhaps got tired of fighting, and began to back off.
At the start the hugely built commander-in-chief Jalut challenged Talut’s army: “is there anyone to face me?” The answer came from a youth called Da’ud. He was small, but his body had a hidden force: that of faith that death is not to be feared. You are victorious either way: living or dead. Some day you have to die. Why not in the way of Allah? He fought with amazing skill and more amazing will. He was ready to die. But Jalut was not ready to die.Jalut was fighting for wealth, wine and women. Da’ud was fighting to please his Lord. There was no match. Da’ud’s electrified sword hurt Jalut more than his iron-powered sword could. He fell.
The commander-in-chief Jalut was highly impressed. Perhaps he was already impressed by Da’ud’s character. He gave him his daughter in marriage. Later, for his courage and obedience, Allah made him a Prophet. Later, perhaps with Talut’s death, he was made a king also. Thus, for the first time in known history, Da’ud became a king-Prophet.
Our Prophet was given the choice of being a king. He chose to remain a servant of Allah.
The holy Bible has the story of Dau’d in much detail. He is known as David. And Jalutis mentioned as Goliath. It says (1 Samuel,18:12) that Saul (equivalent of Talut) was envious of David, and gave him his daughter in marriage to make him a commander and get him killed by the local pagans in one of the battles.For the marriage itself he set the condition that David should fight the pagans and bring 100 of their foreskins to Saul. Saul had set that condition hoping that before Da’ud kills 100 of the pagans, he would be killed himself. David however managed to kill 200 and brought their foreskins to Saulwho finally gave him his daughter in marriage. Later, David married 7 more women.
Also, Jews do not recognize Davidas a Prophet. They think he was only a king, and that too a sexually corrupt man who, when he became a king, arranged the murder of one of his commanders to marry his wife after his death (see 2 Samuel, ch. 11-12. Do not refer to so-called …pedia(s), but read the Bible itself because these …pedias hide the truth).
Anyway what’s the lesson that the Qur’an narrated his story? Of the many that you must yourself work out, one that we can mention here is that it is meant to clear the name of a Prophet, Da’ud. He was no corrupt man. Secondly, and which is stated in verse 251, to make people know and understand Allah’s ways. These battles takes place, and Allah removes giant-like figures, and huge armies, at the hands of a handful of men, in order to clean the earth of those who rebel against their Lord, and spread corruption in the land. Allah is kind to the people. If he did not do it, life would become entirely intolerable in the land.
This is visible today, the corrupt ones are spreading corruption throughout the lands. Allah’s corrective measure is expected.
But corrective measures by Muslims should get into working first.
Test of understanding:
Answer the following:
- Re-write the story of Da’ud, Talut and Jalut in your own words.
- Re-write the story of Saul and David as given in Bible in your own words.
- Correct the following: Da’ud was made a Prophet by the people.
- Correct the following: According to the Bible, David was a Prophet.
- Name 3 corruptions that you see around you today.
- What is meant by corrective measure by Muslims?
- Do you see today Muslim women marrying men of courage and character?
- Do you see today around you men of courage and character?
- State who is who in the story.
- Can you give another example of how a small group overcame a large one in battle?
(To be continued)
