ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books An Enlightening Commentary into the Light of the Holy Qur'an vol. 2 Section 33, Saul's Victory over Goliath Verse 249 in Deep "So when Saul marched out with the troops he said: 'Verily Allah will try you by a river, whoever drinks from it he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is surely of me, including the one who tastes but a single handful.' But they all drank of it, except a few of them.

And when he (Saul) crossed it (the river), those who believed with him said: 'We have no power today against Goliath and his troops.' Those who knew that they would meet Allah said: 'How often a small party has overcome a numerous host by Allah's leave! And Allah is with the (steadfast) patient ones'."(2:249) In this verse, the Qur'an announces the failure of a large group of Israelites in their test when they drank water from the prohibited stream. They did not tolerate the thirst therein.

So, they were not successful in that trial. "So when Saul marched out with the troops he said: 'Verily Allah will try you by a river, whoever drinks from it he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is surely of me, including the one who tastes but a single handful. ' But they all drank of it, except a few of them. And when he (Saul) crossed it (the river)..." However, the remaining group, who succeeded in the foregoing examination, had another practical examination, too.

It was a spiritual examination. When they encountered the great forces of Goliath, they said that they could not fight against that armed force. "... those who believed with him said: 'We have no power today against Goliath and his troop'..." But, those who believed in the Resurrection and meeting Allah in the Hereafter, said that victory is in Allah's hand, and it is by His leave that a small group may win a large and numerous troop. It says: "...

Those who knew that they would meet Allah said: 'How often a small party has overcome a numerous host by Allah's leave!