Surah Al-Baqarah 2:247
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 247 of 286
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًۭا ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمَالِ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسْطَةًۭ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ وَٱلْجِسْمِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
Translation
Their prophet said to them, ‘God has now appointed Talut to be your king,’ but they said, ‘How can he be king over us when we have a greater right to rule than he? He does not even have great wealth.’ He said, ‘God has chosen him over you, and has given him great knowledge and stature. God grants His authority to whoever He pleases: God is magnanimous, all knowing.’
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Qur'anic Worlds
When we approach the Quran, especially stories of past nations, we're invited to step into their world and see how Allah's timeless wisdom unfolds. This verse, Surah 2:247, takes us deep into the experience of the Children of Israel (Bani Isra'il) after the time of Prophet Moses, as they navigate their struggles and their relationship with divine guidance.
A People's Plea and a Divine Choice
The story begins in the "World of Past Nations" with the Children of Israel asking their prophet, Samuel (or Shamwil, as mentioned by scholars like al-Tabari and Mufti Shafi), to appoint a king to lead them in fighting their enemies. They had suffered greatly, and their desire for a leader was understandable. Allah, in His boundless wisdom, answered their request. Their prophet announced, as the verse begins: `إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًۭا` (Indeed, Allah has sent forth to you Talut as a king). Talut is the Quranic name for Saul, a figure known in biblical tradition.
The People's Objection
However, the Children of Israel did not immediately accept this divine appointment. Their response was one of skepticism and complaint: `قَالُوٓا۟ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمَالِ` (They said, "How can he have kingship over us when we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given vastness of wealth?"). Their reasoning, as explained by scholars like al-Baghawi and Ibn Kathir, was rooted in their societal norms. They believed kingship should come from specific tribes (like the tribe of Judah) or established royal houses, and Talut was not from these. Furthermore, they pointed to his lack of wealth, suggesting he was a poor man (some accounts describe him as a tanner or water-carrier, al-Tabari). Sayyid Qutb highlights this as a recurring characteristic of the Bani Isra'il: arguing and questioning divine decrees based on their own narrow expectations.
Allah's Criteria for Leadership
The prophet responded to their objections by clarifying Allah's wisdom: `قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسْطَةًۭ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ وَٱلْجِسْمِ` (He said, "Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and has increased him in vastness of knowledge and body"). The prophet emphasized that this was Allah's choice (`اصْطَفَىٰهُ`), not his own. The true qualifications for leadership, as divinely ordained, were `ٱلْعِلْمِ وَٱلْجِسْمِ` – knowledge and physical strength. Al-Razi notes that knowledge and power are far more fitting for leadership than lineage or wealth, especially in times of war. Talut possessed the strategic wisdom for battle and the physical stature and strength required to lead an army. Many scholars, including al-Tabari and al-Baghawi, mention Talut's remarkable height, surpassing others. The placement of "knowledge" before "body" is also a subtle indication, as al-Razi points out, of the superiority of intellectual and spiritual virtues over physical ones.
The verse concludes with an powerful reminder of Allah's absolute sovereignty: `وَٱللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ` (And Allah grants His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing). This statement firmly establishes that kingship, or any form of authority, is solely in Allah's hands. He gives it to whomever He chooses, based on His perfect knowledge and boundless generosity, not on human expectations or traditional status. He is `وَٰسِعٌ` (All-Encompassing) in His giving and `عَلِيمٌۭ` (All-Knowing) of what is best for His creation. This story from a past nation reminds us that true authority and capability come from Allah's bestowal, and His wisdom surpasses all human judgment.
Sources: Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), al-Tabari (Jami al-Bayan), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:247 is discussed in 15 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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