أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلْمَلَإِ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذْ قَالُوا۟ لِنَبِىٍّ لَّهُمُ ٱبْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُّقَـٰتِلْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالَ هَلْ عَسَيْتُمْ إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ أَلَّا تُقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ۖ قَالُوا۟ وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نُقَـٰتِلَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِن دِيَـٰرِنَا وَأَبْنَآئِنَا ۖ فَلَمَّا كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقِتَالُ تَوَلَّوْا۟ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِّنْهُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 246
Translations
Have you not considered the assembly of the Children of Israel after [the time of] Moses when they said to a prophet of theirs, "Send to us a king, and we will fight in the way of Allāh"? He said, "Would you perhaps refrain from fighting if battle was prescribed for you?" They said, "And why should we not fight in the cause of Allāh when we have been driven out from our homes and from our children?" But when battle was prescribed for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allāh is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Alam tara ilal-mala'i min bani isra'ila min ba'di musa idh qalu li-nabiyyin lahumu ib'ath lana malikan nuqatil fi sabilillah. Qala hal 'asaytum in kutiba 'alaykumu al-qital alla tuqatilu. Qalu wa ma lana alla nuqatila fi sabilillah wa qad ukhrijna min diyarina wa abna'ina. Fa lamma kutiba 'alayhim al-qital tawallaw illa qalilan minhum. Wallahu 'alimun bi al-zalimin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah narrates the incident when the Israelites after Musa (Moses) requested a prophet to appoint them a king to lead them in fighting in Allah's cause, expressing their zeal and readiness for jihad. However, when the fighting was actually prescribed upon them, the majority retreated except for a small group, demonstrating the hypocrisy between their claims and actions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this illustrates the weakness of human resolve when facing actual hardship, and serves as a reminder that true commitment to Allah's cause requires sincerity beyond mere words.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of a historical narrative within Surah Al-Baqarah addressing the Medinan community. It references the Israelites' request for Talut (Saul) as their king, an event detailed in subsequent verses (2:247-251). The context relates to the Qur'an's instruction to Muslims about leadership, warfare, and the testing of faith, relevant to the early Muslim community's own struggles and trials.
Related Hadiths
The theme of disparity between claimed commitment and actual action is echoed in the hadith: 'The best jihad is a word of truth before a tyrannical ruler' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains numerous hadiths about the trials (fitnah) that separate the sincere believers from the hypocrites.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that true faith is demonstrated through action, not merely through words or initial enthusiasm; when we commit to something for Allah's sake, we must be prepared to honor that commitment despite difficulties. It also reminds us that Allah is fully aware of those who falsely claim devotion while abandoning their responsibilities when tested.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مَنًّا وَلَآ أَذًى ۙ لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh and then do not follow up what they have spent with reminders [of it] or [other] injury will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَـٰنِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِّنْ عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۖ فَٱعْفُوا۟ وَٱصْفَحُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allāh delivers His command. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous -