وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِٱلْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِّنَ ٱلْمَالِ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱصْطَفَىٰهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُۥ بَسْطَةً فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ وَٱلْجِسْمِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يُؤْتِى مُلْكَهُۥ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ 247
Translations
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, Allāh has sent to you Saul as a king." They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given any measure of wealth?" He said, "Indeed, Allāh has chosen him over you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allāh gives His sovereignty to whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing [in favor] and Knowing."
Transliteration
Wa-qāla lahum nabiyyuhum inna Allāha qad ba'atha lakum Tālūta malikan qālū annā yakūnu lahu al-mulku 'alaynā wa-nahnu ahaqqu bi-al-mulki minhu wa-lam yu'ta sa'atan min al-māl qāla inna Allāha istaafāhu 'alaykum wa-zādahu basṭatan fi al-'ilmi wa-al-jism wa-Allāhu yu'tī mulkahu man yashā' wa-Allāhu wāsi'un 'alīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the Prophet Samuel's (Shurayil or Sham'ūn) announcement to the Israelites that Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as their king, despite their objections based on his lack of wealth and social status. The people questioned how someone of humble means could rule over them, but the Prophet explained that Allah's choice is based on superior knowledge and physical strength, not material wealth—a fundamental principle that divine selection transcends worldly criteria. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this passage teaches the primacy of piety, knowledge, and capability over social status and wealth in Islamic governance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Talut and Jalut (David and Goliath) in Surah Al-Baqarah, which was revealed to address the spiritual and political struggles of the early Medinan community. The broader context illustrates how the Children of Israel were tested with leadership and war, paralleling the challenges faced by the Muslim community in Medina, and serves as a lesson about trusting Allah's wisdom in appointing leaders regardless of apparent qualifications.
Related Hadiths
Hadith: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, 'When a ruler is appointed, if he is just, he will have two rewards, and if he is unjust, he will bear the burden [of his injustice]' (Sahih Bukhari 3735). Additionally, the Quran emphasizes in Surah An-Nisa 4:59 that leadership requires trust in Allah's appointment, which aligns thematically with this ayah's message.
Themes
Key Lesson
True leadership is determined not by wealth, social status, or lineage, but by knowledge, integrity, and capability—qualities that Allah alone can truly assess. This ayah teaches believers to submit to divinely-guided authority and to trust that Allah's wisdom transcends human assumptions, encouraging us to evaluate leaders by their character and competence rather than material circumstances.