وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَـٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ 248
Translations
And their prophet said to them, "Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the chest will come to you in which is assurance from your Lord and a remnant of what the family of Moses and the family of Aaron had left, carried by the angels. Indeed in that is a sign for you, if you are believers."
Transliteration
Wa qāla lahum nabiyyuhum inna āyata mulkihi an ya'tiyakum al-tābūt fīhi sakīnah min rabbikum wa baqiyyah mimmā taraka ālu Mūsā wa ālu Hārūn tahmiluh al-malā'ikah. Inna fī dhālika la-āyatan lakum in kuntum mu'minīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the sign (āyah) of Saul's (Tālūt) kingship over the Israelites: the return of the Ark of the Covenant (al-tābūt) containing tranquility (sakīnah) from Allah and remnants of what the families of Moses and Aaron left behind, carried by angels. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that the Ark's return after it had been lost or taken by enemies was a miraculous sign validating Saul's divine appointment as king, serving as a test of faith for the believers among them.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:246-251) describing the story of Saul and David, revealed in Medina. The context addresses the Israelites' request for a king to fight the Philistines, and Allah's appointment of Saul as their leader despite his humble origins. The Ark's miraculous return was meant to strengthen the faith of those who believed and test those who doubted.
Related Hadiths
While no single hadith directly addresses this specific Quranic narrative, Sahih Al-Bukhari contains discussions about the Ark of the Covenant in relation to Israelite history. The hadith literature emphasizes that signs and miracles are given to strengthen the believers' faith, as stated in various hadiths regarding divine proofs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true leadership is validated through divine signs rather than worldly status or wealth, and that believers must recognize and respond to Allah's proofs with genuine faith. It reminds us that miracles serve to strengthen conviction in those whose hearts are open to belief, while testing the sincerity of those who claim to follow Allah's guidance.
Related Ayahs
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ
And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allāh [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
۞ لَّيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَىٰهُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
Not upon you, [O Muḥammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allāh guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the face [i.e., approval] of Allāh. And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌۢ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَٱفْعَلُوا۟ مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is." [Moses] said, "[Allāh] says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that,' so do what you are commanded."