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
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَـٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِلَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
O you who have believed, eat from the good [i.e., lawful] things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allāh if it is [indeed] Him that you worship.
قُلْنَا ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
وَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَشْرِقُ وَٱلْمَغْرِبُ ۚ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا۟ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And to Allāh belongs the east and the west. So wherever you [might] turn, there is the Face of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُم مَّنَـٰسِكَكُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَذِكْرِكُمْ ءَابَآءَكُمْ أَوْ أَشَدَّ ذِكْرًا ۗ فَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا لَهُۥ فِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَـٰقٍ
And when you have completed your rites, remember Allāh like your [previous] remembrance of your fathers or with [much] greater remembrance. And among the people is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world," and he will have in the Hereafter no share.