فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ وَٱلْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ 251
Translations
So they defeated them by permission of Allāh, and David killed Goliath, and Allāh gave him the kingship and wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allāh checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the worlds.
Transliteration
Fahazamūhum bi-idhni Allāhi wa-qatala Dāwūdu Jālūta wa-ātāhu Allāhu al-mulka wa-al-hikma wa-'allamahu mimmmā yashā'. Wa-lawlā daf'u Allāhi al-nāsa ba'dahum bi-ba'din lafasadat al-ard wa-lākinna Allāha dhū fadlin 'alā al-'ālamīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recounts the momentous victory of the believers (Saul's army) over Goliath's forces, with Prophet David (Dawud) slaying the giant Goliath (Jalut) by divine permission. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this victory was entirely by Allah's will and wisdom, granted to David along with prophethood, kingship, and divine knowledge. The verse concludes with a universal principle: Allah maintains balance in creation by allowing people to resist one another, for without this divine intervention of mutual restraint, corruption would spread throughout the earth—demonstrating Allah's mercy and grace upon all creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative in Surah Al-Baqarah (ayah 246-251) describing the story of Prophet Samuel (Samuil) and the Israelites' request for a king to fight against their enemies. The context is Medinan, addressing the early Muslim community about divine support for the righteous and the establishment of just governance. This historical account serves as encouragement to the Muslims facing their own trials.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly narrates this specific event (as it is a biblical narrative confirmed in the Quran), Sahih Bukhari records various hadiths about Prophet David's virtues and his role as a messenger. Related thematically: 'The best of people are those in my generation, then those who follow them' (Sahih Bukhari 3456), emphasizing the honor of righteous predecessors like David.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true victory comes not from numbers or physical strength, but from faith in Allah and adherence to His guidance—as young David defeated the mighty Goliath. Additionally, it reminds us that Allah's management of world affairs through balance between competing forces is itself an act of divine mercy, encouraging believers to trust in Allah's wisdom even amid apparent conflict and struggle.
Related Ayahs
لِلْفُقَرَآءِ ٱلَّذِينَ أُحْصِرُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ ضَرْبًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ يَحْسَبُهُمُ ٱلْجَاهِلُ أَغْنِيَآءَ مِنَ ٱلتَّعَفُّفِ تَعْرِفُهُم بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ لَا يَسْـَٔلُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ إِلْحَافًا ۗ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِهِۦ عَلِيمٌ
[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allāh, unable to move about in the land. An ignorant [person] would think them self-sufficient because of their restraint, but you will know them by their [characteristic] sign. They do not ask people persistently [or at all]. And whatever you spend of good - indeed, Allāh is Knowing of it.
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱعْتَدَوْا۟ مِنكُمْ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا۟ قِرَدَةً خَـٰسِـِٔينَ
And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, "Be apes, despised."
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we exalt You with praise and declare Your perfection?" He [Allāh] said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allāh has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.