The Holy Quran 2:246 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

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

Translation

Did you not see when a group from the Bani Israa'eel after Moosa عليه الصلاة والسلام said to their Nabi (Shamweel عليه الصلاة والسلام), “Appoint for us a king so that (under his leadership) we may fight in Allaah's way." He said, "Would you then refrain from fighting if it (fighting in Allaah's way) was made obligatory for you?" They replied, "Why should we not fight in Allaah's way when we have been exiled (driven out) from our homes and children?" So when fighting was ordained for them, all except a few turned away. Allaah is well Aware of the wrong doers.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

From this story the expanding and contracting by Almighty Allah, which has just been mentioned, is well established, that is, making a pauper a king and taking kingship away from a king, and making the weak strong and the strong weak.

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.