Quran stories
Talut and Jalut: the story in the Quran
A small band of believers defeating a mighty army by Allah's permission
- Published:
- Updated:
- Surah Al-Baqarah, 246-251
- #the story of Talut and Jalut
- #Quran stories
- #Talut
- #Jalut
- #Prophet Dawud
- #Surah Al-Baqarah
- #the river test
At a glance
- Surah
- Surah Al-Baqarah, 246-251
- Main figures
- King Talut and young Dawud (peace be upon him)
- Enemy
- Jalut (Goliath) and his army
- Test
- The river test: only a small group showed patience
- Outcome
- The small band of believers won by Allah's permission
- The unnamed prophet
- The prophet who chose a king for Bani Israel (according to some narrations, Samuel)
Summary
The story of Talut and Jalut is told in Surah Al-Baqarah (246-251). After the time of Musa (peace be upon him), Bani Israel asks their prophet for a king to fight for the cause of Allah. Allah appoints Talut as their king; although the people object that he is not wealthy, Allah has favored Talut with knowledge and physical strength. During the march, Allah tests them with a river, and only a small group shows patience. This small band puts its trust in Allah, and young Dawud (peace be upon him) kills the mighty Jalut. Thus the small band of believers defeats the large army by Allah's permission.
The story
Bani Israel asks for a king
After the time of Musa (peace be upon him), the chiefs of Bani Israel approached their prophet and said: "Appoint a king for us, so that we may fight for the cause of Allah under his leadership." The prophet warned them: "But what if, when fighting is ordained for you, you refuse to fight?"
They replied by recalling that they had been driven from their homes and separated from their children, and declared that they were resolved to fight. But when fighting was ordained for them, most of them turned away, except for a few (Al-Baqarah, 246). This shows how a promise made in words meets the test of reality.
Talut is chosen as king
Their prophet said to them: "Allah has appointed Talut as your king." The people objected: they claimed that Talut was not wealthy and that they were more entitled to rule than he was. The prophet answered: "Allah has chosen him over you and increased him in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives His dominion to whom He wills" (Al-Baqarah, 247).
As a sign of his kingship, the angels brought them the ark (tabut) containing a tranquility (sakinah) from their Lord (Al-Baqarah, 248). Thus it was declared that leadership comes not from wealth but from Allah's choice, knowledge, and merit.
The river test
When Talut set out with the army, he said: "Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks his fill from it is not with me; whoever does not taste it, except for a scoop with his hand, is with me" (Al-Baqarah, 249).
Most of the army could not pass this small test and drank their fill from the river; only a small group showed patience. After crossing the river, some of them saw Jalut's army and said, "We have no strength today against them." But those who were certain that they would meet Allah answered: "How many a small band has overcome a large band by Allah's permission!"
Jalut is defeated and Dawud's triumph
Before the battle the believers prayed: "Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our steps firm, and help us against the disbelieving people" (Al-Baqarah, 250).
Then, by Allah's permission, they defeated the enemy. Dawud (peace be upon him), still young, killed the mighty Jalut. Allah gave him kingship and wisdom, and taught him what He willed (Al-Baqarah, 251). Thus a small but faithful band overcame a powerful army with Allah's help, and Dawud became the prophet-king of the future.
Key verses
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ بَعَثَ لَكُمْ طَالُوتَ مَلِكًا قَالُوا أَنَّى يَكُونُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ عَلَيْنَا وَنَحْنُ أَحَقُّ بِالْمُلْكِ مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْتَ سَعَةً مِنَ الْمَالِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَاهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَزَادَهُ بَسْطَةً فِي الْعِلْمِ وَالْجِسْمِ وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
- Transliteration
- Wa qala lahum nabiyyuhum innallaha qad ba'atha lakum Taluta malika. Qalu anna yakunu lahul-mulku alayna wa nahnu ahaqqu bil-mulki minhu wa lam yu'ta sa'atan minal-mal. Qala innallahas-tafahu alaykum wa zadahu bastatan fil-'ilmi wal-jismi, wallahu yu'ti mulkahu man yasha'u, wallahu wasi'un alim.
- Meaning
- Their prophet said to them: "Allah has appointed Talut as your king." They said: "How can he be king over us when we are more entitled to rule than he is? He has not even been given great wealth." The prophet said: "Allah has chosen him over you and increased him in knowledge and physical strength. Allah gives His dominion to whom He wills. Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing."
فَلَمَّا فَصَلَ طَالُوتُ بِالْجُنُودِ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُبْتَلِيكُمْ بِنَهَرٍ فَمَنْ شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي وَمَنْ لَمْ يَطْعَمْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي إِلَّا مَنِ اغْتَرَفَ غُرْفَةً بِيَدِهِ فَشَرِبُوا مِنْهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْهُمْ فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ قَالُوا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو اللَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
- Transliteration
- Falamma fasala Talutu bil-junudi qala innallaha mubtalikum binahar, faman shariba minhu falaysa minni, wa man lam yat'amhu fainnahu minni illa manightarafa ghurfatan biyadih. Fasharibu minhu illa qalilan minhum. Falamma jawazahu huwa walladhina amanu ma'ahu qalu la taqata lanal-yawma bi Jaluta wa junudih. Qalalladhina yazunnuna annahum mulaqullahi kam min fiatin qalilatin ghalabat fiatan kathiratan biidhnillah, wallahu ma'as-sabirin.
- Meaning
- When Talut set out with the army, he said: "Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks his fill from it is not with me; whoever does not taste it, except for a scoop with his hand, is with me." All but a few of them drank from it. When he and those who believed with him had crossed it, some of them said: "We have no strength today against Jalut and his army." But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said: "How many a small band has overcome a large band by Allah's permission! Allah is with the patient."
فَهَزَمُوهُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُودُ جَالُوتَ وَآتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاءُ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَفَسَدَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
- Transliteration
- Fahazamuhum biidhnillahi wa qatala Dawudu Jaluta wa atahullahul-mulka wal-hikmata wa 'allamahu mimma yasha'. Wa lawla daf'ullahin-nasa ba'dahum biba'din lafasadatil-ardu walakinnallaha dhu fadlin alal-'alamin.
- Meaning
- So they defeated them by Allah's permission, and Dawud killed Jalut. Allah gave him kingship and wisdom, and taught him what He willed. Had Allah not repelled some people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of grace towards the worlds.
In the Quran
This event is told only in Surah Al-Baqarah (246-251). The verses recall the stages in order: Bani Israel's request for a king, the choosing of Talut, the river test, and the defeat of Jalut. Talut is known in the Torah as Saul, and Jalut as Goliath; the unnamed prophet is said, according to some narrations, to have been Samuel, but the Quran does not mention him by name.
Lessons and wisdom
- Victory does not lie in numerical superiority but in faith and patience; a small band can prevail by Allah's permission.
- Leadership does not come from wealth, but from Allah's choice, knowledge, and merit.
- Small tests reveal who is ready for great tasks; the trial of drinking from the river showed this.
- Triumph comes by Allah's permission; that is why one must ask for patience and steadfastness before battle.
Sources
References are drawn from Quran verses, available authentic hadith and reliable scholarship.
Talut's appointment as king, the people's objection, and Allah's choosing him with knowledge and physical strength are mentioned in this verse.
The river test and the possibility that a small band could overcome a large army are stated in this verse.
Dawud's (peace be upon him) killing of Jalut and his receiving kingship and wisdom are narrated in this verse.
- Scholarly sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Tâlût"
Referenced for academic information about Talut (Saul in the Torah) being chosen as king for Bani Israel and the event in Surah Al-Baqarah.
- Scholarly sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Câlût"
Referenced for academic information about the identity of Jalut (Goliath) and his killing by Dawud (peace be upon him).
Related stories
Other narratives found in the Quran.
Prophets in this story
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this story.
What is the story of Talut and Jalut?
The story of Talut and Jalut is told in Surah Al-Baqarah (246-251): Talut is chosen as king for Bani Israel, the army is tested with a river, and young Dawud (peace be upon him) kills the mighty Jalut, so that the small band of believers wins by Allah's permission.Who was Talut?
Talut is the man chosen as king for Bani Israel through their prophet. Although the people objected that he was not wealthy, Allah had favored him with knowledge and physical strength (Al-Baqarah, 247). He is known in the Torah as Saul.Who killed Jalut?
The mighty warrior Jalut (Goliath) was killed by Dawud (peace be upon him), who was still young at the time. After this, Allah gave Dawud kingship and wisdom (Al-Baqarah, 251).What was the river test?
Talut tested his army with a river: whoever drank his fill was not with him; only whoever drank no more than a scoop of water, or did not drink at all, was with him. Most of the army could not pass this test; only a small group showed patience (Al-Baqarah, 249).In which surah is the story of Talut and Jalut told?
This story is told in verses 246-251 of Surah Al-Baqarah, and it is mentioned only there in the Quran.