The Jihad Of Thalut Against Jalut

06-09-2008

“Their Prophet said to them: "(Allah) hath appointed Thalut as king over you." They said: "How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in abundance?" He said: "(Allah) hath Chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah Granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth. Allah careth for all, and He knoweth all things.” [Qur’an 2:247]
 

It cannot be denied that every man endowed with wealth and status are given trials. The ownership of wealth and power is a form of trial per se. Not a few men have become evil, greedy and lost their humane characters by owning them.

We know the story about Qarun, a slave to his own wealth, whose life was ended by being swallowed up in the earth down with his wealth.

We also know the story about Firaun, a tyrant who had become oppressive and kafir because of his power. That is why Islam always stresses so much on the danger of owning wealth and status. But at the same time it also presents us with clear representations the stories about wealthy men and officials who were safe.

We also know the story about Prophet Sulaiman AS, as well as the story of Khalifah Umar bin Abdul Aziz, as a depiction of kings who were guided. Also Uthman bin Affan and Khadijah al-Kubra, as wealthy people who would be even wealthier in paradise afterwards because of spending their wealth in wise ways.

This story about King Thalut is another depiction given by the Qur’an in the subject of power ownership. This story in many ways also gives out a big contribution to the world’s moral.

It was said that this story also exists in the religious book of the Jews and Christians. There are surely differences though between the story of King Thalut in the Islamic version which is mentioned in the Qur’an and the story which was contained in the holy books of the people of Israel. The stories in their books later became known as the ‘Israelliyat’ (Jewish traditions transmitted by the converts amongst the Jews and later conveyed by the Companions and Followers (tâbiûn)).

The Leader’s Trepidation

Thereupon, Prophet Musa AS and his brother Prophet Harun AS, returned to their Lord leaving the People of Israel in a situation where they did not have a leader. Trials and humiliations had befallen upon the Jewish people continually thereafter.

They were always defeated in every battle that had taken place between them and the other nations of the world. Their reputations were affected and their honors gradually died away.

The People of Isreal is a nation with a long history of glory. Often times they had became the chosen race or people because Allah SWT had frequently sent His chosen messengers to them. In fact they were a people who are mentioned the most for their stories in the Qur’an.

Nevertheless, their history is a history which contains for the most part records of insubordination and infidelity towards the teachings of the messengers, thus there grew a kind of pride in their hearts. This case can be directly related to the sirah of our Prophet, Muhammad SAW, where in their denial of this supreme human being, one of the reasons was because of their egos which did not acknowledge prophets not from amongst their people. We all know that the Prophet was sent by Allah SWT amongst the Arab society, not the people of Israel.

The state of humiliation and defeat that they were experiencing made the people of Israel grieved. Like what we have been told in the Qur’an in the surah Al-Baqarah verse 246, a group from the Bani (Tribe) Israel approached their prophet to ask for a king. It was not specifically mentioned who the prophet was, but what's certain was that the prophet had a different task from that of the Prophet Musa’s role. This means that the prophet was not a Rasul (Messenger or a prophet who is given a new Shari'at [Divine Law]) like Prophet Musa AS.

“Raise for us a leader so that we can fight in the way of Allah,” they said to the prophet.

“It might be that you are obligated to fight later, but you do not fight,” the prophet answered doubting the commitments of the dignitaries from the Bani Israel.

“Why don’t we want to fight in the way of Allah, whereas we are exiled from our villages and separated from our children,” they replied to convince the prophet.

It appeared that they were truly desperate for a leader. Nobody can unite them in battles to confront their enemies except for a true king. The king who they were hoping for was actually a king who would be wise. A king who would know how to lead, whose every behavior displayed the conducts of a true leader. With a king like that, they were confident that they could rise up from the humiliations.

The prophet then prayed to Allah so that a genuine king would be raised from amongst the people who were akin to strayed baby chicks looking for the mother hen. Then Allah SWT revealed to him a sign and made Thalut, an ordinary young man, to become a king.

The dignitaries of the Bani Israel were shocked. The Thalut whom they knew was a poor man who had no wealth he could be proud of, and he was not from the normal circles of people. A very shocking decision and out of their expectations. They spontaneously rejected it!

“How can he become our king, whereas we more qualified and have more rights to become a king and he does not have much wealth,” they said, like what can be found in the Qur’an.

The prophet was even so shocked at their reactions. Weren’t they the one who asked for a sign and a king to be raised? When the directive came, they were also the one who became the opponent of that directive.

Thalut Became A King

However, the prophet did not lose his patience. He explained politely that Thalut was a sign from Allah hence he was the most entitled. According to him, Thalut was a king bestowed with superior knowledge (‘ilm) and iman. Moreover, Thalut have a strong physical built. The two particular strengths which fused into one body made Thalut a very suitable candidate to become a leader who would be bearing the heavy task ahead.

It was narrated in the tradition that Thalut had a perfect physique. Quraish Shihab mentioned that the word ‘Thalut’ came from the word 'Thawil', meaning long and tall. It was because Thalut was a young man who possessed a very good body form.

The prophet then added that the sign that Thalut would be a king was the return of Tabut to the people of Israel. Tabut was a chest which contained the relics left by Prophet Musa AS and Prophet Harun AS. The Bani Israel always brought the chest to every battle they had. It was once an object of everybody’s struggle.

The sign was portrayed in the Qur’an,: “And (further) their Prophet said to them: "A Sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the covenant, with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried by angels. In this is a symbol for you if ye indeed have faith."” [Qur’an 2:248]

The Tabut was very important for the Bani Israel. It was said that, ten of the Prophet Musa’s decree for his people which was better known as the famous Ten Commandments were contained inside the Tabut.

This had caused enough discomforts in the hearts of the dignitaries of the Bani Israel, yet they had no choice but to accept it while waiting for evidences on the truthfulness of what the Prophet had said. It was precisely that what happened, there were no battles and fighting whatsoever but the Tabut had returned to them miraculously. Like what we are told in the Qur’an, it was the angels who had brought the Tabut back to the people of Israel, though it was not recounted in detail.

War Full Of Trials

The evidences on the accuracy of Thalut was naturally valid. Nobody could refute the honor that Allah SWT had given to this slave of His who would be leading the Bani Israel at that time. The first plan that Thalut had to perform was to reclaim the honor of the Bani Israel. Through a formal order, Thalut declared war against Jalut, an oppressive king who had defeated the Bani Israel. So he made ready his forces without any delay.

The pattern of Thalut’s leadership displayed himself as a respected leader. He prepared his forces with wisdom and full of discipline. His venerable characters further strengthened the enthusiasm of the Bani Israel to go to battles.

However, Thalut was a king who did not just want a temporary admiration. Due to the very grueling battle they would be tackling ahead, he needed warriors with high and pure commitments in his forces. Furthermore, his forces had hardly been tried and tested. Everything still seemed blur to him at that time.

The appointed day finally arrived. Thalut’s forces set off leaving their territory. The huge number in the forces were likened to the 'thick dust flying in the air', it was said. After travelling for quite some distances, Thalut called out to his forces, "Verily, Allah will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused.” Thalut said loudly like what have been recounted in the Qur’an in surah Al-Baqarah, verse 249.

Not long afterwards, the expedition stumbled upon a river. According to tradition, it was said that the river was Jordan River. Naturally Thalut’s party was in thirst. The first test was given by Allah SWT to them and it was due to this test that Thalut’s forces became less in number.

Some of the members of the expedition who did not have strong fighting spirits, drank the water from the river until they had got rid of their thirsts. However, the remaining fraction of the expedition still held on with the spirit of 'wanting to obey Thalut’s order'. The group that had passed the first test was the one who continued the journey.

Finally, Thalut’s forces come upon the forces of Jalut. It was soon discovered that the strength of Jalut’s forces was far more superior. This had caused fear and trembling to come over the men of Thalut and all their bones shook. But the strength of their Iman helped them to withhold and abstain from retreat. But still a portion of the forces who have thin iman could not hide their fear and right away decided to flee.

“There is no power within us to fight Jalut and his war party. We can’t afford to fight them. Therefore we are making up our mind not to participate in the battle against Jalut’s forces,” the members of Thalut’s forces with weak iman said.

The situation felt so intolerable for Thalut. If he was not the chosen person, he could have probably left the battle field himself. According to some narrations, those from his forces who remained loyal were only 300 of them. They were the one whose flame of Jihad had been ignited and whose iman was ‘thick’.

They intensified their spirit with confidence, “How oft, by Allah's will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere." [Qur’an 2:249]

Yes, how many small forces but with quality had been able to defeat much bigger forces. The battle between Rasulullah SAW and the Quraish kafirs at the hill of Badr had become its prove some centuries later.

Daud and Jalut

Nothing seemed blur anymore now. The 300 people were his true warriors who were clearly upon the jihad in the way of Allah SWT. They gallantly fought the thousands from Jalut’s forces. They only have two choices: victory and obtaining success or shaheed and straight way fly towards Allah’s paradise which was full of infinite bliss. There were no doubts in their steps, no more skepticism in their hearts.

Amongst the forces of Thalut, there was a youth who had a noble akhlaq (the practice of virtue, morality and manners). He was David, before he was taken up as a Rasul of the Bani Israel: David attacked Jalut valiantly and it the end, he succeeded in killing the cruel king. The success of David in killing Jalut had become a sign of victory they had been waiting for. The forces of Jalut then ran away helter skelter. This historical story had become very famous and it is widely known by the title David and Goliath. David was Daud as a protagonist who defeated Goliath or Jalut the evil.

Thus the story was ended in the Qur’an. David soon became a Rasul and inherited the rule of Thalut and was filled by Allah SWT with hikmah (wisdom) and noble teachings.

“By Allah's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds. These are the Signs of Allah. we rehearse them to thee in truth: verily Thou art one of the apostles.” [Qur’an 2:251-252]

We could relate to the above story in the context of today. When every religion claims that a messiah would come to deliver themselves and raise them up from oppressions and humiliations like what Thalut did to the Bani Israel. In today's world it is blindingly obvious who are from the people of Thalut and who are from Jalut’s side. The oppression of the Muslims are so prevalent in todays world, in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, the Philippines, etc. It was the Muslims who were exiled and refugees in their own homeland. Many were separated from their families. Those of the 300 men who remained loyal to Thalut are the Mujahideen of today, what’s left of the original huge number of Muslims in the world today. Not the moderates, secular, or liberals (forget about the munafiqs)... these are the poeple who have completely failed at the earliest test. It is the Mujahideen of today who are the warriors with high and pure commitments, whose flame of jihad had been ignited and whose iman was ‘thick’. In their unrelenting istiqomah (steadfastness) they would soon defeat the Goliath of today under the leadership of a forthcoming Imam. Insha Allah.

May we obtain some hikmah from this Story from the Qur'an. Ameen!

Submitted by a Mujahid

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