Surah Al-Baqarah — Verse 248

Their prophet said to them that the mark of his being truly chosen as their king was that Allah would return to them the Ark. This was a chest revered by the Israelites which was taken away from them. In it there was tranquillity and relics left behind by the family of Moses and Aaron, such as the staff and a few tablets. In that there is a clear sign if you are true believers.

And their Prophet said to them: "Verily! The sign of His kingdom is that there shall come to you At-Tabut, wherein is Sakinah (peace and reassurance) from your Lord and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind, carried by the angels. Verily, in this is a sign for you if you are indeed believers (248)

Their Prophet then proclaimed, "The sign of the blessings of Talut's kingship over you is that Allah will give you back the Tabut (wooden box) that has been taken from you." Allah said:

فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ

(wherein is Sakinah from your Lord) meaning, peace (or grace) and reassurance. 'Abdur-Razzaq stated that Qatadah said:

فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ

(wherein is Sakinah) means grace. In addition, Ar-Rabi' said that Sakinah means mercy. This is also the meaning given by Ibn 'Abbas, as Al-'Awfi narrated.

Allah then said:

وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَىٰ وَآلُ هَارُونَ

(...and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind,)

Ibn Jarir related that Ibn 'Abbas said about this Ayah:

وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَىٰ وَآلُ هَارُونَ

(...and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind,) Meaning, Moses' staff and the remnants of the Tablets. This is the same Tafsir of Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ar-Rabi' bin Anas and 'Ikrimah, who added, "And also the Torah." 'Abdur-Razzaq said that he asked Ath-Thawri about the meaning of,

وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَىٰ وَآلُ هَارُونَ

(...and a remnant of that which Musa (Moses) and Harun (Aaron) left behind,)

Ath-Thawri said, "Some said that it contained a pot of manna and the remnants of the Tablets, while some others said that it contained (Moses') staff and two shoes (and refer to 20:12)."

Allah then said:

تَحْمِلُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ

(...carried by the angels.)

Ibn Jurayj stated that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The angels came down while carrying the Tabut between the sky and the earth, until they placed it before Talut while the people were watching." As-Suddi said, "The Tabut was brought to Talut's house, so the people believed in the prophethood of Sham'un (Simeon) and obeyed Talut."

The Prophet then said:

إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لَّكُمْ

(Verily, in this is a sign for you) testifying to my truth in what I was sent with, my prophethood, and my command to you to obey Talut,

إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

(if you are indeed believers.) in Allah and the Hereafter.'

Commentary

1. Verse 246: إِذْ قَالُوا لِنَبِيٍّ لَّهُمُ ابْعَثْ لَنَا مَلِكًا نُّقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّـهِ (When they said to a prophet of theirs: "Send us a king so that we may fight in the way of Allah)."

These people from the Bani Isra'il had abandoned the injunctions given by Allah Almighty. When the infidel Amalekites were made to rule over them, they began thinking about correcting the situation. The name of the prophet mentioned here is Samuel (Arabic: Hebrew: Shemuel).

Verse 248: The story of Talut and Jalut

The Bani Isra'il used to have the legacy of a wooden chest (also identified as the Ark of the Covenant). Moses and other prophets of Bani Isra'il would keep this chest in the frontline of the battlefield. Its barakah بَرَکَہ (blessing, benediction) used to give them victory. When )Jalut: Goliath) overcame Bani Isra'il, he took this chest away with him. When Allah Almighty willed the return of the chest, it so happened that the infidels were struck by some epidemic or calamity at places where they carried this chest. Five cities were turned desolate. Nonplussed, they loaded it on two bullocks and drove them off. Then, the angels took control of the bullocks and made it reach Talut's doorsteps. (Talut is the Qur'anic name of the king known in the Bible as Saul) When the Bani Isra'il saw this sign, they believed in the kingdom of Talut, who then mounted an attack on Jalut while the weather was very hot.

The Israelites had a sacred chest, or box, known as the Ark of the Covenant (at-tabut), which they had had in their possession from the time they left Egypt. It contained the Ten Commandments engraved on stone, as well as relics of Moses and Aaron. This was a possession sacred to Israel. It served as a visible symbol of God’s gracious presence. It guided them on their journey, and led them on from victory to victory. It was lost to the enemy in the early part of Samuel’s ministry. But in the town where this Ark was placed, plague and pestilence broke out and the Philistines were terrified. Subsequently, they placed it on a driverless cart drawn by two cows. The beasts took it of their own accord to Bayt ash-Shamsh, a city of Judah. The Israelites were immensely overjoyed at its miraculous restoration.