Transliteration:( Wa qaala lahum Nabiyyuhum inna Aayata mulkiheee ai yaatiyakumut Taabootu feehi sakeenatummir Rabbikum wa baqiyyatummimmaa taraka Aalu Moosa wa Aalu Haaroona tahmiluhul malaaa'ikah; inna fee zaalika la Aayatal lakum in kuntum mu'mineen )
621. This was a box made of the wood of Shamshaad (box-tree) being three hands long and two hands broad. In it were natural pictures of Prophets. It also included the plates of Tauraat, the staff (stick) of Hazrat Musahis clothes and a pair of shoes, the turban of Hazrat Harun as well as a few pieces of Manna (quails with which the Israelites were fed)
622. From this we learn that the sacred relics of the pious people are with the permission of Allah, a means of obtaining one's desires in one's hour of need. It is for this reason that such relics are placed in the shroud of the deceased at the time of burial. Hazrat Musa's e relics, as can be seen, were used by thesoldiers for the sake of gaining victory.
623. From this it can be observed that the true believer is he who acknowledges the miraculous
effects of these sacred relics. To deny this is equal to the denying of Allah's power. Accordingly, the angels brought this box and placed it in front of Hazrat Talut. During times of battles this box would always be kept near the Islamic soldiers, through the blessing of which the believers were always victorious. After Hazrat Talut this box remained with the Israelites who always placed it in front of them in their hour of need, as a result of which all their prayers were answered. It was also their means of being victorious in battles. As time went, people began to show disrespect to this box and as such were soon afflicted by misfortunes. When this box was brought in the presence of Talut he became content. He selected 70 thousand Israelites and set out to fight Jalut.
247. And their Prophet said to them, “Indeed Allah has appointed Talut (Saul) as a king over you.†They said, “How can he be a king over us when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth.†He said: “Verily, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature. And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.â€
When the Israelites asked their Prophet to appoint a king over them, he appointed Talut (Saul), who was then a soldier. But, Talut was not a descendant of the house of kings among them, which was exclusively in the offspring of Yahudha (Judah). This is why they said:
(How can he be a king over us) meaning, how can he be the king for us,
(when we are fitter than him for the kingdom, and he has not been given enough wealth) They said that Talut was also poor and did not have the wealth that justifies him being king. Some people stated that Talut used to bring water to the people, while others stated that his profession was dyeing skins. The Jews, thus, disputed with their Prophet while they were supposed to obey him and to say good words to him.
Their Prophet answered them:
(Verily, Allah has chosen him above you) meaning, `Allah chose Talut from amongst you while having better knowledge about him.’ Their Prophet stated, “I did not choose Talut to be your king on my own. Rather, Allah has commanded that upon your request.†Further:
(…and has increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature.) meaning, `Talut is more knowledgeable and honorable than you, and stronger and more patient during combat, and has more knowledge of warfare. In short, he has more knowledge and is stronger than you are. The king should have sufficient knowledge, be fair looking and should have a strong soul and body.’ He then said:
(And Allah grants His kingdom to whom He wills.) meaning, Allah Alone is the Supreme Authority Who does what He wills and no one can ask Him about His actions, while they will be asked (about their actions by Him). This is because Allah has perfect knowledge, wisdom and kindness with His creation. Allah said:
(And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.) meaning, His favor is encompassing and He grants His mercy to whom He wills. He also knows those who deserve to be kings and those who do not deserve it.
270. The Biblical version of this incident is different from the Qur’anic one. The former sheds light, however, on certain details of the incident. It shows that during a military engagement the pagan Philistines had captured the Ark of the covenant’. Terrified of the scourge and pestilence which spread wherever they carried the Ark, these pagans placed it on a cart driven by milk cows, and sent it off. (1 Samuel 5-6 – Ed.) Perhaps the Qur’an alludes to this when it mentions angels, since the cart was driverless and it was the angels who kept it in their custody and brought it to the Israelites. The Qur’anic statement, that in the Ark ‘lies inward peace for you’, can be understood in the light of the Biblical statements that the Israelites regarded the Ark as highly auspicious, and as an emblem of their triumph and victory. When they were deprived of it, they began to feel that they had been deprived of the mercy of God. The return of the Ark, therefore, had a highly salutary effect on them as it strengthened their sagging morale and raised their spirits. The Qur’anic mention of ‘the sacred relics left
behind by the house of Aaron’ seems to allude to the Tablets of Law bequeathed to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Ark is also said to have contained the original copy of the Torah, which Moses himself had had transcribed and which he had himself handed over to the Levites. The Ark is also supposed to have contained a golden urn holding the manna (Hebrews 9: 2 ff – Ed.), in order that the coming generations might recall God’s benevolence to their forefathers during their wandering in the desert. The Ark also probably contained the rod of Moses which was one of the great miracles of God. (Hebrews 9: 5 mentions the rod of Aaron – Ed.)
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