Surah Al-Baqarah >> Currently viewing Surah Baqarah Ayat 251 (2:251)

Surah Baqarah Ayat 251 in Arabic Text

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذۡنِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُۥدُ جَالُوتَ وَءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡمُلۡكَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُۥ مِمَّا يَشَآءُۗ وَلَوۡلَا دَفۡعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعۡضَهُم بِبَعۡضٖ لَّفَسَدَتِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Fahazamoohum bi iznillaahi wa qatala Daawoodu jaaloota wa aataahul laahulmulka Wal Hikmata wa ‘allamahoo mimmaa yashaaa’; wa law laa daf’ullaahin naasa ba’dahum biba’dil lafasadatil ardu wa laakinnal laaha zoo fadlin ‘alal’aalameen

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 251

Sahih International
So they defeated them by permission of Allah, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingship and prophethood and taught him from that which He willed. And if it were not for Allah checking [some] people by means of others, the earth would have been corrupted, but Allah is full of bounty to the worlds.

Yusuf Ali
“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.

Abul Ala Maududi
Consequently, by Allah’s grace, they routed the unbelievers, and David killed Goliath; and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and taught him whatever other things He willed. And if Allah had not been repelling one set of people by means of another, the earth would have been filled with chaos. But Allah is bountiful to the world (and so repels chaos in this way).

Muhsin Khan
So they routed them by Allah’s Leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him [Dawud (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Talut (Saul) and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Pickthall
So they routed them by Allah’s leave and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of that which He willeth. And if Allah had not repelled some men by others the earth would have been corrupted. But Allah is a Lord of Kindness to (His) creatures.

Dr. Ghali
So they routed them, by the permission of Allah, and Dawû‍d (David) killed Jaûl‍t; (Goliath) and Allah brought him the kingship, and (the) Wisdom, and He taught him (part of) whatever (knowledge) He decides. And had it not been for the repelling by Allah of mankind, some by means of others, (Literally: by means of some) the earth would indeed have corrupted; but Allah is The Owner of Grace over the worlds.

Abdel Haleem
and so with God’s permission they defeated them. David killed Goliath, and God gave him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him what He pleased. If God did not drive some back by means of others the earth would be completely corrupt, but God is bountiful to all.

Muhammad Junagarhi
چنانچہ اللہ تعالیٰ کے حکم سے انہوں نے جالوتیوں کو شکست دے دی اور (حضرت) داؤد (علیہ السلام) کے ہاتھوں جالوت قتل ہوا اور اللہ تعالیٰ نے داؤد (علیہ السلام) کو مملکت وحکمت اور جتنا کچھ چاہا علم بھی عطا فرمایا۔ اگر اللہ تعالیٰ بعض لوگوں کو بعض سے دفع نہ کرتا تو زمین میں فساد پھیل جاتا، لیکن اللہ تعالیٰ دنیا والوں پر بڑا فضل وکرم کرنے واﻻ ہے

Quran 2 Verse 251 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 251, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(2:251) Thereupon by Allah’s leave they put the unbelievers to flight, and David killed Goliath,[273] and Allah granted him dominion and wisdom, and imparted to him the knowledge of whatever He willed. And were it not that Allah repelled some people with another, the earth would surely be overlaid with mischief.[274] But Allah is Bounteous to the people of the world (and thus extirpates mischief).


273. David was then in the early years of his youth. By chance he joined the army of Saul just when the mighty champion of the Philistine army had challenged the Israelite army to combat. None of the Israelites had the courage to take up the challenge. On seeing this, David took on Goliath in a duel and slew him. From then on, David could do no wrong in the eyes of the Israelites. Saul gave him the hand of his daughter in marriage and ultimately he became the ruler of the Israelites. (For details see 1 Samuel, chapters 17 and I8.)

274. This enunciates the principle according to which God treats the nations as a part of the Divine system governing the world. He allows various nations to attain power and strength within certain limits. But when any nation begins to commit wrongs and exceed reasonable limits. God brings forth another nation as a counterweight, Were the dominion of one nation or party to endure for ever, and were its capacity to perpetrate wrongs granted in perpetuity, God’s earth would become full of corruption and wickedness.

Ibn-Kathir

250. And when they advanced to meet Jalut (Goliath) and his forces, they invoked: “Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience, and set firm our feet and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.” 251. So they routed them by Allah’s leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him (Dawud) the kingdom ﴿ after the death of Talut and Samuel﴾ and Al-Hikmah (prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of bounty to the `Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists). 252. These are the verses of Allah, We recite them to you (O Muhammad ) in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allah.


When the faithful party, who were few under the command of Talut, faced their enemy, who were many under the command of Jalut,

﴿قَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا﴾

(they invoked: “Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience…”) meaning, send down patience on us from You.

﴿وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا﴾

(and set firm our feet) meaning, against the enemy and save us from running away and from feebleness,

﴿وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَـفِرِينَ﴾

(and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.)

Allah said:

﴿فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ﴾

(So they routed them by Allah’s leave) meaning, they defeated and overwhelmed them by Allah’s aid and support. Then,

﴿وَقَتَلَ دَاوُودُ جَالُوتَ﴾

(and Dawud killed Jalut)

Israelite accounts claimed that (Prophet) David killed Goliath with a slingshot that he had, which he launched at Goliath causing his death.

Talut promised that whoever killed Jalut, would marry his daughter and would share his kingship and authority. He kept his promise. Later, the kingship was transferred to Prophet Dawud in addition to being granted Prophethood by Allah. So, Allah said:

﴿وَآتَـهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ﴾

(…and Allah gave him (Dawud) the kingdom) that Talut had and,

﴿وَالْحِكْــمَةِ﴾

(and Al-Hikmah) that comes with the prophethood, meaning, after Shamwil. ﴿Allah then said:﴾

﴿وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَآءُ﴾

(and taught him of that which He willed.) meaning, what He willed of the knowledge that He bestowed on (Prophet) Dawud.

Next, Allah said:

﴿وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ﴾

(And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief.)

This Ayah indicates that if it were not for the fact that Allah checks one set of people with another, such as when Talut and the bravery of Dawud helped the Children of Israel (against Goliath), then people would have perished. Similarly, Allah said:

﴿وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَتٌ وَمَسَـجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً﴾

(For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and Masjids, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much, would surely, have been pulled down.) (22:40)

Allah then said:

﴿وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَـلَمِينَ﴾

(But Allah is full of bounty to the `Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists)) meaning, by His mercy and favor He fixes some of them by some others. Surely, Allah has the wisdom, the supreme authority and the clear proof against His creation in all of His actions and statements.

Allah said:

﴿تِلْكَ آيَـتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴾

(These are the verses of Allah, We recite them to you (O Muhammad ) in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allah).)

This Ayah states, `These Ayat (verses) of Allah that We have narrated for you in truth conform to the exact manner that these stories have occurred and to the truth that still remain in the (Divine) Books that the scholars of the Children of Israel have and know. Allah said: O Muhammad,

﴿وَأَنَّكَ﴾

(you are)

﴿لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾

(one of the Messengers (of Allah)) emphatically stating the truth of his prophethood

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surah baqarah ayat 251
surah baqarah ayat 252
surah baqarah ayat 253
surah baqarah ayat 254
surah baqarah ayat 255

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