[[ Ruby’s notes on verse 2:251 and 22:40 - These verses have far reaching implications and applications in all affairs of a society. There are inherent human propensities to go extreme in corruption, abuse of power, and inflicting injustices if an individual or a group stay in power for long without being checked by others. This very negative process led many empires and regimes rotted to the core before downfall. God is exposing these weaknesses that exist across the length and breadth of humanity.

This mechanism of God letting one group replacing another when the latter is unjust is demonstrated with the backdrop of different settings: one is when David had killed Goliath an almost impossible task and established justice [2:251], the other is controlling the criminal people tend to destroy places of worship thus protect sacred places as well as religious freedom [22:40].

On a bigger or smaller scale this pattern is repeating itself endlessly in human drama: assuming or gaining power, abuse of power, and then the downfall or getting ousted and replaced by another person or group, often by an underdog or weaker people. In the long run this God gifted checks and balances in human affairs help keep a society perpetuate or an individual life function. History is a testament to this pattern.

If power and influence of one group is not checked by another there would be rampant corruption, misuse and abuse of power, and consequently injustices would spread. When empires are at the zenith of power they start to decay and decline. When a ruler or a group becomes too powerful it tend to become corrupt and unjust, then insurgencies and revolutions take place to oust them. History is full of these ups and downs of powers, replacing one group by another in every society across humanity in one time or another.

Believers should follow this policy of checking one group with another in socio-political affairs which concurs with the modern concept of ‘checks and balances’.

People are God’s representatives on earth. Therefore, believers should dispose affairs the way God does: creating checks and balances not only in governance but also in other areas of life to avoid corruption, abuse of power and injustices and to promote accountability, efficiency and general welfare. As for governance, the issue of establishing proper checks and balances is critical. There should be broad decision making processes, inclusiveness, interdependency, a delicate power sharing process to ensure power does not rests on one individual or one group of people. Among the different organs and institutions of a government there should be mechanism of interdependency and indispensability in running the affairs of a country. These verses proclaim that in the absence of such checking mechanism of a group in power by others and over a period of time help render a system abusive and dysfunctional.

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Sura 2, al-Baqara, Medina 87

The Quranic text & Ali’s version

Transliteration Wa lamma_ barazu_ li ja_lu_ta wa junu_dihi qa_lu_ rabbana_ afrig 'alaina_ sabraw wa sabbit aqda_mana_ wansurna_ 'alal qaumil ka_firin(a).

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُواْ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالُواْ...

2:250. When they advanced to meet Goliath and his forces, they prayed:

... رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ ﴿٢٥٠﴾

"Our Lord! pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm; help us against those that reject faith."

Transliteration Fa hazamu_hum bi iznilla_h(i), wa qatala da_wu_du jalu_ta wa a_ta_hulla_hul mulka wal hikmata wa 'allamahu_ mimma_ yasya_'(u), wa lau la_ daf'ulla_hin na_sa ba'dahum bi ba'dil lafasatil ardu wala_kinnalla_ha zu_ fadlin'alal 'a_lamin(a).

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُدُ جَالُوتَ...

2:251. By Allah's will they routed them: and David slew Goliath;

... وَآتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاء...

and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed.

... وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ...

And did not God check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief,

Other versions

2: 250

Asad And when they came face to face with Goliath and his forces, they prayed: “O our Sustainer! Shower us with patience in adversity, and make firm our steps, and succor us against the people who deny the truth!”

Pickthall And when they went into the field against Goliath and his hosts they said: Our Lord! Bestow on us endurance, make our foothold sure, and give us help against the disbelieving folk.

2: 251

Asad …..And if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another [note 243], corruption would surely overwhelm the earth: but God is limitless in His bounty unto all the worlds.

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.

2: 252

Yusuf Ali These are the signs of Allah; We rehearse them to thee in truth: verily thou art one of the apostles.

Pickthall These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee (Muhammad) with truth, and Lo! thou art of the number of (Our) messengers;

Transliteration Tilka a_ya_tulla_hi natlu_ha_'alaika bil haqq(i), wa innaka laminal mursalin(a).

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[ Asad’s note 242 – Lit., “were it not that God repels some people by means of others”: an elliptic reference to God’s enabling people to defend themselves against aggression or oppression. Exactly the same phrase occurs in 22: 40, which deals with fighting in self-defence. ]

[ Ali’s notes - 286 Note how the whole story is compressed into a few words as regards narration, but its spiritual lessons are dwelt upon from many points of view. The Old Testament is mainly interested in the narrative, which is full of detail, but says little about the universal truths of which every true story is a parable. The Qur-an assumes the story, but tells the parable. (2.251)

287 David was not only a shepherd, a warrior, a king, a wise man, and a prophet, but was also endowed with the gifts of poetry and music. His Psalms (sabur) are still extant. (2.251)

288 Carried by angels: these words refer to the Tabut or Ark, the cherubims with outstretched wings on the lid may well be supposed to carry the security or peace which the Ark symbolized. (2.251) ]

C286. Note how the whole story is compressed into a few words as regards narration, but its spiritual lessons are dwelt upon from many points of view.

The Old Testament is mainly interested in the narrative, which is full of detail, but says little about the universal truths of which every true story is a parable.

The Quran assumes the story, but tells the parable.

David was a raw youth, with no arms or armour. He was not known even in the Israelite camp, and the giant Goliath mocked him.

Even David’s own elder brother chide him for deserting the sheep, for he was a poor shepherded lad to outward appearance, but his faith had made him more than a match for the Philistine hosts. When Saul offered his own armour and arms to David, the young hero declined, as he had not tried them, while his shepherd's sling and staff were his well-tried implements. He picked up five smooth pebbles on the spot from the stream, and used his sling to such effect that he knocked down Goliath. He then used Goliath’s own sword to slay him. There was consternation in the Philistine army: they broke and fled, and were pursued and cut to pieces.

Apart from the main lesson that if we would preserve our national existence and our faith it is our duty to fight with courage and firmness, there are other lessons in David’ story:

1. Numbers do not count, but faith, determination and the blessing of Allah;

2. size and strength are of no avail against truth, courage, and careful planning;

3. the hero tries his own weapons, and rhose that are available to him at the time and place, even though people may laugh at him;

4. if Allah is with us, the enemy’s weapon may become an instrument of his own destruction;

5. personality conquers all dangers, and puts heart into our own wavering friends;

6. pure faith brings Allah's reward, which may take many forms; in David’s case it was Power, Wisdom, and other gifts; see next note.

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[[ sura al-Hajj, Medina 103

الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِمْ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ...

22:40. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right -- (for no cause) except that they say, "Our Lord is Allah."

...وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ...

Did not God check one set of people by means of another,

C2817. To allow a righteous people to fight against a ferocious and mischief-loving people was fully justified. But the justification was far greater here, when the little Muslim community was not only fighting for its own existence against the Makkan Quraish, but for the very existence of the Faith in the One True God.

They had as much right to be in Makkah and worship in the Ka'bah as the other Quraish; yet they were exiled for their Faith. It affected not the faith of one peculiar people. The principle involved was that of all worship, Jewish or Christian as well as Muslim, and of all foundations built for pious uses.

...لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ...

there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure.

...وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ...

God will certainly aid those who aid His (cause);

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٤٠﴾

for verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (Able to enforce His Will).

C2818. 'Aziz means:

- Exalted in power, rank, dignity;

- Incomparable;

- Full of might and majesty;

- Able to enforce His Will.

The last signification is the one that predominates here.

الَّذِينَ إِن مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ...

22:41. (They are) those who, if We establish them in the land,

- establish regular prayer

- and give regular charity,

...وَأَمَرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَنَهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ...

- enjoin the right and forbid wrong:

C2819. "Enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong" is an essential duty of the Muslim Ummah and one of the main purposes for which it has been raised.

See 3:104, 110; 9:71, 111-112.

...وَلِلَّهِ عَاقِبَةُ الْأُمُورِ ﴿٤١﴾

with God rests the end (and decision) of (all) affairs. ]]