Stories from the Qur’an • Series 21

The Small Company

The Story of Saul, Goliath and Prophet David According to the Qur’an and Authentic Hadith

A large army was tested with a river — and most of them drank their fill. Only a small company remained, who said, “How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah.” From their ranks, a young man named David killed Goliath. The story of Saul (Talut) and Goliath (Jalut) from the Qur’an and authentic Hadith only, without Israiliyyat. “Our Lord, pour upon us patience.”

📖 Free PDF 🕌 Verses of the Qur'an 📜 Hadith with Isnad 🛡️ No Israiliyyat

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What You Will Learn

“Send to us a king” — enthusiasm before a test and steadfastness after the command (2:246), with a flow chart of 8 events.
Saul is appointed — a leader chosen for knowledge and stature, not wealth (2:247), and the sign of the chest (2:248).
The test of a river — only a very few passed (2:249), with a chart of the four tests.
“How many a small company…” — the people of Badr were as many as the companions of Saul (Sahih al-Bukhari 3957).
The prayer before battle — patience, firm feet and victory (2:250; Sahih al-Bukhari 2966).
David kills Goliath — king, prophet and a servant who worked with his hands (2:251; Sahih al-Bukhari 2072, 1131), a table of Israiliyyat and an archaeological note on Tell es-Safi.

وَلَمَّا بَرَزُواْ لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِۦ قَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَفۡرِغۡ عَلَيۡنَا صَبۡرࣰا وَثَبِّتۡ أَقۡدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرۡنَا عَلَى ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ

“And when they went forth to [face] Goliath and his soldiers, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.’”

Surah Al-Baqarah (2): 250 — Sahih International

🌿 Reflection Each of us will meet a “river” — a small test that sifts our sincerity — and a “Goliath” — a challenge that seems impossible to overcome. The small company is not the most numerous, but the most patient. Are we among them?

This eBook Is For

Strivers, leaders & those being tested

Parents & heads of families

Students of tafsir

Preachers, teachers & counsellors

Read the Full eBook — Free

The story of Saul, Goliath and Prophet David — the verses of Surah Al-Baqarah 2:246–252 with the Sahih International translation, a flow chart of the story and the four tests, authentic Hadith with linked chains of narration (including the number of the people of Badr), commentary of trusted scholars, a table of Israiliyyat (Samuel, the contents of the chest and David’s sling), and an honest archaeological note on the Tell es-Safi (Gath) inscription.

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