God bestows His Sovereignty on whom He will

God bestows His Sovereignty on whom He will

Surah ‘Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – Chapter – 2)

Stage – 1, Verse – 247 of 286, Section – 32 of 40 (Part - 2)

BisMIllaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

247a.  Their Prophet said unto them: Lo! Allah hath raised up Saul to be a king for you. They said: How can he have kingdom over us when we are more deserving of the kingdom than he is, since   he hath not been given wealth enough?

247a.  Wa  qaala  lahum  Nabiy-yuhum  ‘innAllaaha  qad  ba-‘asa  lakum  Taaluuta  Malikaa.  Qaaluuu  ‘annaa  yakuunu  lahul-mulku  ‘alaynaa  wa  nahnu  ‘a-haqqu  bil-mulki  minhu  wa  lam  yu’-ta  sa-‘atam-minal-maal.

Lesson

Taaluuta – (Saul son of Kash), after Prophet Moses, Saul (peace be upon them) has been recognized as very great and first king of the children of Israel. His reign is told from 1028 BC to 1012 BC. He (peace be upon him) belonged to Bin-Yaamiin Tribe, which had a customary grade. Any king was never chosen out of that dynasty. Neither they were too much wealthy nor rich.

Evil-minded Jews criticized this (Saul’s) appointment as king that He (peace be upon him) has not been given enough wealth. He is a poor person. How can a poor person be a king for us (the rich people)? They thought that sovereignty and leadership is the inborn right of the rich-men.

 

It does not rest on the Jews only. The materialist nations made always these types of wrong principles, and they deemed the government as bondwoman of the house of rich people. While this concept is infinite foolish and un-justly, so Allah Almighty declared clearly this wrong concept of the Jews in His last Scripture for warning of coming breeds, so that nobody may remain in misunderstanding in future, and no nation should suppose the wealth and riches as standard of leadership and exaltation.  

After it, if any nation or group considers the riches as cause of superiority even then, that nation or group would have to face the same punishment which already bore the Jews, because the Law of the Nature doesn’t change. 

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247b.  He said: Lo! Allah hath chosen him   above you, and hath increased him abundantly in wisdom and stature. And Allah bestoweth His sovereignty on whom He will. And Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.

247b.  Qaala  ‘innAllaahas-tafaahu  ‘alaykum  wa  zaadahuu  basta-tan-fil-‘ilmi  wal-jism.  WAllaahu  yu’-tii  mulkaHuu  many-yashaaa’.  WAllaahu  Waasi-‘un  ‘Aliim.

Lesson

It has been described in the first part of this verse that Prophet Samuel (peace be upon him) proclaimed on behalf of Allah Almighty that He has raised up Saul (peace be upon him) to be a king for the children of Israel. But they criticized this selection due to vanity of their richness, that; while he (peace be upon him) was not richer than them, then how could he be their king?

Prophet of God Almighty (peace be upon him) stated following qualities fixed by Allah Almighty for sovereignty and leadership:

·         Allah has chosen him because He has bestowed him wisdom abundantly.

·         Stature of Saul (peace be upon him) is more powerful comparatively than all of them.

basta-tan-fil-‘ilmi – (he has been  given wisdom abundantly), ‘ilm means knowledge about facts and to recognize the secrets. There are uncountable meanings hidden in this one word, all kinds of sciences and arts are included in it, particularly sciences about ruling and governing the world.  

‘al-jism – (stature), the aim is that Saul (peace be upon Him) has more ability regarding strength, power and is more reliable respecting stature than all of you. The individual who would have more powers of both (knowledge and stature, certainly, he would be able to get preference and leadership over others.

mulkaHuu – (His sovereignty), it’s object is that actual Sovereignty is of Allah Almighty and this Authority is in fact for Him, Who is Alone.

>>>   Sarwari zeba faqat ‘Us Zaati Bay Hamtaa ko hae

           Hukmaraan hae ik Wuhii, baaqi butaani ‘Aazrii

Now, it is Allah Almighty’s especial Favor and Mercy that He gives in charge the service of governing the people to the people, who is most deserving and worthy out of His servants.   

Transliterated Holy Qur’an in Roman Script & Translated from Arabic to English by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazaar, Lahore, Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islaah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated Urdu to English by Muhammad Sharif)