The Bani Israel had a system of government that used to run in such a way that there would always be a king among them who would operate the administrative matters of the country and there would be a Prophet who used to guide the people about the laws of Shari’ah and religious rulings. It had been established since long that the kingdom would be from the lineage of Yahood Ibn Ya’qoob علیہ السلام and the Prophethood would be always from the lineage of Laawi Bin Ya’qoob علیہ السلام .
When Sayyiduna Shamweel علیہ السلام >6‘ ? was blessed with the Prophethood, there was no king at that time and the people of the Bani Israel requested him to appoint someone as a king for them. Then following the commandment of Allah , Sayyiduna Shamweel علیہ السلام appointed Taloot as a king who was highly scholarly among the Bani Israel and had strong built but he was very poor. For his living, he either used to tan leather or herd goats. Due to this, the Bani Israel raised objection that Taloot is not from the royal family so how can he be their king. They were more deserving for kingship as they belonged to the royal family. Since Taloot didn’t not possess any wealth, so how come a poor person deserves the royal throne! In reply to the objections raised by the Bani Israel, Sayyiduna Shamweel علیہ السلام delivered the following Quranic sermon:
He said, ‘Allah has chosen him above you, and has bestowed him with vast knowledge and physique’; and Allah may bestow His kingdom on whomever He wills; and Allah is Most Capable, All Knowing. And their Prophet said to them, ‘The sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a
(wooden) box to you, in which from your Lord is the contentment of hearts.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 247-248)
Therefore, after a short while, four angels came with a box and placed it near Sayyiduna Shamweel علیہ السلام . Seeing this, the Bani Israel accepted the kingship of Taloot. After becoming king, Taloot did not only take control of the government system of the country but also recruited new military personnel’s and went for the holy war against the pagans of the ‘Amaliqah tribe. Allah has described this event in the Holy Quran as:
And their Prophet said to them, ‘Indeed Allah has sent Taloot (Saul) as your king’; they said, ‘Why should he have kingship over us whereas we deserve the kingship more than he, and nor has he been given enough wealth?’ He said, ‘Allah has chosen him above you, and has bestowed him with vast knowledge and physique’; and Allah may bestow His kingdom on whomever He wills; and Allah is Most Capable, All Knowing. And their Prophet said to them, ‘The sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a (wooden) box to you, in which from your Lord is the contentment of hearts and containing some relics (remnants) left behind by the honourable Musa and the honourable Haroon (Aaron), carried by the angels; indeed in it is a great sign for you if you are believers.’
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 247-248)
Moral
- This event provides several pearls of guidance. One clear lesson that we learn from it is that there are no limits to the favours and the grace of Allah and if He wishes, He can make the most inferior of people the most rich one within no time. You see Sayyiduna Taloot was a man with a weak social status and was so poor that he used to earn his livelihood either by tanning the leather or by herding the goats, but in an instant, Allah made him an autonomous king.
- From this event and from the text of above verses of the Holy Quran, we come to know that for kingship, physical strength and profound knowledge are more important than wealth. As without physical capabilities and knowledge, it is difficult and almost impossible to operate the administrative matters of the kingdom. Thus we come to know that the worth of knowledge is far greater than that of the wealth. (واللہ تعالٰی اعلم)