THESE TWO EVENTS ARE MEANINGFULLY CONNECTED (Ayah 2:251)

 ….battle Daud vs Jalut AND Ali vs Amr bin Abdwad in the Battle of Khandaq

 also.... THAT THE PURPOSE OF WAR IS NOT TO GAIN TERRITORIAL EXPANSION BUT TO DISPEL MISCHIEF AND ESTABLISH PEACE ON THE EARTH.

فَهَزَمُوهُمْ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُودُ جَالُوتَ وَآتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاءُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَفَسَدَتِ الْأَرْضُ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ {2:251}

[Q2:251] 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.

[Q2:251] So they put them to flight by ALLAH (SWT)'s permission. And Dawood slew Jalut, and ALLAH (SWT) gave him kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of what He pleased. And were it not for ALLAH (SWT)'s repelling some men with others, the earth would certainly be in a state of disorder; but ALLAH (SWT) is Gracious to the creatures.

[Q2:251] Oleh sebab itu, mereka dapat mengalahkan tentera Jalut dengan izin ALLAH (SwT), dan Nabi Daud (yang turut serta dalam tentera Talut) membunuh Jalut. Dan (sesudah itu) ALLAH (SwT) memberikan kepadanya (Nabi Daud) kuasa pemerintahan, dan hikmat (pangkat kenabian) serta diajarkannya apa yang dikehendakiNya. Dan kalaulah ALLAH (SwT) tidak menolak setengah manusia (yang ingkar dan derhaka) dengan setengahnya yang lain (yang beriman dan setia) nescaya rosak binasalah bumi ini; akan tetapi ALLAH (SwT) sentiasa melimpah kurniaNya kepada sekalian alam.

An account of the formidable strength of the mighty forces of Jalut is given in 1 Samuel 17: 4 to 11. Dawud killed Jalut in single combat. The Philistines, when they saw that their hero was dead, turned and ran.

A SIMILAR EVENT took place in the early days of Islam.

1.        The infidels of Makka with a mighty host of twelve thousand warriors encircled Madina to destroy a few hundred Muslims, including women and children.

2.        On the suggestion of Salman, a ditch was dug around the city in six days. This battle is known as the battle of khandaq (ditch) or ahzab. 

3.        Amr bin Abdwad, a warrior who used to defeat one thousand soldiers single-handedly, jumped over the ditch and threw an open challenge to the Muslims.

4.        The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) turned towards his companions, and invited each of them to go and fight Amr on behalf of Islam, BUT there was fear and panic in their hearts, as some of them had been close to him in the days of their infidelity and had witnessed his acts of bravery and strength.

5.        No one came out at the call of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

6.        Then Amr shouted aloud the names of the famous companions, one by one, but each looked aside.

7.        The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) repeated his call three times. There was no response. Each time only Ali came forward and said:

"I am ready to fight him O the messenger of ALLAH (SWT)."

8.        After the third call the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) put his turban on Ali's head and said:

"Verily, here goes total belief to fight against total disbelief."

9.        "ALLAHU AKBAR” said Ali and hit Amr with his sword. It cut his sword, shield, iron head-gear in half, and Amr's head was lying on the ground.

10.     "Here is the head of the enemy of ALLAH (SWT) and Islam O messenger of ALLAH (SWT)", Ali said and put Amr's severed head before the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

11.     The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said:

"One strike of Ali, on the day of khandaq, is superior to all worship of both the worlds put together."

Please also refer to the commentary of verse 2:214 of this surah.

Ü  In the battle fought between the Jews and the Philistines the enemy ran away when Dawud killed Jalut; in like manner the whole army of infidels of Makka left the battlefield in chaos and confusion when Ali killed Amr, completely routed and annihilated. THESE TWO EVENTS ARE MEANINGFULLY CONNECTED BECAUSE PERHAPS there is no other battle where an army of a large number of fighting men left the battlefield when only one warrior was killed.

And ALLAH (SWT) gave him (the conquering warrior) kingdom and wisdom. SINCE KINGDOM BELONGS TO ALLAH (SWT), HE GRANTS IT TO WHOM HE LIKES, ON MERIT AFTER TEST AND TRIAL, TO EXERCISE DIVINE AUTHORITY ON HIS BEHALF. It was given to Dawud. It was given to Ali (as imamat). The right to administer the human society was also given to Ali. It is another issue that the people did not allow him to do so, BUT the office of imamat given to him COULD NOT BE USURPED by anyone, BECAUSE the ability to guide and wisdom, particularly bestowed by ALLAH (SWT), cannot be stolen.

Ì  THE LAST PART OF THIS VERSE SAYS THAT THE PURPOSE OF WAR IS NOT TO GAIN TERRITORIAL EXPANSION BUT TO DISPEL MISCHIEF AND ESTABLISH PEACE ON THE EARTH.

Before Adam "survival of the fittest" was the driving force among all types of creatures. In the struggle for existence, every living being used all available means, good or bad, to obtain maximum resources, without giving any thing to other fellow beings. It was almost an animal society. It was evil. Islam stopped it.

WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLECTUAL FACULTIES AND INSPIRATION, NATURAL TENDENCIES GAVE PLACE TO MORAL VALUES, AND instead of fighting for food and material necessities, MEN BEGAN TO DISTINGUISH between right and wrong, good and bad.

Verse 22:40 of al Hajj gives permission to fight against those who deprive people from the essential freedom to worship ALLAH (SWT) and to make use of His bounties justly and equitably.

r  Those who strive in the cause of ALLAH (SWT), to put an end to the survival of the fittest theory, receive help from ALLAH (SWT). THEREFORE the true servants of ALLAH (SWT) vie with one another to fight against the evil in their own selves AND in the society in order to be nearer to ALLAH (SWT). "And everyone has a direction to which he turns, so hasten to do good (Baqarah 2:184)." "So vie one with another in good deeds (Ma-idah 5:48)."

To stop this striving in the cause of ALLAH (SWT) means reversion to the animal way of life. AND WERE IT NOT FOR ALLAH (SWT)'S REPELLING SOME MEN BY MEANS OF OTHERS THE EARTH WOULD CERTAINLY BE IN A STATE OF DISORDER.

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(2:251) 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 *273 would have been filled with chaos. *274 But Allah is bountiful to the world (and so repels chaos in this way).

*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. 

تِلْكَ آيَاتُ اللَّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ {2:252}

[Q2:252] Tilka Aayaatul laahi natloohaa 'alaika bilhaqq; wa innaka laminal mursaleen.
[Q2:252] These are the communications of ALLAH (SWT): We recite them to you with truth; and most surely you are (one) of the messengers.

[Q2:252] Itulah ayat-ayat keterangan ALLAH (SwT) yang kami bacakan dia kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) dengan benar; dan sesungguhnya engkau adalah salah seorang dari Rasul-rasul (yang diutuskan oleh) ALLAH (SwT).

The symbolic events that took place in ancient times have been reported, in the Qur’an, TO CONDITION THE MINDS OF THE MUSLIMS FOR COPING WITH SIMILAR EXIGENCIES AND OCCURRENCES, MOST, LIKELY TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN.

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(2:252) These are Allah's revelations, which We are conveying to you accurately. And O Muhammad, most surely you are of those who have been sent as Messengers.