Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 251

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, they defeated them by the will of Allah, and Dāwūd (David) killed Jālūt, and Allah gave him the kingdom and the wisdom and taught him what He willed. Had Allah not been pushing back some people by means of others, the earth would have been spoiled. But Allah is All-Gracious to all the worlds.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

So they defeated them by Allah’s Will, and David killed Goliath. And Allah blessed David with kingship and wisdom and taught him what He willed. Had Allah not repelled a group of people by ˹the might of˺ another, corruption would have dominated the earth, but Allah is Gracious to all.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Thus they defeated them by Allah’s grace, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom and taught him whatever He willed. Were it not for Allah to repel some people by others, the earth would be filled with corruption, but Allah is All-Gracious to the worlds.

A. J. Arberry

And they routed them, by the leave of God, and David slew Goliath; and God gave him the kingship, and Wisdom, and He taught him such as He willed. Had God not driven back the people, some by the means of others, the earth had surely corrupted; but God is bounteous unto all beings.

Abdul Haleem

and so with God’s permission they defeated them. David killed Goliath, and God gave him sovereignty and wisdom and taught him what He pleased. If God did not drive some back by means of others the earth would be completely corrupt, but God is bountiful to all.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Then they vanquished them by the leave of Allah, and Da'ud slew Jalut, and Allah vouchsafed him dominion, and Wisdom and taught him of that which He Willed. And, it not for Allah's repelling people, some of them by means of others, the earth surely were corrupted; but Allah is Gracious unto the Worlds.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

By Allah's will they routed them; and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him power and wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief; But Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.

Abul Ala Maududi

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 would have been filled with chaos. But Allah is bountiful to the world (and so repels chaos in this way).

Ahmed Ali

By the will of God they defeated them, and David killed Goliath, and God gave him kingship and wisdom, and taught him whatsoever He pleased. If God did not make men deter one another this earth would indeed be depraved. But gracious is God to the people of the world.

Ahmed Raza Khan

So they routed them by the command of Allah; and Dawud (David) slew Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him all whatever He willed; and if Allah does not ward off some men by others, the earth will be destroyed, but Allah is Most Munificent towards the entire creation.

Ali Quli Qarai

Thus they routed them with Allah’s will, and David killed Goliath, and Allah gave him kingdom and wisdom and taught him whatever He liked. Were it not for Allah’s repelling the people by means of one another, the earth would surely have been corrupted; but Allah is gracious to the world’s people.

Ali Ünal

So they routed them by God’s leave, and David killed Goliath, and God granted him kingdom and Wisdom, and taught him of that which He willed. Were it not that God repelled people, some by means of others, the earth would surely be corrupted; but God is gracious for all the worlds.

Amatul Rahman Omar

At last, they routed them by the leave of Allâh, and David killed Jâlût, and Allâh gave him the sovereignty and the wisdom and taught him of what He pleased. And had it not been for Allâh repelling the people - some of them by the others - the earth would have been in a state of disorder; but Allâh is full of grace to the worlds.

English Literal

So they defeated them with God`s will, and David killed Goliath , and God gave him the ownership/kingdom and the wisdom and He taught/instructed him from what He wills/wants, and (if it) was not for God`s pushing the people, some/part of them with some/part (with each other), the earth/Planet Earth would have been corrupted/disordered , and but God (is owner) of grace/favour/blessing over the creations altogether/(universes).

Faridul Haque

So they routed them by the command of Allah; and Dawud (David) slew Jalut, and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him all whatever He willed; and if Allah does not ward off some men by others, the earth will be destroyed, but Allah is Most Munificent towards the entire creation.

Hamid S. Aziz

And they routed them by the permission of Allah, and David slew Goliath; and Allah gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of what He willed. And were it not that Allah repelled some men by means of others the earth would become corrupted; but Allah is Lord of Bounty over all the worlds.

Hilali & Khan

So they routed them by Allah's Leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him [Dawud (David)] the kingdom [after the death of Talut (Saul) and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (Prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of Bounty to the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So they put them to flight by Allah´s permission. And David slew Goliath, and Allah gave him kingdom and wisdom, and taught him of what He pleased. And were it not for Allah´s repelling some men by others, the earth would certainly be in a state of disorder: but Allah is Full of grace to the worlds.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

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

Mohammed Marmaduke William 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.

Muhammad Sarwar

They defeated their enemy through God's will. David slew Goliath and God granted David the kingdom and wisdom and also taught him whatever He wanted. Had God not made one group of people repel the other, the earth would have become full of corruption, but God is generous to His creatures.

Qaribullah & Darwish

By the permission of Allah, they routed them. David slew Goliath, and Allah bestowed on him the kingship and wisdom, and taught him from that He willed. Had Allah not pushed the people, some by the other, the earth would have been corrupted. But Allah is Bountiful to the worlds.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

So they routed them by Allah's leave and Dawud (David) killed Jalut (Goliath), and Allah gave him (Dawud) the kingdom [after the death of Talut and Samuel] and Al-Hikmah (prophethood), and taught him of that which He willed. And if Allah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allah is full of bounty to the `Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists).

Wahiduddin Khan

And so by the command of God they defeated them. David killed Goliath, and God gave him kingship and wisdom, and imparted to him the knowledge of whatever He willed. Had it not been for God's repelling some people by means of others, the earth would have been filled with corruption. But God is bountiful to His creatures.

Talal Itani

And they defeated them by God’s leave, and David killed Goliath, and God gave him sovereignty and wisdom, and taught him as He willed. Were it not for God restraining the people, some by means of others, the earth would have gone to ruin. But God is gracious towards mankind.

Tafsir jalalayn

And they routed, they broke, them, by the leave of God, by His will, and David, who was among the ranks of Saul's army, slew Goliath; and God gave him, David, the kingship, over the Children of Israel, and Wisdom, prophethood after the death of Samuel and Saul, and the combination [of kingship and prophethood] had never come to anyone before him; and He taught him such as He willed, of the manufacture of mail-coats and the speech of birds. Had God not repelled people some (ba`dahum, `some', substitutes for [saying] ba`dan min al-ns, `some people') by means of others the earth would have surely been corrupted, with idolaters defeating and slaying Muslims, and mosques being destroyed; but God is bounteous to all worlds, by repelling some by means of others.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ


So they routed them by Allah's leave,

meaning, they defeated and overwhelmed them by Allah's aid and support.

Then,

وَقَتَلَ دَاوُدُ جَالُوتَ

and Dawud killed Jalut.

Israelite accounts claimed that (Prophet) David killed Goliath with a slingshot that he had, which he launched at Goliath causing his death.

Talut promised that whoever killed Jalut, would marry his daughter and would share his kingship and authority. He kept his promise. Later, the kingship was transferred to Prophet Dawud in addition to being granted Prophethood by Allah.

So, Allah said;

وَاتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ
and Allah gave him (Dawud) the kingdom,

that Talut had and,

وَالْحِكْمَةَ

and Al-Hikmah,

that comes with the Prophethood, meaning, after Shamwil.

Allah then said,

وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاء

and taught him of that which He willed.

meaning, what He willed of the knowledge that He bestowed on (Prophet) Dawud.

Next, Allah said;

وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الَارْضُ

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

This Ayah indicates that if it were not for the fact that Allah checks one set of people with another, such as when Talut and the bravery of Dawud helped the Children of Israel (against Goliath), then people would have perished.

Similarly, Allah said;

وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَمِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَتٌ وَمَسَـجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيراً

For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and Masjids, wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much, would surely, have been pulled down. (22;40)

Allah then said;

وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ



But Allah is full of bounty to the Alamin (mankind, Jinn and all that exists),

meaning, by His mercy and favor He fixes some of them by some others. Surely, Allah has the wisdom, the supreme authority and the clear proof against His creation in all of His actions and statements.

Allah said;

تِلْكَ ايَاتُ اللّهِ نَتْلُوهَا عَلَيْكَ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ