Stories in the Quran 4 min read
Talut and Jalut (known in the Bible as Saul and Goliath) are the king and the enemy commander in a story told in Surah al-Baqarah. It follows the Children of Israel when they asked for a king to lead them in battle, and it shows how a small, patient group can overcome a large one by Allah's permission.
The story is told in Surah al-Baqarah, verses 246 to 252 (Quran 2:246-252). It is set among the Children of Israel (Bani Israil) after the time of Musa (Moses).
It begins with the question "Have you not considered...?", which invites the listener to reflect on a lesson from earlier peoples. At the end, in verse 252, Allah tells the Prophet ﷺ that these are verses recited to him in truth and that he is among the messengers.
The leaders of the Children of Israel came to a prophet of theirs and asked him to send them a king so that they could fight in the way of Allah. The Quran does not name this prophet.
The prophet asked whether they might refrain from fighting if fighting were prescribed for them. They answered that they had every reason to fight, since they had been driven from their homes and separated from their children.
But when fighting was prescribed, they turned away, except for a few of them. The verse closes by saying that Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers.
The prophet told them that Allah had sent Talut as their king. They objected: how could he rule over them when they were more worthy of kingship, and he had not been given abundant wealth?
The prophet answered that Allah had chosen him over them and had increased him in knowledge and in physical stature, and that Allah gives His sovereignty to whomever He wills.
As a sign of Talut's kingship, the prophet said that the chest (tabut) would come to them, carrying sakinah (tranquillity and reassurance) from their Lord and a remnant of what the family of Musa and the family of Harun (Aaron) had left, carried by angels. The verse calls this a sign for those who believe.
When Talut set out with the soldiers, he told them that Allah would test them with a river. Whoever drank from it was not with him, and whoever did not taste it was with him, except for one who took a single scoop in his hand.
They drank from it, except for a very few. When Talut crossed with those who believed, some said they had no strength that day against Jalut and his soldiers. But those who were certain that they would meet Allah said: "How many a small company has overcome a large company by Allah's permission! And Allah is with the patient."
As they faced Jalut and his army, they prayed: "Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our feet firm, and give us victory over the disbelieving people."
They defeated them by Allah's permission, and Dawud (David) killed Jalut. Allah gave Dawud kingship and wisdom and taught him what He willed. Verse 251 adds that if Allah did not repel some people by means of others, the earth would be filled with corruption, but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.
The Quran does not give the name of the prophet, the tribe or family of Talut, the place of the battle, the year, or the number of the army. It does not describe Jalut, how Dawud killed him, or what exactly was in the chest beyond the "remnant" it mentions.
These details are left out because the lesson does not depend on them. This page follows the same approach and does not fill the gaps with stories from outside the Quran and the authentic Sunnah.
Al-Bara' ibn 'Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ who fought at Badr used to say that their number was like the number of Talut's companions who crossed the river with him, a little over three hundred, and that none crossed with him except a believer (Sahih al-Bukhari 3959; see also 3957 and 3958).
This is a statement of the Companions about the people of Badr. The Quran itself, as noted above, does not give the number of Talut's army.
General information for learning, not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.
Updated 6 October 2026
Talut was the king whom Allah appointed over the Children of Israel, chosen for his knowledge and physical stature. Jalut was the commander of the opposing army. The Quran gives no further detail about their families or places.
Verse 251 of Surah al-Baqarah says that Dawud (David) killed Jalut, and that Allah gave him kingship and wisdom. The Quran does not describe how it happened.
Talut told his soldiers that Allah would test them with a river: whoever drank from it was not with him, except one who took a scoop in his hand. Most drank, and only a few remained with him and crossed with the believers.
