(Saul*)
Have you noted the leaders of Israel after Moses? They said to their prophet, “If you appoint a king to lead us, we will fight in the cause of God.” He said, “Is it your intention that, if fighting is decreed for you, you will not fight?” They said, “Why should we not fight in the cause of God, when we have been deprived of our homes, and our children?” Yet, when fighting was decreed for them, they turned away, except a few. God is aware of the transgressors.
أَلَم تَرَ إِلَى المَلَإِ مِن بَنى إِسرٰءيلَ مِن بَعدِ موسىٰ إِذ قالوا لِنَبِىٍّ لَهُمُ ابعَث لَنا مَلِكًا نُقٰتِل فى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ قالَ هَل عَسَيتُم إِن كُتِبَ عَلَيكُمُ القِتالُ أَلّا تُقٰتِلوا قالوا وَما لَنا أَلّا نُقٰتِلَ فى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ وَقَد أُخرِجنا مِن دِيٰرِنا وَأَبنائِنا فَلَمّا كُتِبَ عَلَيهِمُ القِتالُ تَوَلَّوا إِلّا قَليلًا مِنهُم وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ بِالظّٰلِمينَ
alam tara ilal malai mim Baneee Israaa’eela mim ba’di Moosaaa iz qaaloo li Nabiyyil lahumub ‘as lanaa malikan nuqaatil fee sabeelillaahi qaala hal ‘asaitum in kutiba ‘alaikumul qitaalu allaa tuqaatiloo qaaloo wa maa lanaaa allaa nuqaatila fee sabeelil laahi wa qad ukhrijnaa min diyaarinaa wa abnaaa’inaa falammaa kutiba ‘alaihimul qitaalu tawallaw illaa qaleelam minhum; wallaahu ‘aleemum bizzaalimeen
*2:246 This same history is narrated in the Bible’s Book of I Samuel, Ch. 9 and 10.