Stem نَهَرٍ - Quranic Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And when Talut set out with the forces, he said: ‘Surely, Allah will try you with a river. So he who drinks therefrom is not of me; and he who tastes it not is assuredly of me, except him who takes a handful of water with his hand.’ But they drank of it, except a few of them. And when they crossed it — he and those who believed along with him — they said: ‘We have no power today against Jalut and his forces.’ But those who knew for certain that they would one day meet Allah said: ‘How many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command! And Allah is with the steadfast.’

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

پس جب طالوت لشکر لے کر روانہ ہوا تو اس نے کہا کہ یقیناً اللہ تمہیں ایک دریا کے ذریعے آزمانے والا ہے۔ پس جس نے اس میں سے پیا اس کا مجھ سے تعلق نہیں رہے گا۔ اور جس نے اسے (سیر ہوکر) نہ پیا تو وہ یقینا میرا ہے سوائے اس کے جو ایک آدھ مرتبہ چُلو بھر کر پی لے۔ پھر بھی معدودے چند کے سوا ان میں سے اکثر نے اس میں سے پی لیا۔ پس جب وہ اُس (دریا) کے پار پہنچا اور وہ بھی جو اس کے ساتھ ایمان لائے تھے تو وہ (نافرمان) بولے کہ آج جالوت اور اس کے لشکر سے نمٹنے کی ہم میں کوئی طاقت نہیں۔ (تب) اُن لوگوں نے جو یقین رکھتے تھے کہ وہ اللہ سے ملنے والے ہیں کہا کہ کتنی ہی کم تعداد جماعتیں ہیں جو اللہ کے حکم سے کثیر التعداد جماعتوں پر غالب آگئیں۔ اور اللہ صبر کرنے والوں کے ساتھ ہوتا ہے۔

French

Et lorsque Ṭālūt se mit en marche avec ses troupes, il dit : « Assurément, Allāh vous mettra à l’épreuve avec un fleuve : celui donc qui y boira ne sera pas des miens ; et celui qui n’y goûtera pas sera assurément des miens, passe pour celui qui n’en prendra qu’une ou deux fois du creux de la main. » Mais ils en burent, à l’exception de quelques-uns. Et après avoir traversé le fleuve, Ṭālūt et ceux qui avaient cru avec lui – ils -les désobéissants- dirent : « Nous sommes aujourd’hui impuissants contre Jālūt et ses forces. » Mais ceux qui savaient avec certitude qu’ils rencontreraient Allāh un jour dirent : « Plus d’une petite troupe l’a remporté sur une troupe plus importante par ordre d’Allāh ! Et Allāh est avec les constants. »

German

Und als Tâlût auszog mit den Scharen, sprach er: "Wohlan, Allah wird euch an einem Flusse prüfen: Wer darum aus ihm trinkt, der ist meiner nicht würdig; und wer nicht von ihm kostet, der ist meiner würdig, den ausgenommen, der eine Handvoll Wasser mit der Hand schöpft." Doch sie tranken daraus, bis auf einige wenige. Und als sie ihn überschritten – er und die mit ihm Glaubenden –, da sprachen sie: "Wir haben heute keine Kraft gegen Dschâlût* und seine Scharen." Die aber für gewiss wussten, sie würden Allah einst begegnen, die sagten: "Oft hat ein kleiner Haufen über einen großen Haufen gesiegt nach Allahs Gebot. Und Allah ist mit den Standhaften."

Chinese

当达鲁特率领军队出发时, 他 (向他的士兵) 说: “安拉要以一条河考验你们: 谁喝河水, 谁就不是属于我的; 谁不喝河水, 谁就是属于我的。用手捧一把水 (喝) 的是例外。” 后来, (事实的经过却是这样的:) 除了少数人以外, 他们都喝了河水。当他和信仰的人度过了河, 他们 (示弱地) 说: 今天我们绝对没有力量对抗贾鲁特和他的军队。但那些坚信有一天将会遇见安拉的人说: [a]“很多数量小的一群人, 藉安拉的意旨胜过数量多的一群人。安拉是与坚定者同在的, (我们没有理由害怕。)”

Italian

E quando Talut si mise in marcia con le sue truppe, disse: «Di certo, Allah vi metterà alla prova con un fiume; e colui che ne berrà, non sarà parte di me, e colui che non ne assaggerà sarà certamente parte di me, eccetto colui che ne prenderà poco facendo coppa con la mano.» Ma essi ne bevvero, ad eccezione di pochi. E dopo averlo attraversato - lui e coloro che credevano con lui - dissero: «Non abbiamo la forza oggi per combattere contro Ğalut e le sue forze.» Ma coloro che erano certi di incontrare un giorno Allah, dissero: «Quante volte piccoli gruppi di uomini hanno trionfato su grandi gruppi di uomini per comando di Allah! E Allah è con coloro che perseverano.»

Spanish

Y cuando Talut partió con las tropas dijo: “En verdad, Al-lah os probará con un río. Así, quien beba de él no será de los míos; y quien no lo pruebe será ciertamente de los míos, excepto quien tome un poco de agua con la mano”. Pero bebieron de él, excepto unos pocos. Y cuando lo cruzaron –él y quienes creían junto con él- dijeron: “Hoy no tenemos uerza contra Yalut y sus fuerzas. Pero los que sabían con certeza que un día encontrarían a Al-lah, dijeron: ¡Cuántas veces un pequeño grupo ha triunfado sobre un gran ejército bajo la orden de Dios! Y Al-lah está con los que perseveran”.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

پھر جب طالوت اپنی فوجوں کو لے کر نکلا[1] تو اس نے کہا کہ اللہ ایک ندی[2] کے ذریعہ سے یقیناً تمہارا امتحان لینے والا ہے۔ پس جس نے اس (نہر) میں سے (پیٹ بھر کر پانی) پی لیا وہ مجھ سے (وابستہ) نہیں (رہے گا) اور جس نے اس سے نہ چکھا وہ یقیناً مجھ سے (وابستہ) ہوگا سوائے اس کے جس نے اس میں سے (فقط) اپنے ہاتھوں سے ایک چلو لے (کر پی) لیا (کہ اس پر کوئی الزام نہ ہوگا) پھر (ہوا یہ کہ) ان میں سے چند ایک کے سوا (باقی سب نے) اس میں سے (پانی) پی لیا۔ پھر جب وہ خود اور (نیز) وہ لوگ جو اس کے ساتھ ایمان لائے تھے اس ندی سے پار اتر گئے (تو) انہوں نے کہا کہ آج ہم میں جالوت اور اس کے لشکروں کے مقابلہ کی بالکل طاقت نہیں (مگر) جو لوگ یقین رکھتے تھے کہ وہ (ایک دن) اللہ سے ملنے والے ہیں انہوں نے کہا کہ بہت سی چھوٹی جماعتیں اللہ کے حکم سے بڑی جماعتوں پر غالب آچکی ہیں اور اللہ صبر کرنے والوں کے ساتھ (ہوتا) ہے (پس ڈرنے کی کوئی وجہ نہیں) ۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

And when Talut set out with the forces, he said: ‘Surely, Allah will try you with a river. So he who drinks therefrom is not of me; and he who tastes it not is assuredly of me, save him who takes only a handful[310] of water with his hand.’ But they drank of it, except a few of them. And when they crossed it—he and those who believed along with him—they said, ‘We have no power today against Jalut[310A]and his forces.’ But those, who knew for certain that they would one day meet Allah said, [a]‘How many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command! And Allah is with the steadfast.’

English - Five Volume Translation

And when Talut set out with the forces, he said: ‘Surely, Allah will try you with a river. So he who drinks therefrom is not of me; and he who tastes it not is assuredly of me, except him who takes a handful of water with his hand.’ But they drank of it, except a few of them. And when they crossed it—he and those who believed along with him—they said: ‘We have no power today against Jalut and his forces.’ But those who knew for certain that they would one day meet Allah said: [a]‘How many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command! And Allah is with the steadfast.’[256]

3:124; 8:66.

Important Words:

نـھر (river). The verb نـھر means, it flowed with force. They say نـھر الدام i.e. the blood poured forth with force. نـھر الماء means, the water poured forth in the land and cut out a channel for itself. النـھر (an-nahr) means, a body of flowing water, i.e. stream or river; channel through which such water flows. النھر (an-nahr) means, (1) plenty and abundance; (2) a river channel; (3) a river (Aqrab).

الجنود (forces) is the plural of الجـند. They say جند الجنود i.e. he collected or gathered together his forces. الجند means, a force or an army ; helpers (Aqrab).

جالوت (Jalut) is derived from جال i.e. he ran about without stopping. They say جال الفرس فی المیدان i.e. the horse galloped about in the field, sometimes going this way and sometimes that way. جال القوم جولة means, the people drew back and then made a joint onslaught. جال بعضھم علی بعض means, they assailed or assaulted one another in battle, etc. (Aqrab & Taj). Thus جالوت is an attributive name meaning, a person or a people who is unruly and moves about attacking and assaulting others. In the Bible the parallel name is Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4) which means, "running, ravaging and destroying spirits" or "a leader or a giant" (Enc. Bib. and Jew. Enc.). The Bible uses the name about one individual but really the word signifies a party of ruthless freebooters, though it may also be applied to certain individuals symbolizing the characteristics of the party. The Quran appears to have used it in both these senses in the verses under comment.

Commentary:

Self-control and discipline are the key to most successes, and possession of these qualities is necessary to successfully meet God’s trials. The present verse speaks of one such trial. The exception of a handful of water was made with a twofold purpose: (1) to afford the marching force an essential physical relief by permitting them to moisten their parched throats, but at the same time to prevent them from drinking freely, which would have damped their spirits and made them negligent of the enemy; and (2) to make the trial all the more tantalizing, for in many cases it is easier to withhold from a thing altogether than to use it in a strictly limited measure. The Bible mentions the incident in Judg. 7:5-6.

The concluding clause, i.e. how many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command, contains a mighty lesson of hope for the righteous. When God wills a thing, numbers do not matter. The truth of this statement has been borne out by history in all ages.

The Jalut spoken of in this verse does not signify a person but a people, while the word جنود (forces) points to the helpers and associates of these people. The Bible refers to Jalut under the name of Midianites who pillaged and harassed the Israelites and destroyed their land for several years (Judg. 6:1-6). The Amalekites and all the eastern tribes assisted the Midianites in their raids (Judg. 6:1) and formed "the forces" referred to in the verse.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

پھر جب طالوت لشکر لے کر چلا، تو اُس نے کہا: "ایک دریا پر اللہ کی طرف سے تمہاری آزمائش ہونے والی ہے جواس کا پانی پیے گا، وہ میرا ساتھی نہیں میرا ساتھی صرف وہ ہے جو اس سے پیاس نہ بجھائے، ہاں ایک آدھ چلو کوئی پی لے، تو پی لے" مگر ایک گروہ قلیل کے سوا وہ سب اس دریا سے سیراب ہوئے پھر جب طالوت اور اس کے ساتھی مسلمان دریا پار کر کے آگے بڑھے، تو اُنہوں نے طالوت سے کہہ دیا کہ آج ہم میں جالوت اور اس کے لشکروں کا مقابلہ کرنے کی طاقت نہیں ہے لیکن جو لوگ یہ سمجھتے تھے کہ انہیں ایک دن اللہ سے ملنا ہے، انہوں نے کہا: "بارہا ایسا ہوا ہے کہ ایک قلیل گروہ اللہ کے اذن سے ایک بڑے گروہ پر غالب آگیا ہے اللہ صبر کرنے والوں کا ساتھی ہے"

English - Sahih

And when Saul went forth with the soldiers, he said, "Indeed, Allah will be testing you with a river. So whoever drinks from it is not of me, and whoever does not taste it is indeed of me, excepting one who takes [from it] in the hollow of his hand." But they drank from it, except a [very] few of them. Then when he had crossed it along with those who believed with him, they said, "There is no power for us today against Goliath 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 permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

پھر جب طالوت فوجیں لے کر نکلا کہا بے شک الله ایک نہر سے تمہاری آزمائش کرنے والا ہے جس نے اس نہر کا پانی پیا تو وہ میرا نہیں ہے اور جس نے اسے نہ چکھا تو وہ بےشک میرا ہے مگر جو کوئی اپنے ہاتھ سے ایک چلو بھر لے (تو اسے معاف ہے) پھر ان میں سے سوائے چند آدمیوں کے سب نے اس کا پانی پی لیا پھر جب طالوت اور ایمان والے ا س کے ساتھ پار ہوئے تو کہنے لگے آج ہمیں جالوت اور اس کے لشکروں سے لڑنے کی طاقت نہیں جن لوگو ں کو خیال تھا کہ انہیں الله سے ملنا ہے وہ کہنے لگے بار ہا بڑی جماعت پر چھوٹی جماعت الله کے حکم سے غالب ہوئی ہے اور الله صبر کرنے والو ں کے ساتھ ہے

English - Talal Itani

Then when set out Talut with the forces he said, "Indeed, Allah will test you with a river. So whoever drinks from it then he is not from me, and whoever (does) not taste it then indeed, he (is) from me except whoever takes (in the) hollow (of) his hand." Then they drank from it except a few of them. Then when he crossed it, he and those who believed with him, they said, "No strength for us today against Jalut and his troops." Said those who were certain that they (would) meet Allah, "How many of a company small overcame a company large by (the) permission (of) Allah. And Allah (is) with the patient ones."

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:124; 8:66.

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

1

فَصَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَنِ الْبَلْدَۃِ کے معنے ہیں خَرَجَ مِنْہُ۔ شہر سے نکلا۔ (اقرب)

2

نَھَر کا ترجمہ ندی کیا گیا ہے۔ لیکن ھَاء کی زبر سے جب یہ لفظ ہو تو اس کے دو معنے ہوتے ہیں۔ (۱) ندی (۲) فراخی اور وسعت (مفردات) چنانچہ کہتے ہیں۔ نَھَرٌ نَھِرٌ بہت پانی والی ندی (مفردات) اس آیت میں دونوں معنے ہی لگ سکتے ہیں۔ اگر فراخی اور وسعت کے معنے کیے جائیں تو آیت کا یہ مطلب ہوگا کہ اللہ تعالیٰ نے بادشاہ کے ذریعہ سے فوجیوں کو اطلاع دی کہ تمہارا امتحان مال و دولت سے لیا جائے گا۔ اگر تم مال و دولت کے پیچھے پڑ گئے تو خداتعالیٰ کا کام نہ کر سکو گے اور اگر تم مال و دولت سے متاثر نہ ہوئے تو تم کو کامیابی ہوگی۔ جیسا کہ پہلے نوٹ میں بتایا جا چکا ہے۔ طالوت سے مراد جدعو

English - Arberry

And when Saul went forth with the hosts he said, 'God will try you with a river; whosoever drinks of it is not of me, and whoso tastes it flot, he is of me, saving him who scoops up with his hand.' But they drank of it, except a few of them; and when he crossed it, and those who believed with him, they said, 'We have no power today against Goliath and his hosts.' Said those who reckoned they should meet God, 'How often a little company has overcome a numerous company, by God's leave! And God is with the patient.'

English - Maududi

And when Saul marched out with his army, he warned: "Allah is going to put you to a test by the side of a river: whoso drinks of its water shall cease to be my companion: he alone shall be~my companion who does not quench his thirst with its water: one may, however, take except a few, drank their fill of it. Afterwards when Saul, and those who had believed with him, crossed the river and advanced forward, the former said to Saul, "We have no power left this day to fight against Goliath and his hosts." But those who believed that one Day they shall meet Allah, declared, "lt has often been that a small host has, by Allah's grace, overcome a big host: for Allah is with those who show fortitude."

English - Ahmed Ali

When Saul led his armies, he said: "God will test you by a stream. Whoever drinks its water will not be of me; but those who do not drink shall be on my side. The only exception will be those who scoop up a palmful of water with their hands." And but for a few they all drank of its water. When they had crossed it, and those who believed with him, they said: "We have no strength to combat Goliath and his forces today. But those who believed they have to face their Lord, said: "Many a time has a small band defeated a large horde by the will of God. God is with those who are patient (and persevere)."

English - Yusuf Ali

When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: "Allah will test you at the stream: if any drinks of its water, He goes not with my army: Only those who taste not of it go with me: A mere sip out of the hand is excused." but they all drank of it, except a few. When they crossed the river,- He and the faithful ones with him,- they said: "This day We cannot cope with Goliath and his forces." but those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: "How oft, by Allah's will, Hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere."

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:124; 8:66.

256

Important Words:

نـھر (river). The verb نـھر means, it flowed with force. They say نـھر الدام i.e. the blood poured forth with force. نـھر الماء means, the water poured forth in the land and cut out a channel for itself. النـھر (an-nahr) means, a body of flowing water, i.e. stream or river; channel through which such water flows. النھر (an-nahr) means, (1) plenty and abundance; (2) a river channel; (3) a river (Aqrab).

الجنود (forces) is the plural of الجـند. They say جند الجنود i.e. he collected or gathered together his forces. الجند means, a force or an army ; helpers (Aqrab).

جالوت (Jalut) is derived from جال i.e. he ran about without stopping. They say جال الفرس فی المیدان i.e. the horse galloped about in the field, sometimes going this way and sometimes that way. جال القوم جولة means, the people drew back and then made a joint onslaught. جال بعضھم علی بعض means, they assailed or assaulted one another in battle, etc. (Aqrab & Taj). Thus جالوت is an attributive name meaning, a person or a people who is unruly and moves about attacking and assaulting others. In the Bible the parallel name is Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4) which means, "running, ravaging and destroying spirits" or "a leader or a giant" (Enc. Bib. and Jew. Enc.). The Bible uses the name about one individual but really the word signifies a party of ruthless freebooters, though it may also be applied to certain individuals symbolizing the characteristics of the party. The Quran appears to have used it in both these senses in the verses under comment.

Commentary:

Self-control and discipline are the key to most successes, and possession of these qualities is necessary to successfully meet God’s trials. The present verse speaks of one such trial. The exception of a handful of water was made with a twofold purpose: (1) to afford the marching force an essential physical relief by permitting them to moisten their parched throats, but at the same time to prevent them from drinking freely, which would have damped their spirits and made them negligent of the enemy; and (2) to make the trial all the more tantalizing, for in many cases it is easier to withhold from a thing altogether than to use it in a strictly limited measure. The Bible mentions the incident in Judg. 7:5-6.

The concluding clause, i.e. how many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command, contains a mighty lesson of hope for the righteous. When God wills a thing, numbers do not matter. The truth of this statement has been borne out by history in all ages.

The Jalut spoken of in this verse does not signify a person but a people, while the word جنود (forces) points to the helpers and associates of these people. The Bible refers to Jalut under the name of Midianites who pillaged and harassed the Israelites and destroyed their land for several years (Judg. 6:1-6). The Amalekites and all the eastern tribes assisted the Midianites in their raids (Judg. 6:1) and formed "the forces" referred to in the verse.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

3:124; 8:66.

310

The exception of a handful of water was made with a twofold purpose: (1) To afford the marching force some essential physical relief by permitting them to moisten their parched throats, but at the same time to prevent them from drinking freely, which would have damped their spirits and made them negligent of the enemy; (2) To make the trial all the more tantalizing, for in many cases it is easier for a person to withhold himself from a thing altogether than to use it in a strictly limited measure. See Judg. 7: 5, 6. The word Nahar also means "plenty." In this sense of the word the verse signifies that they would be tried by "plenty;" those who succumbed to its temptations would no longer be fit to carry on God’s work, but those who used it with restraint would achieve success.

310A

Jalut is an attributive name meaning, a person or a people who are unruly and go about attacking and assaulting others. In the Bible the parallel name is Goliath (I Sam. 17: 4) which means, "running, ravaging and destroying spirits," or "a leader" or "a giant" (Enc. Bib.; Jew. Enc.). The Bible uses the name about one individual but really the word signifies a party of ruthless freebooters, though it may also be applied to certain individuals symbolizing the characteristics of the party. The Qur’an appears to have used it in both these senses in the verses under comment.

English - Pickthall

And when Saul set out with the army, he said: Lo! Allah will try you by (the ordeal of) a river. Whosoever therefore drinketh thereof he is not of me, and whosoever tasteth it not he is of me, save him who taketh (thereof) in the hollow of his hand. But they drank thereof, all save a few of them. And after he had crossed (the river), he and those who believed with him, they said: We have no power this day against Goliath and his hosts. But those who knew that they would meet Allah exclaimed: How many a little company hath overcome a mighty host by Allah's leave! Allah is with the steadfast.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

So when Saul set out with the forces, he said: surely Allah will try you with a river. Whoever drinks from it, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is surely of me, except he who takes a handful with his hand. But they drank of it save a few of them. So when he had crossed it, he and those who believed with him, they said: We have to-day no power against Goliath and his forces. Those who were sure that they would meet their Lord said: How often has a small party vanquished a numerous host by Allah´s permission! And Allah is with the steadfast.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

When Talut set out with his forces, he announced: Surely, Allah will put you to the test in respect of a river; he who drinks his fill therefrom will not remain with me; and he who tastes it not will of a surety continue with me. There will, however, be no blame upon him who sips only a handful from it. But, except a few of them, they all drank of it. When he and those who believed along with him had crossed it, they said: We have no strength today to oppose Jalut and his forces. Those who were certain that they would one day meet Allah said: Many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah's command; Allah is indeed with the steadfast.

نَهَرٍ

Derived Words (2)

Occurrences in Quran

Explore Topics

Explore Roots