Prophet Shammil (Samuel)
11th century BCE (Israel; era of the judges and rise of the monarchy).
Shammil (Samuel) is the prophet to whom the Children of Israel said: "Appoint for us a king that we may fight in the way of Allah." When fighting was prescribed, most turned back except a few. He told them that Allah had chosen Talut (Saul) as king; they objected because he was not from a wealthy family. The prophet said Allah had chosen him and increased him in knowledge and stature, and that the sign of his kingship would be the coming of the Ark—in which was tranquility from their Lord and relics of the house of Musa and Harun. When it came, they followed Talut. Among them was Dawud, who would later slay Jalut (Goliath) and become a prophet and king.
Ibn Jarir reported that the condition of the Israelites deteriorated. They committed many sins and killed whom they wished of the prophets. Consequently Allah sent them tyrannous kings who ill-treated them and set their enemies against them. They used to go to war taking the Ark of the Covenant so that they would be victorious by its blessings. When they fought the people of Gaza and Askalon the Ark was captured and they were defeated. The king of the Israelites heard of this and died on the spot. The children of Israel remained like sheep without a shepherd until Allah sent them a prophet named Samuel (Shammil). They asked him to appoint a king over them to lead in war against their enemies.
In this story
- State of the Israelites after Joshua
- The Ark of the Covenant
- Samuel and the request for a king
- Saul is appointed king
- Sign of the kingdom and the river test (Quran)
- Saul's army and Goliath
Where the Quran tells it
- Al-Baqarah 2:246-252