۞ Did you (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) not see those who left their homes, whereas they numbered in thousands, fearing death? So Allah said to them, “Die”; He then brought them back to life; indeed Allah is Most Munificent towards mankind, but most men are ungrateful. 243 Fight in the way of Allah. And know that Allah is the Hearer and the Knower. 244 Who is he that will lend to Allah a goodly loan so that He may multiply it to him many times? And it is Allah that decreases or increases (your provisions), and unto Him you shall return. 245 Have you not considered the chiefs of the children of Israel after Musa, when they said to a prophet of theirs: Raise up for us a king, (that) we may fight in the way of Allah. He said: May it not be that you would not fight if fighting is ordained for you? They said: And what reason have we that we should not fight in the way of Allah, and we have indeed been compelled to abandon our homes and our children. But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned back, except a few of them, and Allah knows the unjust. 246 And their prophet said unto them: verily Allah hath raised unto you Talut as a king. They said: how can there be the dominion for him over us, whereas we are more worthy of the dominion than he nor hath he been vouchsafed an amplitude of wealth! He said: verily Allah hath chosen him over you and hath increased him amply in knowledge and physique, and Allah vouchsafeth His dominion unto whomsoever He listeth; and Allah is Bountiful, Knowing. 247 And their Prophet said to them, “Indeed the sign of his kingdom will be the coming of a (wooden) box to you, in which from your Lord is the contentment of hearts and containing some souvenirs (remnants) left behind by the honourable Moosa and the honourable Haroon (Aaron), borne by the angels; indeed in it is a great sign* for you if you are believers.” (The remnants of pious persons are blessed by Allah.) 248