Bismillah.
وَلَمَّا بَرَزُوا لِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالُوا رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
So, when they marched out for [encounter with] Goliath and his troops, they said, ‘Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our feet steady, and assist us against the disbelieving people.
(Sūrat al-Baqarah No. 2, Āyāt 250)
The story of the battle between Tālūt (Saul) and Jālūt (Goliath) is briefly mentioned in the Quran. Prophet Ushmu‘īl (Samuel) had told the people that Tālūt would be their King. When the people of Tālūt went to battle, the other side had Jālūt as part of their army. Jālūt was well known for his strength and warfare.
The word ‘barazū’ in the verse above means to appear and to be ready. Here it refers to the moment when Jālūt and his army appeared in the battlefield. When the two armies of Tālūt and Jālūt faced each other, the odds seemed stacked against the army of Tālūt. But the small group with Tālūt had a lot of trust in Allah ‘azza wajall. Instead of panicking, they turned to Allah, as believers do when they face apparent difficulties and tests. Earlier when some of them had shown weakness, the group with Tālūt had reminded them:
كَم مِّن فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
How many a small company has overcome a large company by permission of Allah. And Allah is with the patient (Q 2:249).
The army of Tālūt was ready to fight but they also prayed for help. Note how supplication and action go together. The people prayed for three things:
1) They ask for patience to the utmost degree, a complete pouring the way water is poured out from a bowl, such that nothing remains in the bowl. Note the following four points that reveal the depth of this first supplication:
a) Starting with ‘Rabbanā’ – our Lord, one who nurtures, sustains, looks after, cares for. Many supplications in the Quran start with that word.
b) Afrigh – pour out on us, rather than grant us.
c) ‘Alaynā – on or over us. Coming from above.
d) Sabran – with a tanwīn, showing indefinite. That is used for emphasis. They ask for patience because it is an essential prerequisite for success.
2) They ask that their feet be steady. The first supplication had to do with the inner aspect of the human being while this supplication is regarding the outer aspect. They want to be physically firm and steadfast, a fruit of the patience given to them.
3) They ask for victory against their enemies. That is the main goal of their actions and is the desired result of patience and steadfastness in the face of the enemy.
The supplications show their faith and the sincerity of their intention. They were fighting a people who disbelieved in Allah subhānahu wa-ta‘ālā. It was not just personal motivation. They had been singled out by the enemies for their faith in Allah and His prophets. This is how believers think when they face the enemy who is not only their enemy but also the enemy of Allah (swt). Their faith and determination remain unshaken by the outward demonstration of strength by the enemies. They know that inside is a hollowness that makes the enemies vulnerable to fear.
We see this difference between the spiritual morale of the two sides in battles being fought presently. The oppressors show a lot of strength and power, but they cannot match the faith and resolve of the believers. The real outcome of a battle depends more on internal strength than on external power.
The tragedy of Karbala is an excellent example of the difference in morale of the two sides. One fought for God, to uphold justice and stand up for the true mission on God. The other side fought against God and His representative of the time. It did not take long for the world to know who was truly victorious in that battle. It is a lesson played out repeatedly in history, one that was clear in Karbala, and which is happening in front of our eyes today. May the Almighty help the group of believers who stand up to oppressors for the sake of God and grant them a strong morale.
Sources: Āyatullāh Makārim Shīrāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Rizwan Arastu, God’s Emissaries – Adam to Jesus.