we may fight for the religion of God?  The prophet answered, If ye are enjoined to go to war, will ye be near refusing to fight?  They answered, And what should ail us that we should not fight for the religion of God, seeing we are dispossessed of our habitations, and deprived of our children?  But when they were enjoined to go to war, they turned back, except a few of them:  and God knew the ungodly.  And their prophet said unto them, Verily God hath set Talut king over you:  they answered, How shall he reign over us, seeing we are more worthy of the kingdom than he, neither is he possessed of great riches?  Samuel said, Verily God hath chosen him before you, and hath caused him to increase in knowledge and stature, for God giveth his kingdom unto whom he pleaseth; God is bounteous and wise.  And their prophet said unto them, Verily the sign of his kingdom shall be, that the ark shall come unto you:  therein shall be tranquillity from your Lord, and the relics which have been left by the family of Moses, and the family of Aaron; the angels shall bring it.  Verily this shall be a sign unto you, if ye believe.  And when Talut departed with his soldiers, he said, Verily God will prove you by the river:  for he who drinketh thereof, shall not be on my side (but he who shall not taste thereof he shall be on my side) except he who drinketh a draught out of his hand.  And they drank thereof, except a few of them.  And when they had passed the river, he and those who believed with him, they said, We have no strength to-day against Jalut and his forces.  But they who considered that they should meet God at the resurrection, said, How often hath a small army discomfited a great army, by the will of God? and God is with those who patiently persevere.  And when they went forth to battle against Jalut and his forces, they said, O Lord, pour on us patience, and confirm our feet, and help us against the unbelieving people.  Therefore they discomfited them, by the will of God, and David slew Jalut.  And God gave him the kingdom and wisdom, and taught him his will; and if God had not prevented men, the one by the other, verily the earth had been corrupted:  but God is beneficent towards his creatures.  These are the signs of God:  we rehearse them unto thee with truth, and thou art surely one of those who have been sent by God.  These are the apostles; we have preferred some of them before others:  some of them hath God spoken unto, and hath exalted the degree of others of them.  And we gave unto Jesus the son of Mary manifest signs, and strengthened him with the holy spirit.  And if God had pleased, they who came after those apostles would not have contended among themselves, after manifest signs had been shown unto them.  But they fell to variance; therefore some of them believed, and some of them believed not; and if God had so pleased, they would not have contended among themselves, but God doeth what he will.  O true believers, give alms of that which we have bestowed on you, before the day