Yahya said: 'ghurfat-an' (handful) is read with both the fatha and damma on the ghayn. Whoever reads it with the accusative (nasb) means: his scooping, which he scooped once. Whoever reads it with the nominative (raf'), means: the handful that fills the hand. 'So when he crossed it, he and those who believed with him'—Al-Kalbi said: They were three hundred and thirteen men, equal to the number of the people of Badr—'said: There is no power for us today against Goliath and his soldiers. Those who believed'—meaning: knew—'that they were to meet Allah said: How many a small group has overcome a large group by permission of Allah, and Allah is with the patient.' Al-Hasan was asked: 'Were not all the people who crossed [the river] believers?' He replied: 'Yes, but they varied in rank according to how much their souls were eager for striving in His path.' [Verses 250-252]
قَالَ يحيى: ﴿غرفَة﴾ تقْرَأ بِفَتْح الْغَيْن ورفعها؛ فَمن قَرَأَها بِالنّصب؛ يَعْنِي: غرفته الَّتِي اغترف مرّة وَاحِدَة، وَمن قَرَأَهَا بِالرَّفْع؛ أَرَادَ: الغرفة ملْء الْيَد. ﴿فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَهُ هُوَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَه﴾ قَالَ الْكَلْبِيّ: وَكَانُوا ثَلَاثمِائَة وَثَلَاثَة عشر رجلا بعدة أهل بدر ﴿قَالُوا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا الْيَوْمَ بِجَالُوتَ وَجُنُودِهِ قَالَ الَّذِينَ يظنون﴾ [يعلمُونَ] ﴿أَنَّهُمْ مُلاقُو اللَّهِ كَمْ مِنْ فِئَةٍ قَلِيلَةٍ غَلَبَتْ فِئَةً كَثِيرَةً بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصابرين﴾ قِيلَ لِلْحسنِ: أَلَيْسَ الْقَوْم جَمِيعًا كَانُوا مُؤمنين الَّذين جاوزوا؟! قَالَ: بلَى، وَلَكِن تفاضلوا بِمَا شحت أنفسهم من الْجِهَاد فِي سَبيله. [آيَة ٢٥٠ - ٢٥٢]
