Transliteration:( Wa qatta' naahumus natai 'ashrata asbaatan umamaa; wa awhainaa ilaa Moosaaa izis tasqaahu qawmuhooo anid rib bi'asaakal hajara fambajasat minhus nata 'ashrata 'ainan qad 'alima kullu unaasim mashrabahum; wa zallalnaa 'alaihimul ghamaama wa anzalnaa 'alaihimul manna was Salwaa kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum; wa maa zalamoonaa wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon )
362. This is a second incident, where the entire followers of Hazrat Musa (On whom be peace) is intended, not those special group of believers who had settled down in China. Because these were the descendants of the twelve children of Hazrat Yaqub (On whom be peace), each of the tribes were separated for the purpose of distinction, and each was given a separate place on the plains of Teeh.
363. This tells us that it is permissible to seek the Bounties of Allah Almighty from His beloved servants. To provide water is the work of Allah Almighty, but the Israelites requested Hazrat Musa (On whom be peace) to provide it at which Allah Almighty did not raise any objection.
364. In this reference is made to the major miracle of Hazrat Musa (On whom be peace) when the great Prophet of Allah Almighty provided twelve fountains from the stones by striking his walking stick on them. This took place at Teeh. However, our Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم made five fountains to run from his blessed fingers.
365. MANNA is a name of a sweetmeat which would freeze at night like dew. Because the bounty was obtainable without any effort, the MANNA was the Favour and Bounty of Allah Almighty. SALWA on the other hand were the salty" of the natural birds.
366. These people did not know the value of MANNA and SALWA therefore they requested for other types of food. Thus, due to their ungratefulness MANNA and SALWA discontinued to descend. From this we learn that Bounties of Allah Almighty are snatched away by the evil influence of the sins.
160. And We divided them into twelve tribes (as distinct) nations. We revealed to Musa when his people asked him for water (saying): “Strike the stone with your stick,” and there gushed forth out of it twelve springs, each group knew its own place for water. We shaded them with the clouds and sent down upon them the manna and the quail (saying): “Eat of the good things with which We have provided you.” They harmed Us not but they used to harm themselves. 161. And (remember) when it was said to them: “Dwell in this town (Jerusalem) and eat therefrom wherever you wish, and say, `(O Allah) forgive our sins’; and enter the gate prostrating (bowing with humility). We shall forgive you your wrongdoings. We shall increase (the reward) for the good-doers.” 162. But those among them who did wrong, changed the word that had been told to them. So We sent on them a torment from the heaven in return for their wrongdoings.) We discussed these Ayat in Surat Al-Baqarah, which was revealed in Al-Madinah, while these Ayat were revealed in Makkah. We also mentioned the difference between the two narrations, and thus we do not need to repeat it here, all thanks are due to Allah and all the favors are from Him.
118. This refers to the organization of the people of Israel which has been mentioned in the Qur’an in (al-Ma’idah 5:12 )and also described, at length, in the Bible in Numbers. According to these sources, in compliance with God’s command the Prophet Moses first conducted the census of the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai. He registered their twelve tribes, ten of whom were descendants of the Prophet Jacob, and the remaining two descendants of the Prophet Joseph, as separate and distinct tribes. He appointed a chief for each tribe and assigned to him the duty to maintain moral, religious, social and military discipline within each tribe and to enforce the Law. The Levites, who were descendants of the Prophets Moses and Aaron, however, were organized as a distinct group entrusted with the task of providing religious guidance to all tribes.
119. This organization was one of the numerous favours which God had bestowed upon the Israelites. Mention is made of three other favours bestowed upon them. First, an extraordinary arrangement for their water supply was made in the otherwise arid Sinai peninsula. Second, the sky was covered with clouds such that they were protected from the scorching heat of the sun. Third, a unique meal, consisting of manna and quails was sent down on them. Had this Divine arrangement, catering as it did for the millions of wandering Israelites’ basic necessities of life, not been made, they would certainly have perished.
On visiting that land even today it is difficult to visualize how such an arrangement providing shelter, food and water for millions of people was made. The population of this peninsula standseven today at a paltry, 55,000 people. (it may be noted that this statement was made in the fifties of the present century. However, the present population of the Sinai is 200,000 – Ed.) If a five or six hundred thousand strong army, were to camp there today, it would be quite a task for those at the helm to provide the necessary supplies for the army. Little wonder, then, that many scholars who belive neither in the Scripture nor in miracles, rule out the historical accuracy of the event. For them, the people of Israel camped in an area lying south of Palestine and north of Arabia. In view of the physical and economic geography of the Sinai peninsula, they consider it totally incredible that such a large population could have stayed there for years. What has made these scholars even more sceptical about the event is the fact that the Israelites were not then in a position to procure supplies from either the Egyptians or the ‘Amaliqah’ who inhabited respectively the eastern and northern parts of the peninsula, since both groups were hostile to them. It is against this background that one may appreciate the immense importance of the favours God conferred on the Israelites. Likewise, it also gives one some idea of the blatant ingratitude of the people of Israel since they consistently defied and betrayed God even though they had witnessed a great many divine signs. (See Towards Understanding the Qur’an, vol. 1, (al-Baqarah 2: nn. 72-3 and 76, pp. 76-7 – Ed.)
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