۞ وَإِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ ۖ فَٱنفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ 60
Translations
And [recall] when Moses prayed for water for his people, so We said, "Strike with your staff the stone." And there gushed forth from it twelve springs, and every people [i.e., tribe] knew its watering place. "Eat and drink from the provision of Allāh, and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
Transliteration
Wa-idhi istasqa Musa liqawmihi faqulna idrib bi-'asaka al-hajara finfajarat minhu ithna 'ashrata 'aynan qad 'alima kullu unasin mashrababum kulu wa-ashrabu min rizqi Allah wa-la ta'thaw fi al-ardi mufsideen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah recounts the miracle of Moses striking the rock with his staff, from which twelve springs gushed forth—one for each tribe of the Israelites—demonstrating Allah's provision and care for His people in the wilderness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this as evidence of Allah's power and the fulfillment of His promise to sustain the believers, while the command to eat and drink from Allah's rizq (provision) while abstaining from corruption emphasizes both divine bounty and human responsibility.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan section of Surah Al-Baqarah and recalls an episode from the Israelite narrative to remind the Muslim community of Allah's historical support for the faithful. The context serves to reinforce lessons about trusting in divine provision and maintaining moral conduct, relevant to the developing Muslim society in Medina.
Related Hadiths
The event is referenced in Sahih Bukhari (hadith on the journey of Bani Israel) and Sunan Ibn Majah, where the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentions the twelve springs corresponding to the twelve tribes as a sign of Allah's knowledge of each group's needs. Thematically, hadiths on trusting in Allah's rizq (provision) are abundant in the Sunnah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Allah's provision is abundant and abundantly distributed with perfect justice—each person receives what they need—and that receiving divine blessings obligates us to use them responsibly and refrain from causing corruption on earth. It reminds believers that gratitude for Allah's gifts is best expressed through ethical conduct and obedience.
Related Ayahs
لِّلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَإِن تُبْدُوا۟ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ يُحَاسِبْكُم بِهِ ٱللَّهُ ۖ فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allāh will bring you to account for it. Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allāh is over all things competent.
خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ لَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنظَرُونَ
Abiding eternally therein. The punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be reprieved.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allāh - those expect the mercy of Allāh. And Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا لَوْنُهَا ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ صَفْرَآءُ فَاقِعٌ لَّوْنُهَا تَسُرُّ ٱلنَّـٰظِرِينَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to show us what is her color." He said, "He says, 'It is a yellow cow, bright in color - pleasing to the observers.'"