۞ 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
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them,
وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَـٰقَكُمْ وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَكُمُ ٱلطُّورَ خُذُوا۟ مَآ ءَاتَيْنَـٰكُم بِقُوَّةٍ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ مَا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], "Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous."
وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ
And among them are unlettered ones who do not know the Scripture except [indulgement in] wishful thinking, but they are only assuming.