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Manna and Quails

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Manna and Quails

الْمَنّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ

Manna and Quails represent a profound example of Allah’s boundless mercy and provision for the Children of Israel during their arduous journey in the desert after escaping Pharaoh. As they wandered through the wilderness, facing hunger and hardship, Allah miraculously sent down this sustenance from the heavens. The Quran beautifully recounts, [We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you"]. Manna was often described as a sweet, dew-like substance that fell overnight, while quails were birds that arrived in abundant flocks. These blessings were pure, abundant, and intended to nourish them during their trials, a testament to divine care as Allah declared, [O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you at the right side of the mount, and We sent down to you manna and quails]. Yet, despite this immense favor, some of the Children of Israel grew impatient and ungrateful, longing for the diverse, earthly foods they had known in Egypt. They complained, as recounted in the Quran, [O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions]. This narrative powerfully reminds us in Islamic tradition about the importance of gratitude, contentment, and trust in divine wisdom, highlighting how turning away from Allah's wholesome blessings for fleeting desires ultimately wrongs oneself.

Quran 4 verses

وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

Wa zallalnaa 'alaikumul ghamaama wa anzalnaa 'alaikumul Manna was Salwaa kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum wa maa zalamoonaa wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon

And We shaded you with clouds and sent down to you manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not - but they were [only] wronging themselves.

اور بادل کا تم پر سایہ کئے رکھا اور (تمہارے لیے) من و سلویٰ اتارتے رہے کہ جو پاکیزہ چیزیں ہم نے تم کو عطا فرمائی ہیں، ان کو کھاؤ (پیو) مگر تمہارے بزرگوں نے ان نعمتوں کی کچھ قدر نہ جانی (اور) وہ ہمارا کچھ نہیں بگاڑتے تھے بلکہ اپنا ہی نقصان کرتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: These two incidents took place in the wilderness of Tih. The Israelites belonged to Syria, but had gone to Egypt in the time of Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) (Joseph), and settled there, while Syria itself had come under the domination of a people called the ` Amaliqah (Amaleks). When the Pharaoh had...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We made the cloud overshadow you that is We sheltered you with fine clouds from the heat of the sun while you were in the wilderness; and We sent down in them the clouds upon you manna and quails — which are respectively a type of citrus known as turunjabīn and the quail — and We said ‘Eat of th...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Shade, the Manna and the Quail After Allah mentioned the calamities that He saved the Children of Israel from, He mentioned the favors that He granted them, saying, وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ And We shaded you with clouds. This A0yah mentions the white clouds that provided shade for the ...

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نَّصْبِرَ عَلَىٰ طَعَامٍ وَٰحِدٍ فَٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُخْرِجْ لَنَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مِنۢ بَقْلِهَا وَقِثَّآئِهَا وَفُومِهَا وَعَدَسِهَا وَبَصَلِهَا قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ ٱلَّذِى هُوَ أَدْنَىٰ بِٱلَّذِى هُوَ خَيْرٌ ٱهْبِطُوا۟ مِصْرًا فَإِنَّ لَكُم مَّا سَأَلْتُمْ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ وَٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ

Wa iz qultum yaa Moosaa lan nasbira 'alaa ta'aaminw waahidin fad'u lanaa rabbaka yukhrij lanaa mimmaa tumbitul ardu mimbaqlihaa wa qis saaa'ihaa wa foomihaa wa 'adasihaa wa basalihaa qaala atastabdiloonal lazee huwa adnaa billazee huwa khayr; ihbitoo misran fa inna lakum maa sa altum; wa duribat 'alaihimuz zillatu walmaskanatu wa baaa'oo bighadabim minal laah; zaalika bi annahum kaano yakfuroona bi aayaatil laahi wa yaqtuloonan Nabiyyeena bighairil haqq; zaalika bimaa 'asaw wa kaanoo ya'tadoon

And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we can never endure one [kind of] food. So call upon your Lord to bring forth for us from the earth its green herbs and its cucumbers and its garlic and its lentils and its onions." [Moses] said, "Would you exchange what is better for what is less? Go into [any] settlement and indeed, you will have what you have asked." And they were covered with humiliation and poverty and returned with anger from Allah [upon them]. That was because they [repeatedly] disbelieved in the signs of Allah and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and were [habitually] transgressing.

اور جب تم نے کہا کہ موسیٰ! ہم سے ایک (ہی) کھانے پر صبر نہیں ہو سکتا تو اپنے پروردگار سے دعا کیجئے کہ ترکاری اور ککڑی اور گیہوں اور مسور اور پیاز (وغیرہ) جو نباتات زمین سے اُگتی ہیں، ہمارے لیے پیدا کر دے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ بھلا عمدہ چیزیں چھوڑ کر ان کے عوض ناقص چیزیں کیوں چاہتے ہوں۔ (اگر یہی چیزیں مطلوب ہیں) تو کسی شہر میں جا اترو، وہاں جو مانگتے ہو، مل جائے گا۔ اور (آخرکار) ذلت (ورسوائی) اور محتاجی (وبے نوائی) ان سے چمٹا دی گئی اور وہ الله کے غضب میں گرفتار ہو گئے۔ یہ اس لیے کہ وہ الله کی آیتوں سے انکار کرتے تھے اور (اس کے) نبیوں کو ناحق قتل کر دیتے تھے۔ (یعنی) یہ اس لیے کہ نافرمانی کئے جاتے اور حد سے بڑھے جاتے تھے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: This episode has been indirectly referred to in verse 58, and it also occurred in the wilderness of Tih تیہ . The Israelites grew weary of eating the Mann مَن and the Salwa سلوا (manna and quails) everyday, and wished to have ordinary vegetables and grain. Allah commanded them through Sayyidna Musa ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when you said ‘Moses we will not endure one sort of food that is to say manna and quails; pray to your Lord for us that He may bring forth for us something of min here is explicative what the earth produces — green herbs cucumbers garlic lentils onions’ he Moses said to them ‘Would you exchange ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Children of Israel preferred Foods inferior to Manna and Quails Allah said, "And remember My favor on you when I sent down the manna and quails to you, a good, pure, beneficial, easily acquired food. And remember your ungratefulness for what We granted you. Remember how you asked Musa to exchang...

وَقَطَّعْنَٰهُمُ ٱثْنَتَىْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱسْتَسْقَىٰهُ قَوْمُهُۥٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْحَجَرَ فَٱنۢبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ ٱثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْغَمَٰمَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ كُلُوا۟ مِن طَيِّبَٰتِ مَا رَزَقْنَٰكُمْ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ

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 mashrabahm; wa zallalnaa 'alaihimul ghammaamma wa anzalnaa 'alaihimul MManna was Salwaa kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum; wa maa zalamoonaa wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon

And We divided them into twelve descendant tribes [as distinct] nations. And We inspired to Moses when his people implored him for water, "Strike with your staff the stone," and there gushed forth from it twelve springs. Every people knew its watering place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down upon them manna and quails, [saying], "Eat from the good things with which We have provided you." And they wronged Us not, but they were [only] wronging themselves.

اور ہم نے ان کو (یعنی بنی اسرائیل کو) الگ الگ کرکے بارہ قبیلے (اور) بڑی بڑی جماعتیں بنا دیا۔ اور جب موسیٰ سے ان کی قوم نے پانی طلب کیا تو ہم نے ان کی طرف وحی بھیجی کہ اپنی لاٹھی پتھر پر مار دو۔ تو اس میں سے بارہ چشمے پھوٹ نکلے۔ اور سب لوگوں نے اپنا اپنا گھاٹ معلوم کرلیا۔ اور ہم نے ان (کے سروں) پر بادل کو سائبان بنائے رکھا اور ان پر من وسلویٰ اتارتے رہے۔ اور (ان سے کہا کہ) جو پاکیزہ چیزیں ہم تمہیں دیتے ہیں انہیں کھاؤ۔ اور ان لوگوں نے ہمارا کچھ نقصان نہیں کیا بلکہ (جو) نقصان کیا اپنا ہی کیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The above verses have enumerated various favours that Allah bestowed upon the Israelites, and spoke of their deviation from the commands of Allah resulting in a heavenly punishment for their transgression. The translation of the verses given above is self explanatory and the relevant details have al...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And We divided them We separated the Children of Israel into twelve ithnatay ‘asharata is a circumstantial qualifier tribes asbātan substitutes for this previous circumstantial qualifier communities umaman substitutes for the preceding asbātan ‘tribes’. And We revealed to Moses when his people asked...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـبِ أُمَّةٌ قَآئِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ ءَايَـتِ اللَّهِ ءَانَآءَ الَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ (A party of the people of the Scripture stand for the right, they recite the verses of Allah during the hours of the night, prostrating themselves in prayer) 3:113, وَإِنَّ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَـب...

يَٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ قَدْ أَنجَيْنَٰكُم مِّنْ عَدُوِّكُمْ وَوَٰعَدْنَٰكُمْ جَانِبَ ٱلطُّورِ ٱلْأَيْمَنَ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلْمَنَّ وَٱلسَّلْوَىٰ

Yaa Baneee Israaa'eela qad anjainaakum min 'aduw wikum wa wa'adnaakum jaanibat Tooril aimana wa nazzalnaa 'alaikumul Manna was Salwaa

O Children of Israel, We delivered you from your enemy, and We made an appointment with you at the right side of the mount, and We sent down to you manna and quails,

اے آل یعقوب ہم نے تم کو تمہارے دشمن سے نجات دی اور تورات دینے کے لئے تم سے کوہ طور کی داہنی طرف مقرر کی اور تم پر من اور سلویٰ نازل کیا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: وَوَاعَدْنَاكُمْ جَانِبَ الطُّورِ‌ الْأَيْمَنَ (And appointed for you the right side of the mount Tur. (20:80) ) After their deliverance from the threat of the Pharaoh, and when they were safe across the river, Allah made a promise to Sayyidna Musa (علیہ السلام) and through him to the Bani Isra'il t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O Children of Israel truly We delivered you from your enemy Pharaoh by drowning him and We made a tryst with you on the right side of the Tūr Mount in order to give Moses the Torah that it may be implemented it by you and We sent down to you manna and quails namely turunjabīn citrus fruit and the qu...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): A Reminder for the Children of Israel of Allah's Favors upon Them Allah reminds of His tremendous favors upon the Children of Israel and His numerous blessings. He saved them from their enemy, Fir`awn, and He relieved their eyes by drowning him and his hosts all at one time while they watched. Allah...

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