Manna And Quails

LESSON # 70 HOLY QUR’AAN

BAQARAH - 2

Manna And Quails

Verse –57 of 286, Section - 6

And We caused the cloud to overshadow you and sent down on you the manna and the quails, (saying); Eat of the good things which We have provided you. They wronged Us not, but they did wrong themselves.

Wa zallalnaa ‘alaykumul-gamaama wa ‘anzalnaa ‘alay-kumul-Manna was-Salwaa. Kuluu min- tayyi-baati maa razaqnaa-kum. Wa maa zala-muunaa wa laakin- kaanuuu ‘anfusahum yazlimuun.

Lesson

Manna – It was a sweet moist thing for eating which was available on searching by the children of Israel. It was a great favor of the God Almighty for their lives during wandering in the desert of Peninsula of Sinai. Different forms of Manna have been explained. Some people have told that it was like a particular kind of gum. Some others have stated it ‘Honey’. Now a days a delicious pudding named ‘Manna’ is being prepared in the Egypt. This pudding is favourite food of the Jews.

Salwaa – It is a bird like a small partridge (quail). It is found in peninsula Sinai. It does not fly on to much height and tires soon. It becomes victim easily. The sea air used to bring them flying towards the camp of the children of Israel. They used to go hunting these birds and made them their delicious food. 

As per Commentators of Religion (compliments for them) after leaving the Egypt the children of Israel used to wandering confused in the barren desert of peninsula of Sinai for forty years. Due to non availability of shade, shadow or shelter they were confused from the sunlight and requested the Prophet Moses (peace be upon Him) to seek means for saving them from this suffering (sunlight). He (peace be upon Him) prayed from the God Almighty which was approved and a cloud used to remain over their heads during the entire day to overshadow them. The God, the Most High commanded them, “and We caused the cloud to overshadow you and sent down on you the manna and the quails, (saying); Eat of the good things which We have provided you”. They were also instructed not to store these heavenly favors, take only according to the needs, however may be stored ration for two days only on Friday.

They disobeyed the order of God Almighty and began to store the food. Resultantly provision of these favors was stopped. So God Almighty reveals, “They wronged Us not, but they did wrong themselves”.

Transliteration in Roman Script, English Translation by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif Fauji) (http://hltsharif.blogspot.com)