SURAH AL-BAQARAH (AYAH 51 to 60)

وَإِذْ وَاعَدْنَا مُوسَىٰ أَرْبَعِينَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ اتَّخَذْتُمُ الْعِجْلَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَنْتُمْ ظَالِمُونَ {2:51}

[Q2:51] Wa iz waa'adnaa Moosaaa arba'eena lailatan summattakhaztumul 'ijla mim ba'dihee wa antum zaalimoon.
[Q2:51] And when We appointed a time of forty nights with Musa, then you took the calf (for a ALLAH (SWT)) after him and you were unjust.

[Q2:51] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika kami berjanji kepada Nabi Musa (untuk memberi Taurat kepadanya sesudah ia bersiap selama) empat puluh malam. Kemudian, setelah ia pergi, kamu menyembah (patung) anak lembu, dan kamu sebenarnya orang-orang yang zalim (terhadap diri sendiri).

MUSA STAYED ON THE MOUNT FOR FORTY DAYS AFTER WHICH THE LAW OF TAWRAT WAS GIVEN TO HIM. HE OBSERVED FAST ON ALL THE FORTY DAYS. According to verse 7:142 of al Araf the stay was for thirty days, but subsequently the term was extended by ten more days. The delay created doubts in the minds of the Bani Israil about the genuineness of the prophethood of Musa, AND unjustly they took up the worship of the calf.

Musa had appointed his brother, Harun, as his successor and deputy, during his absence. LIKEWISE the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), at the time of migrating to Madina from Makka-----

1.        had chosen Ali to sleep in his bed, during the night of hijrat, and

2.        to return the deposits, kept in trust with him, to the owners;

3.        commissioned Ali to take charge of the administration in Madina when he went to Tabuk to encounter the enemy; and

4.        he had also assigned to Ali the responsibility of delivering Surah al Barat to the people of Makka, because as per the divine command only he or Ali could deliver the divine revelation. "Ali is to me as Harun was to Musa", declared the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad).

©  As the people of Musa violated their oath of loyalty to Harun and followed Samayri the magician, the ummah of Muhammad also turned their back upon Ali and pursued their own fancies. IN THIS WAY THE IMAN OF THE PEOPLE WAS TESTED, AND THEY WERE FOUND DOING INJUSTICE TO THEMSELVES.

As stated in verse 3 of this surah a true believer must believe in the unseen. IN VIEW OF THE LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN WISDOM, RELIANCE UPON THE DIVINELY CHOSEN GUIDES IS THE SUREST WAY TO THE RIGHT PATH. IF ONE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) AND HIS DIVINELY CHOSEN HOLY IMAMS, it is the deviator who suffers the consequences by being unjust to himself because the guides remain independent of the mischief of the deserters.

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(2:51) Call to mind that when We invited Moses for a fixed term of forty nights and days, *67 you took to calf worship in his absence. *68 Though you had committed a wicked transgression,

*67. When the Israelites reached the Sinai Peninsula after their exodus from Egypt, God summoned Moses to the mountain for forty days and nights so that the nation which had now achieved independence could be taught law and morality. (See Exodus 24-3l.) 
*68. The cult of cow-worship was widespread among Israel's neighbours. It was particularly common in Egypt and Canaan. After the time of Joseph, when the Israelites fell prey to degeneracy and became the slaves of the Copts, they were contaminated by many of the corrupt practices prevalent among their rulers. Cow-worship was one of them. (There is a detailed account of the episode of calf-worship in Exodus 32.) 

ثُمَّ عَفَوْنَا عَنْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {2:52}

[Q2:52] Summa 'afawnaa 'ankum mim ba'di zaalika la'allakum tashkuroon.
[Q2:52] Then We pardoned you after that so that you might give thanks.

[Q2:52] Kemudian sesudah itu kami maafkan kesalahan kamu, supaya kamu bersyukur.

GRATITUDE AND GLORIFICATION OF ALLAH (SWT) ARE THE REWARDS OF SUBMISSION AND recognition of the state of submission. GRATEFULNESS IS CONTENTMENT.

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(2:52) yet We pardoned you even after that so that you might become grateful.

وَإِذْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَالْفُرْقَانَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ {2:53}

[Q2:53] Wa iz aatainaa Moosal kitaaba wal Furqaana la'allakum tahtadoon.
[Q2:53] And when We gave Musa the Book and the distinction that you might walk aright.

[Q2:53] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika Kami turunkan kepada Nabi Musa kitab (Taurat) dan keterangan-keterangan (yang terkandung di dalamnya, yang membezakan antara yang benar dengan yang salah), supaya kamu mendapat petunjuk.

FURQAN MEANS THAT WHICH TEACHES TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL OR BETWEEN TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD.

–  In verse 8:41 of al Anfal it is used to refer to the mental awakening experienced by the Muslims after the battle of Badr.

–  The Qur’an is referred to as furqan in verse 25:1 of al Furqan.

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(2:53) Remember that (at that very time, when you were committing this gross iniquity) We gave Moses the Book and the criterion of right and wrong *69 so that you might be guided aright.

*69. 'Criterion' here means that understanding of religion which differentiates truth from falsehood, making each stand out distinctly.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ يَا قَوْمِ إِنَّكُمْ ظَلَمْتُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ الْعِجْلَ فَتُوبُوا إِلَىٰ بَارِئِكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ عِنْدَ بَارِئِكُمْ فَتَابَ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ {2:54}

[Q2:54] Wa iz qaala Moosaa liqawmihee yaa qawmi innakum zalamtum anfusakum bittikhaa zikumul 'ijla fatoobooo ilaa Baari'ikum faqtulooo anfusakum zaalikum khairul lakum 'inda Baari'ikum fataaba 'alaikum; innahoo Huwat Tawwaabur Raheem

[Q2:54] And when Musa said to his people: O’ my people! You have surely been unjust to yourselves by taking the calf (for a god), therefore turn to your Creator (penitently), so kill your people, that is best for you with your Creator: so He turned to you (mercifully), for surely He is the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.
[Q2:54] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika Nabi Musa berkata kepada kaumnya: “Wahai kaumku! Sesungguhnya kamu telah menganiaya diri kamu sendiri dengan sebab kamu menyembah patung anak lembu itu, maka bertaubatlah kamu kepada ALLAH (SwT) yang menjadikan kamu; iaitu bunuhlah diri kamu. Yang demikian itu lebih baik bagi kamu di sisi ALLAH (SwT) yang menjadikan kamu, supaya ALLAH (SwT) menerima taubat kamu itu. Sesungguhnya Dia lah Yang Maha Pengampun (Penerima taubat), lagi Maha Mengasihani”.

THE OUTER MEANING is that the righteous among the Bani Israil should get rid of the evil ones, the calf-worshippers, even if they were their own beloved kith and kin. It is stated in the Bible that three thousand persons were killed. THE INNER MEANING could be the annihilation of selfishness, pride and other base passions.

n  IN ANY EVENT, as stated here, CARRYING OUT ALLAH (SWT)'S COMMAND BRINGS ABOUT PURITY AND FORGIVENESS.

As stated in verse 51 of this surah those who sin, in fact, do injustice to themselves, go astray and become poorer by missing the divine mercy.

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(2:54) Remember that when Moses (returned with the Divine Gift, he) said to his people, "O my people, you have .wronged yourselves grievously by taking the calf for worship. Therefore, turn to your Creator in penitence and slay the guilty ones among you. *70 This is best for you in the sight of your Creator." At that time your Creator accepted your repentance because He is Relenting 'and Merciful.

*70. That is, they should put to death those of their own number who made the calf an object of worship and actually worshipped it. 

وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَنْ نُؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْظُرُونَ {2:55}

[Q2:55] Wa iz qultum yaa Moosaa lan nu'mina laka hattaa naral laaha jahratan fa akhazat kumus saa'iqatu wa antum tanzuroon.

[Q2:55] And when you said: O’ Musa! We will not believe in you until we see ALLAH (SWT) manifestly, so the punishment overtook you while you looked on.
[Q2:55] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika kamu berkata: “Wahai Musa! Kami tidak akan beriman kepadamu sehingga kami dapat melihat ALLAH (SwT) dengan terang (dengan mata kepala kami)”. Maka kerana itu kamu disambar petir, sedang kamu semua melihatnya.

**THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BELIEVE IN THE UNSEEN (Baqarah 2:3) inevitably go for idolatry. **This tendency of demanding impractical divine manifestations was also evident in the opponents of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) (Nisa 4:153)

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(2:55) Remember when you said, "O Moses, we are not going to believe you until we see with our own eyes Allah (talking to you)". At that very time a thunderbolt struck you while you were looking on and you fell lifeless.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ {2:56}

[Q2:56] Summa ba'asnaakum mim ba'di mawtikum la'allakum tashkuroon.
[Q2:56] Then We raised you up after your death that you may give thanks.

[Q2:56] Kemudian kami bangkitkan kamu sesudah kamu mati (atau pengsan dari sambaran petir itu), supaya kamu bersyukur.

A group of seventy (stupid) elders demanded to see ALLAH (SWT) and hear His voice, but when the manifestation of the divine glory came on them, they were destroyed (see Araf 7:155).

The lightning appeared on the demand of the people, therefore, it was not a punishment, and the word mawt refers to cessation of life, not stupor, as the Ahmadi commentator tries to misinterpret this verse.

In verse 7:143 of al Araf wa kharra Musa sa-iqa means Musa fell down senseless, and falamma afaqa means when he recovered, whereas, here, in the case of the elders the word mawt (death or cessation of life) and ba-atha (raising after death) are used.

The tendency of Ahmadi commentators to deny miracles is the result of the lack of ability to understand the intellectual development of mankind.

The historical events and the reactions of the people in the days of Musa and other prophets are recorded in the Bible. In those days miracles were frequently manifested to convince the people who were not aware of the laws governing the operation of creation, and therefore, could not be convinced through rational arguments.

©  The people asked Musa to show them the proof of his prophethood by requesting ALLAH (SWT) to appear in person. In their foolishness they did not know that corporeality is for the creatures, not for the uncreated creator, THEREFORE, their demand was met by another proof - the raising after death.

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(2:56) Then We raised you to life so that you might become grateful for this favour. *71

*71. The incident referred to here is the following. When Moses went to the mountain he had been ordered to bring with him seventy elders of Israel. Later, when God bestowed upon Moses the Book and the Criterion, he presented them to the people. Some mischief-makers, according to the Qur'an, began to complain that they could not believe in something just because Moses claimed that God had spoken to him. This invited the wrath of God and they were punished. The Old Testament, however, has the following account:
'And they saw the God of Israel and there was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank' (Exodus 24: 10-11),
Interestingly, it is stated later in the same book that when Moses requested God to show him His glory, God rejected the request and said: 'You cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live'. (See Exodus 33: 18-23)

وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا مِنْ طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ۖ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ {2:57}

[Q2:57] Wa zallalnaa 'alaikumul ghamaama wa anzalnaa 'alaikumul Manna was Salwaa kuloo min taiyibaati maa razaqnaakum wa maa zalamoonaa wa laakin kaanooo anfusahum yazlimoon.

[Q2:57] And We made the clouds to give shade over you and We sent to you manna and quails: Eat of the good things that We have given you; and they did not do Us any harm, but they made their own souls suffer the loss.
[Q2:57] Dan Kami telah menaungi kamu dengan awan (dari panas matahari di padang pasir) dan Kami turunkan kepada kamu “Mann” dan “Salwa”, (serta Kami berfirman): “Makanlah dari makanan-makanan yang baik yang Kami telah kurniakan kepada kamu”. Dan tidaklah mereka menganiaya Kami (sebab mereka kufurkan nikmat itu), tetapi sebenarnya mereka adalah menganiaya diri sendiri.

"When the Bani Israil departed from Egypt towards the Philistine via the Red Sea, the Lord all the time went before them, by day a pillar of cloud to guide them on their journey, by night a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel night and day." (Exodus 13)

Manna and salwa are two heavenly foods not requiring toil to obtain.

v  Traditions confirm that there was always a similar pillar of cloud over the head of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) during his journeys to Syria, BEFORE he was commissioned to make public his mission of prophethood.

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(2:57) (Remember that) We caused the cloud to overshadow you and provided you with *72 manna and salva *73 for your food, saying, "Eat of the clean and pure things We have bestowed upon you" (In spite of this, your forefathers violated Our commands:) however, they did not harm Us but harmed only themselves.

*72. That is, God provided them with shade from clouds in the Sinai Peninsula where there was no shelter from the heat of the sun.
It should be remembered that the Israelites had left Egypt in their hundreds of thousands. In Sinai, there were not even any tents in which they could shelter, never mind proper houses. But for the fact that God by His grace kept the sky, overcast for a considerable period, these people would have been scorched to death by the heat of the sun.
*73. Manna and quails constituted the natural food that was continually made available to them throughout the forty years of their wandering in the Sinai desert. Manna was like coriander seed. When the dew fell in the night, manna fell with it from above. By God's grace the quails were made available so plentifully that the entire nation was able to live on them alone and so escaped starvation. (For details regarding manna and quails see Exodus 16; Numbers 11: 7-9 and 31-2; Joshua 5: 12) 

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا ادْخُلُوا هَٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةَ فَكُلُوا مِنْهَا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمْ رَغَدًا وَادْخُلُوا الْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُولُوا حِطَّةٌ نَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ خَطَايَاكُمْ ۚ وَسَنَزِيدُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ {2:58}

[Q2:58] Wa iz qulnad khuloo haazihil qaryata fakuloo minhaa haisu shi'tum raghadanw wadkhulul baaba sujjadanw wa qooloo hittatun naghfir lakum khataayaakum; wa sanazeedul muhsineen.
[Q2:58] And when We said: Enter this city, then eat from it a plenteous (food) wherever you wish, and enter the gate making obeisance, and say, forgiveness. We will forgive you your wrongs and give more to those who do good (to others).

[Q2:58] Dan (kenangkanlah) ketika Kami berfirman: “Masuklah kamu ke bandar ini, kemudian makanlah dari benda-benda yang ada di dalamnya dengan sepuas-puasnya, apa sahaja yang kamu sukai. Dan masuklah kamu melalui pintunya dengan tunduk (merendah diri); dan (mintalah ampun dengan) berkata: ‘Ya ALLAH (SwT) ampunilah dosa kami’; supaya kami ampunkan kesalahan-kesalahan kamu, dan Kami akan tambah pula pahala orang-orang yang berbuat baik”.

The city mentioned here may be in the land of Canaan according to Numbers 33:52 of the Old Testament.

As commanded by ALLAH (SWT), Musa gave instructions to the Bani Israil to enter the city through its gate prostrating, and saying: "I seek forgiveness of the Lord and turn repentant unto Him", because therein they would live in peace and harmony with plenty of provisions.

v  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) informed his followers, Muslims, about another city with its gate. He said:

I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate.

IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DIVINELY ENDOWED WISDOM OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD), HE SHOULD FIRST GET FAMILIAR WITH ALI NOT ONLY BY BUILDING UP CLOSE ATTACHMENT WITH HIM BUT ALSO BY PAYING HOMAGE TO HIM WITH EXPRESSION OF REVERENCE.

o    In Tafsir Durr al Manthur, Jalaluddin Suyuti quotes Ali ibne Abi Talib:

Our position in Islam to the Muslims is the same as the gate of hitta was to the Bani Israil.

Those who do good to others get more bounties from ALLAH (SWT).

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(2:58) Then call to mind the time when We said, "Go into the town' *74 before you and eat to your hearts' content therein, wherefrom you will, but enter the gate bowing down with humility, repeating 'hittatun'; *75 We will forgive your sins and increase the reward of the righteous".

*74. It has not yet been possible to arrive at any conclusion about the identity of the locality mentioned here. The series of events in the context of which God's command to enter the city is mentioned belong to the period of the exodus of the Children of Israel in the Sinai Peninsula. It is therefore probable that the place mentioned in this verse is some Sinaitic city. Another plausible suggestion is that it is Shattim, which was located opposite Jericho on the eastern bank of the river Jordan. According to the Bible the Iscaelites conquered this town during the last years’ of.the life of Moses. After the conquest the Israelites became so decadent that God smote them with a plague from which twenty-four thousand died (Numbers 25: 1-9). 
*75. God's command was to enter the city not with the arrogance of tyrannical conquerors, but with the humility of men of God (in the manner in which the Prophet would later enter Makka at the time of its conquest).
As for 'hit ' tah', it could either mean that when they entered the town they should seek God's pardon for their sins or that instead of plundering and massacring people in the wake of their conquest, they should proclaim an amnesty. 

فَبَدَّلَ الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا قَوْلًا غَيْرَ الَّذِي قِيلَ لَهُمْ فَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْزًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ {2:59}

[Q2:59] Fabaddalal lazeena zalamoo qawlan ghairal lazee qeela lahum fa anzalnaa 'alal lazeena zalamoo rijzam minas samaaa'i bimaa kaanoo yafsuqoon.
[Q2:59] But those who were unjust changed it for a saying other than that which had been spoken to them, so We sent upon those who were unjust a pestilence from heaven, because they transgressed.

[Q2:59] Kemudian orang-orang yang zalim (penderhaka) itu mengubah perkataan (perintah kami) yang dikatakan kepada mereka dengan melakukan sebaliknya; maka Kami turunkan ke atas orang-orang yang zalim itu bala bencana dari langit, dengan sebab mereka sentiasa berlaku fasik (menderhaka).

The Bani Israil changed the saying (hitta - pardon) which had been spoken to them for another saying (hinta-wheat), also mentioned in verses 7:161 and 162 of al Araf.

THOSE WHO UNJUSTLY CHANGE THE WORD OR COVENANT OR COMMAND OF ALLAH (SWT) FOR SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL, ARE DULY PUNISHED. "Thus the plague which had attacked the Israelites was brought to a stop; but twenty-four thousand had already died." (Number 25: 9)

THOSE WHO DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE DECLARATION OF THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) (I AM THE CITY OF KNOWLEDGE AND ALI IS ITS GATE) SUFFER SPIRITUAL DEGRADATION AND GO ASTRAY.

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(2:59) But the transgressors perverted the words said to them entirely into a different thing. So We sent down upon the transgressors a severe torment from the sky: that was the punishment for the disobedience they were showing.

SECTION 7

Moses’ Prayer and the Providential Supply of Water

Moses Prayer for drinking water for his people---The Twelve springs caused to gush forth---Children of Israel getting tired of the best food and desiring to have some meaner stuff---Their infidelity due to their transgression.

وَإِذِ اسْتَسْقَىٰ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ فَقُلْنَا اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانْفَجَرَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَشْرَبَهُمْ ۖ كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا مِنْ رِزْقِ اللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ {2:60}

[Q2:60] Wa izis tasqaa Moosaa liqawmihee faqulnad rib bi'asaakal hajara fanfajarat minhusnataaa 'ashrata 'aynan qad 'alima kullu unaasim mash rabahum kuloo washraboo mir rizqil laahi wa laa ta'saw fil ardi mufsideen.

[Q2:60] And when Musa prayed for drink for his people, We said: Strike the rock with your staff So there gushed from it twelve springs; each tribe knew its drinking place: Eat and drink of the provisions of ALLAH (SWT) and do not act corruptly in the land, making mischief.
[Q2:60] Dan (ingatlah) ketika Nabi Musa memohon supaya diberi air untuk kaumnya, maka Kami berfirman: “Pukullah batu itu dengan tongkatmu”, (ia pun memukulnya), lalu terpancutlah dari batu itu dua belas mata air; sesungguhnya tiap-tiap satu puak (di antara mereka) telah mengetahui tempat minumnya masing-masing. (Dan Kami berfirman): “Makanlah dan minumlah kamu dari rezeki ALLAH (SwT) itu, serta janganlah kamu bertebaran di muka bumi ini dengan melakukan kerosakan”.

Exodus 17:1 to 6 narrate that when there was no water for the people to drink ALLAH (SWT) asked Musa to take with him some of the elders of Israil and the staff with which he had struck the Red Sea. When Musa struck the rock, water poured out of it. Twelve springs for the twelve tribes of the Bani Israil gushed out from that rock, as each tribe wanted to have a separate spring for its use.

r  To deny the extraordinary (miraculous) events in the lives of the prophets, the Ahmadi commentator misinterprets this verse. He says that Musa was commanded to walk into the mountains where he found already flowing springs, and wrongly quotes Exodus 5:27 which, in fact, refers to some other occasion when salty water was turned sweet for the Bani Israil. This is plain mischief-making.

ISLAM PREVENTS MAN FROM MAKING MISCHIEF AND LAYS STRESS ON PEACE AND HARMONY.

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(2:60) Remember that when Moses prayed for water for his people, We answered, "Strike the rock with your staff": whereupon twelve springs gushed forth from it; *76 the people of every clan came to know their drinking place. (Then they were enjoined) "Eat and drink of what Allah has provided and do not spread disorder on the earth."

*76 That rock can still be seen in the Sinai Peninsula with the twelve holes of the springs. Twelve springs were caused to flow for the Israelites in order to avoid water disputes among their twelve clans.