Q 1: Borrowing the Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur’an) of Ibn Kathir from a friend, I began to read it starting with Surah Al-Baqarah. Thus, please before answering my question, refer to the commentary on Ayah (60) of Surah Al-Baqarah: Did the twelve springs mentioned in the Ayah gush forth during the departure of the Israelites during the forty years of wandering or after the conquest of Bayt-ul-Maqdis? In fact, it is indefinite in the exegesis whether it happened during their departure before the conquest of Bayt-ul-Maqdis or afterwards. Other likely opinion suggests that the stone meant in the Ayah refers to a stone taken from Mount Tur in Sinai and carried by the Israelites. Then, wherever they reside, Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) would strike it with his stick (to bring them water).

A: Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means): And (remember) when Mûsâ (Moses) asked for water for his people, We said: "Strike the stone with your stick." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs. Each (group of) people knew its own place for water. "Eat and drink of that which Allâh has provided and do not act corruptly, making mischief on the earth." When Musa (peace be upon him) asked Allah (Exalted be He) for water, Allah enjoined Musa to strike the stone with his staff. When Musa did, twelve springs, equal to the number of tribes, gushed forth from the stone, so the twelve tribes might not shove and jostle against one other to get water. It was a miracle that Allah backed Musa with, out of Grace and Mercy for Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) and those with him of the Israelites. Indeed, this is the decisive point and the milestone of the story to remind the Israelites of Allah’s Blessings and Grace. However, Allah (Glorified be He) did not tell us the details of the relevant stone. (Part No. 4; Page No. 199) Had there been any benefit in it, Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, would have explained it, for the Creating Lord is never forgetful. As far as we know, no Hadith was reported on the details of this stone; had there been any benefit in mentioning details, Allah would have revealed them to His Messenger (peace be upon him) who would have conveyed them to people to enjoy Allah’s Mercy. In his interpretation of this Ayah, Ibn Kathir reported on the authority of Al-Thawry, from Abu Sa‘id, from ‘Ikrimah that Ibn Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said: (Musa’s striking of the stone took place during the time of Wandering, water gushed out of twelve springs; for each tribe a spring to drink thereof. A similar report was also narrated from Mujahid. Generally speaking, it is better for a Muslim to be content with information revealed by Allah or authentically reported in the Sunnah and to avoid the weak and unreliable reports.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.