…and thereupon water began to well up from between his fingers like bubbling springs. In the same way he caused water to increase on many other occasions—such as the two waterskins belonging to that woman, on the Day of Hudaybiyah, and elsewhere. Whenever he sought rain from Allah for his Companions, whether in Madinah or beyond, his request was granted precisely in keeping with the need—no more and no less—and this makes the miracle even more telling.
For water to gush forth from between his fingers, issuing directly from his blessed hand, is—according to many scholars—more astounding than water bursting from a stone, for a stone is naturally suited to such a phenomenon.
Abū Nuʿaym the ḥāfiẓ said:
“If it is said: Moses would strike the rock with his staff and twelve springs would gush forth in the wilderness, each clan knowing its place to drink, the answer is: Muhammad ﷺ was given the like of that, or something even more wondrous. Water gushing from rock is well known and commonly observed; far more remarkable is water issuing from flesh, blood, and bone. He would spread his fingers apart in a wash-basin, whereupon water would flow from between them, so that the people drank and drew fresh, running water; countless people—as well as horses and camels—drank their fill (1).”
He then transmitted—through the chain of al-Muṭṭalib b. ʿAbd Allah b. Ḥanṭab—from ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Abī ʿAmrah al-Anṣārī, who said that his father narrated:
“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on one of his campaigns, and the people passed the night in severe want. He called for a small basin (rakwah), which was placed before him, then asked for water and poured it into the basin. He spat into it and uttered whatever Allah willed him to say, after which he inserted his finger into it. By Allah, I saw the fingers of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ erupting with springs of water. He then ordered the people, and they were supplied with water: they drank, and they filled their water-skins and vessels (2).”
As for the account of those who were revived after being slain on account of the calf and the story of the cow, similar episodes—involving the revival of both animals and human beings—will be mentioned when we discuss the raising of the dead at the hands of Jesus son of Mary. Allah knows best.
Abū Nuʿaym also records other items here which we have omitted for the sake of brevity.
Hishām b. ʿAmmār said in his work al-Mabʿath:
“Chapter: What the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was granted, and what the Prophets before him were granted.”
He related: Muḥammad b. Shuʿayb told us, Rūḥ b. Mudrik informed me, and ʿUmar b. Ḥassān al-Tamīmī reported that Moses—peace be upon him—was given a sign from the treasures of the Throne:
‘My Lord, do not allow Satan to enter my heart; protect me from him and from every evil, for Yours…’