in that wasteland where no crops could grow and no cattle could graze, Allah sent down manna from the heavens. Each morning they would wake to find it strewn about their dwellings; they would gather only what they needed for that day until the same time next morning. If anyone hoarded it for longer, it would spoil. Whether a person collected little or much, it always sufficed—no more and no less. They would bake it into a bread-like food, dazzlingly white and delightfully sweet. Then, toward day’s end, flocks of quail would descend upon them, and they would snare from them—without the least exertion—exactly what they required for their supper. During the summer season Allah shaded them with clouds, a canopy of vapor shielding them from the fierce heat and blinding glare of the sun.

As the Most High says in Sūrat al-Baqarah:
“O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill My covenant; I will fulfill your covenant. And fear Me alone. And believe in what I have sent down confirming what is with you; do not be the first to deny it, and do not trade My revelations for a small price. And fear Me alone.” (2:40–41)
…until His words:
“And when We delivered you from Pharaoh’s people who were inflicting upon you terrible torment, slaughtering your sons and sparing your women; in that was a tremendous trial from your Lord. And when We parted the sea for you and saved you, drowning Pharaoh’s people before your very eyes. And when We appointed for Moses forty nights, then you took the calf after he had gone and acted unjustly. Yet We pardoned you after that, so that you might be grateful. And when We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion, so that you might be guided. And when Moses said to his people, ‘My people, you have wronged yourselves by taking the calf; so repent to your Maker and slay yourselves. That will be better for you in your Maker’s sight.’ Then He relented toward you; truly He is the Ever-Relenting, the Merciful. And when you said, ‘Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah plainly,’ the thunderbolt seized you while you were looking on. Then We revived you after your death so that you might give thanks. And We shaded you with clouds and sent down upon you manna and quails: ‘Eat of the good things We have provided for you.’ They did not wrong Us, but they wronged their own souls.” …until His words: “And when Moses sought water for his people, We said, ‘Strike the rock with your staff,’ and twelve springs gushed forth from it; every tribe knew its drinking-place. ‘Eat and drink of Allah’s provision, and do not act wickedly on the earth, spreading corruption.’ And when you said, ‘Moses, we cannot endure one kind of food; pray to your Lord for us that He bring forth for us what the earth grows—its herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions,’ he said, ‘Would you exchange what is inferior for what is better? Go down to any town and you will have what you ask.’ So humiliation and poverty were stamped upon them, and they incurred wrath from Allah—for they had rejected Allah’s signs and killed the prophets without right. That was because they disobeyed and kept on transgressing.” (2:49–61)

Thus the Almighty reminded them of His favors—of how He made manna and quail readily available, two delectable foods obtained without toil or effort. Each dawn He sent the manna; each evening He dispatched the quail. He also caused water to gush forth for them when Moses—upon him be peace—struck with his staff a rock they carried along: twelve springs burst out, one for every tribe, flowing with clear, fresh water from which they drank, watered their livestock, and stored what they needed. He shaded them with clouds against the scorching heat. These were immense blessings and magnificent gifts from Allah, yet they did not preserve them as they ought, nor did they render the thanks and worship due. Instead, many of them grew weary and resentful of these bounties and asked to exchange them for the produce of the earth—its herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions. Moses, the one who spoke with Allah, rebuked, censured, and sternly reproached them for such a request.