The miracles of the Messenger (peace be upon him) of increasing the amount of a little water

The Messenger (peace upon him) was sent with the Divine Message in a desert environment. He and His Companions would often engage in battles in defense of their religion. They would be exposed to scarcity or absence of water and get thirsty and need water for ritual cleansing also. Allah (SWT) would show the Companions the miracles of increasing the little amount of water at the hands of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Following are some of these events that are recorded in the books of Sunnah from the most authentic sources:

1. The flowing of water from among the fingers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) at Hudaybiyah Expedition:

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “On the day of Al-Hudaybiya, the people felt thirsty and Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) had a vessel containing water. He performed ablution from it and then the people came towards him. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: ‘What is wrong with you?’ The people said: ‘O Allah's Messenger! We haven’t got any water to perform ablution with or to drink, except what you have in your vessel.’ So the Prophet (peace be upon him) put his hand into the vessel and the water started flowing among his fingers like springs. So we drank and performed ablution.” I (the narrator) said to Jabir: “What was your number on that day?” He replied, "Even if we had been one hundred thousand, that water would have been sufficient for us. Anyhow, we were 1500.[105]' Salamah Ibn al-Akwa’ narrated a similar story also.[106]

2. Increasing the water of the well of Hudaybiyah

Al-Bara’ Ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “On the Day of Hudaybiyah we were fourteen hundred in number. Hudaybiyah was a well that we had drained without leaving a single drop behind. So, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat on the brink of the well. He demanded some water to take in his mouth and spit in the well. We waited for a short time and then we drank sour fill and watered our riding beasts.”[107] Salamah Ibn al-Akwa’ narrated a similar story also.[108]

3.The Miracle of profusely pouring water out of the vessel:

We have already seen the miracle of increasing the food in the narration of Salamah when Allah blessed a little amount of food the size of a sitting goat to be sufficient for fourteen hundred Companions (my Allah be pleased with them all). At the end of the narration Salamah added: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Is there any water to perform ablution with?’ A man then came up with a bowl containing a little water and emptied it in a glass. All of us then performed ablution pouring the water profusely.”[109]

Among the Miracles of the Prophet (peace be upon him) of increasing the little amounts of water are the following:

4. The ablution (wudu’) performed by 70 or 80 men with the water that gushed from among his fingers, which were dipped in the bowl.

Narrated Anas bin Malik that the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked for a bowl of water. He was brought a large shallow bowel with little water in it. He dipped his fingers in it. I saw water flowing from among his fingers and I guessed that about 70 to 80 (men) performed ablution (with it).[110]

5.The ablution performed by 300 (men) with water flowing from among the fingers of the Prophet (peace be upon him):

Anas Ibn Malik said: “A bowl of water was brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was at Az-Zawra.[111] He placed his hand in it and the water started flowing from among his fingers. All the people performed ablution (with that water).” Qatada asked Anas, "How many people were you?" Anas replied, "Three hundred or nearly three-hundred."[112]

Regarding the two stories narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said: “From the various narrations it seems that they are two stories occurring in two different places because of the difference in the number of those who were present. The difference is obvious enough to eliminate the possibility of regarding them as one and the same story, besides specifying the location where the event took place.”[113]

‘Iyad said: “This story was narrated by a large number of trustworthy persons on the authority of a large group of people reporting from all those related to the Companions. The story was narrated in the meetings of a lot of them in assemblies and military congregations. It was never reported that somebody discredited the truthfulness of the narrator of the story. This type then belongs to the definitive miracles of the Prophet (peace be upon him.)” 

Al-Qurtubi said: “The phenomenon of the flowing of water from among the fingers of the Prophet (peace be upon him) occurred several times at various places and on remarkable occasions. It was narrated through many routes the total of which implies that the story was definitive and unquestionable due to conveying it in its meaning (but various wording) by a large number of trustworthy persons who could not have agreed together to tell a lie…” He added: “The like of such a miracle has never been attributed to other than our Prophet (peace be upon him).”[114]

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a story similar to that narrated by Anas. He said: “We were in the company of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) on a journey and we were short of water. He said: ‘look for any remaining water.’ They brought a bowl containing a little water. He put his hand into the water and said: ‘Come on to use the blessed pure water.’ Blessing was from Allah, for I saw water sprouting from among the fingers of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him).”[115] 

6. The story of increasing the water of the two bags

‘Imran said: “Once we were traveling with the Prophet (peace be upon him) … Then the people complained to him of thirst, whereupon he got down and called someone from among his Companions and 'Ali, and ordered them to go and bring water. So they went and met a woman who was sitting on her camel between two bags of water. They asked: ‘Where can we find water?’ She replied: ‘I was there (at the place of water) this hour yesterday and my people are absent.’ They requested her to accompany them. She asked: ‘Where?’ They said: ‘To Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him).’ She said, ‘Do you mean the man who is called the Sabi, (with a new religion)?’ They replied: ‘Yes, the same person. So come along.’ They brought her to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and narrated the whole story. He said: ‘Help her to dismount from her camel.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked for a pot, then he opened the mouths of the bags and poured some water into the pot. Then he closed the big (upper) openings of the bags and opened the small  (lower) ones and the people were called upon to drink and water their animals. So, they all watered their animals and they (too) all quenched their thirst and also gave water to others… The woman was standing and watching all that which they were doing with her water. By Allah, when her water bags were returned they looked as if they had more water than they had contained before Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us to collect something for her; so dates, flour and Sawiq were collected which amounted to a good meal that was put in a piece of cloth. She was helped to ride on her camel and that cloth full of foodstuff was also placed in front of her and then the Prophet said to her: ‘We have not taken your water but Allah has given water to us.’” (In Sahih Muslim the narrator ‘Umran Ibn Husain—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “We drank and we were forty thirsty men till our thirst was quenched and we filled every bag and container we had (with water).) She returned home late. Her relatives asked her: ‘O so and so what has delayed you?’ She said: ‘A strange thing! Two men met me and took me to the man who is called the Sabi' and he did such and such a thing. By Allah, he is either the greatest magician between this and this (gesturing with her index and middle fingers raising them towards the sky indicating the heaven and the earth) or he is truly Allah's Messenger”.

Afterwards the Muslims used to attack the pagans around her abode but never touched the people she belonged to. One day she said to her people: "I think that these people leave you purposely. Why don’t you embrace Islam?" They obeyed her and all of them embraced Islam.”[116]

7. Increasing the water in an empty tub:

The Muslims were badly in need of water. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) told Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) to look for a residue of water. He found a little water in a worn out water skin. Jabir narrated, saying: “I brought that to him. He took hold of it and began to utter something which I could not understand and then he pressed it with his hands and gave it to me and said: ‘Jabir, announce for the tub to be brought.’ So I announced that the tub of the army (be brought). It was brought accordingly and I placed it before him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) placed his hand in the tub like this: with his fingers stretched out, and then he placed his fingers at the bottom of the tub and said: ‘Jabir, take it (the water-skin) and pour water on me (my hand), while saying Bismillah (in the name of Allah).’ I poured water and said Bismillah, and saw water flowing from among the fingers of Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him). Then (the water in) tub welled up until it was filled up. He then said: ‘Jabir, call whoever is in need of water.’ The people came and got water until they were all satiated. I said: ‘Is there anyone left who is in need (of water)?’ Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) then lifted up his hand from that tub and it was still full. Then the people complained to Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) of hunger and he said: ‘May Allah provide you with food!’ We came to the coast of the sea and the sea surged to throw out a big animal. We lit a fire and cooked and roasted it and ate of it till we were satiated.” Jabir added: “ I and so-and-so and so-and-so (counting five persons) entered the socket of its eye and nobody could see us until we had come out. We took hold of one of its ribs and curved it, and then we called the biggest person in the army and the biggest camel in the army with the biggest saddle, and the rider passed under it without stooping his head.”[117]

8.The story of the vessel of ablution of Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him)

Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) delivered a speech before us and said: ‘You will proceed this evening and night till you find water tomorrow.’ The people set out without waiting for each other… Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked for a vessel of ablution that belonged to me and that held some water. He performed light ablution from it and there remained some water.” The Prophet said to Abu Qatadah: “Keep your vessel of ablution for it will play a great role…” Abu Qatadah added: “We reached the people when the day extended and everything got hot and they would say: ‘O Allah’s Messenger! We are destroyed! We are very thirsty!’ He said: ‘May Allah not destroy you!’ Then he said: ‘Bring me my small cup!’ He asked for the vessel of ablution. Then Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) began pouring (water) and Abu Qatadah give the people water. No sooner had they seen water in the vessel than they crowded over it. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: ‘Fill (your containers) gently, for you will all quench your thirst.’ They did, and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) continued pouring (water) and I continued providing them with it till nobody remained except me and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him). Then Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) poured (water) and said to me: ‘Drink!’ I said: ‘I will not drink till you drink, O Allah’s Messenger!’ He said: ‘The one who provides water to others is the last to drink.’ So I drank and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) drank too. Then the people arrived at the location of water comfortable and sated with water,[118] and they were three hundred.”[119]   

9.The story of increasing the water at the Expedition of Tabuk:

Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We set out with Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) in the year of the expedition of Tabuk…. He then said: ‘Allah willing, tomorrow you will reach the spring of Tabuk but you will not arrive at it till it is forenoon…. The spring was a thin stream of water like a shoelace [i.e. very little water].  The people then scooped water from the spring with their hands little by little till they collected a little amount of water in a container. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) washed his hands and his face in it, and then returned the water of the container to the spring, whereupon the spring flowed profusely and the people used what they needed of the water. He then said: ‘O Mu'adh, if you should live long enough, you will soon see this area covered with gardens.’”[120]

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