After Allah mentioned the calamities that He saved the Children of Israel from, He mentioned the favors that He granted them, saying,
وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْغَمَامَ
We shaded you with clouds. This Ayah mentions the white clouds that provided shade for the Children of Israel, protecting them from the sun s
heat during their years of wandering. In the Hadth about the trials, An-Nasa i recorded Ibn Abbas saying, Allah shaded the Children of
Israel with clouds during the years of wandering. Ibn Abi Hatim said, Narrations similar to that of Ibn Abbas were reported from Ibn Umar,
Ar-Rab bin Anas, Abu Mijlaz, Ad-Dahhak, and As-Suddi. Al-Hasan and Qatadah said that,
(And We shaded you with clouds) "This happened when they were in the desert and the clouds shielded them from the sun.'' Ibn Jarir said that several
scholars said that the type of cloud the Ayah mentioned, "was cooler and better than the type we know.''
`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah's statement,
وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَنَّ
And sent down on you Al-Manna, The manna used to descend to them to the trees, and they used to eat whatever they wished of it. Also, Qatadah
said, The manna, which was whiter than milk and sweeter than honey, used to rain down on the Children of Israel, just as the snow falls, from
dawn until sunrise. One of them would collect enough for that particular day, for if it remained more than that, it would spoil. On the sixth
day, Friday, one would collect enough for the sixth and the seventh day,which was the Sabbath during which one would not leave home to seek his
livelihood, or for anything else. All this occurred in the wilderness. The type of manna that we know provides sufficient food when eaten
alone, because it is nutritious and sweet. When manna is mixed with water, it becomes a sweet drink. It also changes composition when mixed
with other types of food. However, this is not the only type. The evidence to this fact is that Al-Bukhari narrated, that Sa d bin Zayd
said that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu wa alaihe wa sallam) said,
«الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْن»
(Kam'ah (truffles) is a type of manna, and its liquid is a remedy for the eyes.)
This
Hadith was also collected by Imam Ahmad.
The group of Hadith compilers,with the exception of Abu Dawud, also collected it, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan Sahih. At-Tirmidhi recorded Abu Hurayrah radi allahu anhu saying that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu wa alaihe wa sallam) said,
«الْعَجْوَةُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَفِيهَا شِفَاءٌ مِنَ السُّمِّ وَالْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْن»
(The `Ajwah (pressed, dried date) is from Paradise and it cures poison, Al-Kam'ah (truffles) is a form of manna, and its liquid heals the
eye.'') At-Tirmidhi is the only one of them who recorded this Hadith. As for the quail (Salwa) in question, `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that
Ibn `Abbas said, "The (Salwa) is a bird that looks like the quail.'' Also, `Ikrimah said that the Salwa is a bird in Paradise about the
size of a sparrow. Qatadah said "The Salwa is a bird that is similar to a sparrow. During that time, an Israelite could catch as many quails as
was sufficient for that particular day, otherwise the meat would spoil.On the sixth day, Friday, he would collect what is enough for the sixth
and the seventh day, the Sabbath, during which one was not allowed to depart his home to seek anything.''
(Eat of the good lawful things We have provided for you,) (7:160) this form of command is a simple order of allowance, guiding to what is good.
Allah said,
(And they did not wrong Us but they wronged themselves) means, `We commanded them to eat from what We gave them, and to perform the acts of worship (but they rebelled).' This Ayah is similar to Allah's statement,
كُلُواْ مِن رِّزْقِ رَبِّكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لَهُ
(Eat of the provision of your Lord, and be grateful to Him) (34:15).
Yet, the Children of Israel rebelled, disbelieved and committed injustice against themselves, even though they saw the clear signs, tremendous miracles and extraordinary events.
Manna and Salwa (Quails) were the two blessings which they were allowed to eat, but they were ungrateful and unthankful of these blessings given by Allah subhana wa ta'ala, and this was what means "they wronged themselves."Even before that many blessings and favours were granted to them by Allah.They did not appreciate any of those Divine favours, and they took every thing for granted. They remained rebellious and disobedient.
From: Tafsir Ibn Kathir
