I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) and the time for the `Asr prayer became due. We had no water with us except a little which was put in a vessel and was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) . He put his hand into it and spread out his fingers and then said, "Come along! Hurry up! All those who want to perform ablution. The blessing is from Allah.'' I saw the water gushing out from his fingers. So the people performed the ablution and drank, and I tried to drink more of that water (beyond my thirst and capacity), for I knew that it was a blessing. The sub-narrator said: I asked Jabir, "How many persons were you then?" He replied, "We were one-thousand four hundred men." Salim said: Jabir said, 1500.
Miracle of Water from the Prophet's Fingers
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (5639) in the Book of Drinks describes one of the manifest miracles granted to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by Allah's permission. The incident occurred during the Asr prayer time when the companions faced severe water scarcity, demonstrating how divine assistance arrives at times of genuine need.
Scholarly Commentary on the Miracle
Classical scholars emphasize that this miracle serves multiple purposes: it confirms the Prophet's truthfulness, demonstrates Allah's power, and shows divine care for the Muslim community. The water flowing from between the Prophet's fingers—a limited space—sufficing for 1,400-1,500 men indicates the unlimited nature of divine blessings.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari explains that such miracles (mu'jizat) were granted to prophets as definitive proofs of their prophethood. The variation in numbers reported (1,400 vs 1,500) is reconciled by scholars as approximate figures or different counting methods, not contradicting the miracle's essence.
Spiritual Lessons and Legal Implications
The Prophet's statement "The blessing is from Allah" teaches Muslims to attribute all blessings to their divine source. Jabir's attempt to drink more water, knowing it was blessed, illustrates the proper attitude toward barakah (blessing)—seeking it while recognizing its divine origin.
Jurists derive from this hadith that water touched by the Prophet's blessed hands remains pure and can be used for purification. The incident also shows the permissibility of using small amounts of water for ablution when necessary, and the importance of community sharing during scarcity.