"We were with the Prophet (ﷺ) and they could not find any water. A vessel was brought to him and he put his hand in it, and I saw water springing from between his fingers. He said: 'Come to a means of purification and a blessing from Allah, may He be glorified.'" (One of the narrators) Al-A'mash said: "Salim bin Abi Al-Ja'd told me: I said to Jabir: "How many were you that day?' He said: "One thousand five hundred."
The Book of Purification - Sunan an-Nasa'i 77
This narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) describes one of the manifest miracles (mu'jizat) granted to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. The incident occurred during a journey when the Companions faced scarcity of water for purification.
Scholarly Commentary
The miraculous flow of water from between the Prophet's blessed fingers demonstrates Allah's power and favor upon His Messenger. This event, witnessed by 1,500 Companions, serves as definitive proof of prophethood.
Scholars note that this miracle occurred at a time of genuine need, showing Allah's mercy in providing the means of purification (taharah) when natural means were unavailable. The Prophet's invitation to "a means of purification and a blessing" emphasizes both the practical and spiritual dimensions of this divine favor.
This hadith establishes the permissibility of using water that emerges miraculously, provided it possesses the qualities of pure water. The large number of witnesses reinforces the authenticity of this extraordinary event.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
This incident illustrates that purification (taharah) is not limited to conventional means but can occur through divine intervention when necessary.
The blessing (barakah) mentioned encompasses both material abundance and spiritual benefit, reminding believers of Allah's limitless power to provide sustenance in unexpected ways.