Water from the Prophet’s Fingers
At Al-Hudaybiyyah, a small vessel became sufficient for fifteen hundred companions by Allah’s permission.
By Kazi Nasrat Ali 5 min read October 20161. Miracles and signs of the prophets
Allah sent prophets and messengers from the time of Adam through the final Prophet, Muhammad ﷺ. He supported His messengers with signs so that people could recognize the truth of their message.
Along with the Qur’an—the enduring miracle given to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ—the companions witnessed other signs that reached later generations through authenticated narrations.
2. Water at Al-Hudaybiyyah
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the people became extremely thirsty on the day of Al-Hudaybiyyah. Only a small vessel of water was before the Prophet ﷺ, and the companions had no other water for drinking or ablution.
The Prophet ﷺ placed his hand in the vessel, and water began flowing from between his fingers like springs. The companions drank and performed ablution. When asked how many were present, Jabir answered that they were fifteen hundred—and that even one hundred thousand would have found it sufficient.
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حُصَيْنٌ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ عَطِشَ النَّاسُ يَوْمَ الْحُدَيْبِيَةِ، وَالنَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ رَكْوَةٌ فَتَوَضَّأَ فَجَهَشَ النَّاسُ نَحْوَهُ، فَقَالَ مَا لَكُمْ. قَالُوا لَيْسَ عِنْدَنَا مَاءٌ نَتَوَضَّأُ وَلاَ نَشْرَبُ إِلاَّ مَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ، فَوَضَعَ يَدَهُ فِي الرَّكْوَةِ فَجَعَلَ الْمَاءُ يَثُورُ بَيْنَ أَصَابِعِهِ كَأَمْثَالِ الْعُيُونِ، فَشَرِبْنَا وَتَوَضَّأْنَا.
Sahih al-Bukhari 35763. A sign witnessed by many
This event was not a private experience: a large company of companions drank and purified themselves from the water. It is one of many reported signs that strengthened the companions’ certainty in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
There is no might nor power except with Allah.