Syria was the native country of Israelites (the Bani Israel) – but these people settled in Egypt during the reign of Sayyiduna Yusuf عَلیہِ السلاَم and the people of ‘Amaliqah, the worst of the unbelievers, dominated Syria. When pharaoh drowned in the River Nile and Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم was secured from the tyrannies of pharaoh, Allah عزوجل commanded Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم; to do Jihad (holy war) against the people of ‘Amaliqah and free Syria from their domination. Therefore, Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم mobilized an army of six hundred thousand Israelites and moved for Jihad. However, when the Israelites reached within the borders of Syria, they became so terrified of the people of ‘Amaliqah that they gave up and fled from Jihad.
As a consequence of disobeying the command of Allah عزوجل, the Israelites were punished in such a way that they went wandering in the plains of Teeh for forty years and could not get out of it. Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم also stayed with them in that field. When those people became restless due to the thirst and hunger in the plains where no signs of food and water existed, Allah عزوجل descended ‘Mann-o-Salwa’ for them from the skies by virtue of the supplication made by Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم.
Mann was a type of sweet confectionary similar to honey and Salwa was roasted quails. After eating, when they became restless due to extreme thirst, Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم struck a stone with his staff. Immediately, twelve springs emerged from the stone. The twelve tribes of the Bani Israel began drinking water from their individual springs, and also served this water to their cattle. It continued for forty years. It was a miracle of Sayyiduna Musa عَلیہِ السلاَم that occurred with the help of the holy staff and stone. The Holy Quran describes this miracle as under:
