Not much time had passed, when a party of the companions presented themselves before the Holy Prophet(sa) and said, “The water well being used up, has dried, and now men and animals are in extreme suffering, so what should be done?”1 The Holy Prophet(sa) took an arrow and ordered that it be fixed into the pit of the dry water well2 and he then took a seat next to the well. The Holy Prophet(sa) took some water and put it in his mouth and whilst praying to Allāh, he poured this water from his mouth into the well. Then, he told the companions, “Wait a little while.” It was not long before this water well became so replete with water that everyone quenched their thirst and their suffering was dispelled.3
Allāh the Exalted, further sent down His grace, in that it also rained that very night or soon after. Consequently, when the Holy Prophet(sa) arrived for the morning prayer, the plain was full of water. The Holy Prophet(sa) smiled and said, “Do you know what your God has stated upon this occasion of rain?” As per their custom, the companions responded, “God and His messenger know best.” The Holy Prophet(sa) said, “God the Exalted states, ‘Among my servants there are some who have awakened this morning in a state of belief, while others have wavered in a state of disbelief. For those who said that this rain was given to us through the mercy and grace of God, they have remained firm upon the essence of faith. However, as for those who said that this rain has come to us due to such and such star, have undoubtedly believed in the star, but disbelieved in God.’”4 By this statement, full of the riches of (Divine) unity, the Holy Prophet(sa) taught his companions that undoubtedly by the system of means and causes in order to run the universe, God has set up various kinds of means and regarding the issue of rain, etc., we do not deny the effect of heavenly bodies. However, true unity is that despite these middle means , the sights of man should not become negligent of that ever so Hidden Being, Who is the Creator of all these means and is the Cause of all Causes in this universe, without Whom these materialistic means are no more significant than a dead insect.
1 A difficulty of water had already transpired during the course of this journey prior to this occasion, when there was such a point when except for the vessel in use by the Holy Prophet(sa), all other vessels had become dry of water. On this occasion, upon the complaint of his companions, the Holy Prophet(sa) placed his blessed hand upon the mouth of the vessel, and tilting it forward he instructed the companions to bring their own vessels and replenish them. The narrator relates that at the time, water was gushing forth from within the fingers of the Holy Prophet(sa) in such as manner as if it were a running spring. So much so, that everyone took the water according to their needs, and the suffering of the Muslims was dispelled.
Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwatil-Hudaibiyyah, Ḥadīth No. 4152
As-Sīratul-Ḥalabiyyah, By Abul-Faraj Nūruddīn ‘Alī bin Ibrāhīm, Volume 1, p. 14, Bābu Dhikri Maghāzīhī(sa)/Ghazwatul-Ḥudaibiyyah, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2002)
2 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābush-Shurūṭ, Bābush-Shurūṭi Fil-Jihādi..., Ḥadīth No. 2731-2732
3 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwatil-Hudaibiyyah, Ḥadīth No. 4151
4 Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Maghāzī, Bābu Ghazwatil-Hudaibiyyah, Ḥadīth No. 4147
Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 297, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhi(sa) Al- Ḥudaibiyyata, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)