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d) The Kind Provider
The multitudes in Palestine noticed the unlimited ability of the Son of Mary and followed Him, even into the desert, disregarding the time and ignoring difficult circumstances. They listened to Him until dark. The Quran testifies that Christ provided a table of food, which He brought down from heaven to satisfy the crowd in the desert:
“When the Disciples said: ‘O Isa, Son of Mary, is your Lord able to send down upon us a Dining-Table from heaven?’ He said, ‘Fear Allah, if you are believers.’ They said: ‘We want to eat of it so that our hearts will come to rest; and so that we may know that you were truthful to us, and so that we can be among its witnesses.’ Said Isa the Son of Mary: ‘O God, our Lord, send down upon us a Table from heaven, that shall be for us a feast, to the first and the last of us, and a sign from you. And provide for us; You are the best of providers.’ Allah said: ‘Truly I will send it down on you. Whoever of you afterwards will disbelieve, I shall torture him with a torture, with which I torture no other being.' ” (Sura al-Ma'ida 5:112-115)
إِذ قَال الْحَوَارِيُّون يَا عِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم هَل يَسْتَطِيع رَبُّك أَن يُنَزِّل عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَة مِن السَّمَاء قَال اتَّقُوا اللَّه إِن كُنْتُم مُؤْمِنِين قَالُوا نُرِيد أَن نَأْكُل مِنْهَا وَتَطْمَئِن قُلُوبُنَا وَنَعْلَم أَن قَد صَدَقْتَنَا وَنَكُون عَلَيْهَا مِن الشَّاهِدِين قَال عِيسَى ابْن مَرْيَم اللَّهُم رَبَّنَا أَنْزِل عَلَيْنَا مَاِئدَة مِن السَّمَاء تَكُون لَنَا عِيدا لأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَة مِنْك وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْت خَيْر الرَّازِقِين قَال اللَّه إِنِّي مُنَزِّلُهَا عَلَيْكُم فَمَن يَكْفُر بَعْد مِنْكُم فَإِنِّي أُعَذِّبُه عَذَابا لا أُعَذِّبُه أَحَدا مِن الْعَالَمِين (سُورَة الْمَائِدَة ٥ : ١١٢ - ١١٥)
Muslim scholars have discussed from all angles the quantity and quality of the food provided on that table in the desert, rather than examining the Person who provided it. According to the Gospel, Christ used five loaves of bread and two fish, gave thanks, and with these items fed five thousand men, besides the women and children. In this He demonstrated His unlimited authority as Creator in a practical way. Christ never uttered empty words; He did what He taught and manifested His will and love through great and mighty miracles.