🍞🕊️ Manna and Quails in the Bible and the Quran

The story of manna and quails occupies a special place in both the Bible and the Quran. It represents divine sustenance given to the people of God during their journey in the wilderness, symbolizing not only material provision but also spiritual dependence on the Creator. Despite differences in detail, both scriptures use this episode as a reminder of God’s mercy and the human tendency toward ingratitude.

✡️ Manna and Quails in the Bible

In the Hebrew Bible (Exodus 16 and Numbers 11), manna and quails appear as miraculous provisions during the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.

• Manna: Described as a fine, flake-like substance, white like coriander seed, and tasting like wafers made with honey. It appeared with the morning dew and had to be collected daily, except on the Sabbath. Its daily collection symbolized reliance on God’s continuous provision.

• Quails: In addition to manna, God sent quails in the evening. The people gathered them in abundance, yet their craving for meat became a source of divine displeasure when they grumbled against God’s provision.

The biblical narrative highlights both God’s generosity and Israel’s recurrent dissatisfaction. While manna symbolizes divine faithfulness, the excessive desire for quails illustrates human disobedience and lack of trust.

☪️ Manna and Quails in the Quran

The Quran also refers to manna (al-mann) and quails (as-salwā) as blessings bestowed upon the Children of Israel during their desert sojourn (Surah al-Baqarah 2:57, Surah al-A‘raf 7:160, Surah Ta Ha 20:80–81).

• Manna: Generally understood as a sweet natural substance that settled on plants and rocks, often compared to resin or honeydew.

• Quails: Identified with migratory birds provided as food.

The Quranic emphasis is less on physical description and more on the moral and spiritual message. God reminds Israel of His favor: “Eat of the good things We have provided for you” (2:57). Yet, the Israelites responded with ingratitude, sometimes asking for other foods instead of being content with divine provision (2:61). This ingratitude becomes a moral lesson for later generations: to appreciate God’s blessings and avoid repeating the mistakes of past communities.

📚 Shared Themes

Though told in different tones, both traditions share common theological themes:

1. Divine Providence – God sustains His people in times of hardship with miraculous provision.

2. Human Dependence – Manna’s daily collection teaches reliance on God, not on hoarding or self-sufficiency.

3. Ingratitude vs. Gratitude – Both the Bible and the Quran depict the people’s dissatisfaction, using it as a warning against ungratefulness.

4. Spiritual Nourishment – Beyond physical food, manna and quails symbolize the necessity of obedience, patience, and trust in God’s plan.

🌟 Symbolic Significance

The manna and quails episode is more than a historical event; it carries symbolic weight. In Jewish and Christian interpretation, manna foreshadows divine wisdom or even the Eucharist in Christian theology, representing spiritual bread from heaven. In Islamic exegesis, manna and quails stand as reminders of ni‘mah (divine blessing) and the importance of shukr (gratitude).

Both scriptures, therefore, converge in presenting the story not only as provision of food but as a mirror of the human heart—how communities respond to God’s generosity, whether with thankfulness or complaint.

🪔 Conclusion

The biblical and Quranic narratives of manna and quails remind us that material provision is inseparable from spiritual responsibility. God provides, yet humans are tested by how they receive, appreciate, and live in light of His blessings. Both traditions ultimately call the faithful to humility, gratitude, and constant remembrance that life is sustained not by bread or meat alone, but by God’s enduring mercy.

— Azahari Hassim

Founder, The World of Abrahamic Theology