Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 60

The translation of {”الْحَجَرَ“} as "on that stone" is because the "alif-lam" is for specification. If the "alif-lam" is taken as generic, then any stone could be meant. In Tafheem-ul-Quran it is stated: "That rock still exists in the Sinai Peninsula, tourists go and see it, and the cracks of the springs are still found in it. There was wisdom in the twelve springs because the tribes of the Israelites were also twelve, Allah Almighty brought forth a spring for each tribe, so that there would be no dispute among them over water." But after thousands of years, how can it be said with certainty that this is the same rock and was not formed later, especially when there is no authentic source for it.

1. According to some, this incident took place in Tih, and according to others, in the desert of Sinai. There, water was requested, so Allah Almighty told Hazrat Musa (Moses) ؑ to strike the rock with his staff. Thus, twelve springs gushed forth from the rock; there were also twelve tribes. Each tribe would quench its thirst from its own spring. This too was a miracle that Allah Almighty manifested through Hazrat Musa ؑ.

60. And (remember) when Moses prayed for water for his people, We said, "Strike the rock with your staff." [76] Then twelve springs gushed forth from it, and each tribe knew its drinking place. (We also said,) "Eat and drink from the provision of Allah, but do not go about spreading corruption on the earth by seizing each other's share." [77]

[76]
The Gushing Forth of Twelve Springs:

This incident also took place in the same Valley of Sinai. In addition to shade and food, they were in dire need of water, and there was no sign of water anywhere for a long distance. The people complained to Musa ؑ about the lack of water, so Musa ؑ prayed to Allah Almighty for water. Allah Almighty brought forth such a great and abundant amount of water from a rock that it was sufficient for the daily needs of this army of hundreds of thousands. This nation was divided into twelve tribes, so Allah Almighty caused exactly twelve springs to flow from that rock. Some of the fissures were large, some small, and this was in accordance with the number of individuals in each of the twelve tribes. By distributing the water in this way, the possibility of mutual disputes over water among them was eliminated. This rock still exists in the Sinai Peninsula. Tourists go and see it, and the marks of the fissures of the springs can still be seen in it. [77] That is, these God-given, free blessings that are provided to you—do not create unnecessary opportunities for discord and disputes by snatching or stealing them from one another.

What is fasad fil-ardh (corruption in the land)? Everyone condemns fasad fil-ardh, but what exactly is it? In determining this, differences arise according to each person's point of view. Generally, fasad fil-ardh is understood to mean theft, robbery, looting, murder, and usurping each other's rights. And this is only one aspect of fasad fil-ardh. When the Muslims of Madinah told the hypocrites not to spread corruption in the land, they replied, "How are we corrupt? Rather, we are reformers." [2: 11] When Musa ؑ declared Pharaoh, Qarun, and Haman to be corrupt, Pharaoh and his courtiers declared Sayyiduna Musa ؑ and his followers to be corrupt. The courtiers of Pharaoh said to Pharaoh, "Will you leave Musa and his people to spread corruption in the land and forsake you and your gods?" So that Pharaoh, thinking of a way to rectify this kind of fasad fil-ardh, said, "We will kill their sons and keep their daughters alive, and we have full power over them." [ 7: 127]

From these verses, it is understood that the meaning of fasad fil-ardh and reform changes according to each person's point of view. Now we need to see what fasad fil-ardh actually is. The answer to this question is very simple: the one who disrupts the government and its system of peace is a corruptor or one who spreads corruption. Since Pharaoh feared rebellion from Musa ؑ and his people, he declared them to be corrupt. From the Shariah perspective, the absolute ruler and supreme authority is only Allah Almighty. In this regard, whoever plunders the mutual rights between Allah and His servants will be guilty of fasad fil-ardh, and in this sense, associating partners with Allah (shirk) is considered the greatest form of fasad fil-ardh. Likewise, hostile activities or secret conspiracies or rebellion against the religion of Allah are as severe a crime as robbery, theft, or adultery. We can clarify this difference by saying that shirk and consensual adultery are not considered crimes in a worldly society, whereas from the Shariah perspective, these very things are counted at the top of fasad fil-ardh. Also, waging jihad against a secular government is, according to that government’s ideology, rebellion and a great crime, whereas from the Shariah perspective, this is the beginning of the eradication of fasad fil-ardh. With this explanation, you will be able to easily understand the meaning of fasad fil-ardh mentioned at various places in the Quran.