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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Mary and Jesus in Islam The Table of Viands Allah Almighty has said, The disciples said: O Jesus son of Mary! Will your Lord consent to send down to us food from heavens? He said: Be careful of (your duty to) Allah if you are believers. (5:112) What was that table all about? How was it sent down and what did it contain? These questions are answered differently by different people, each according to the extent of his knowledge or depth of his imagination!

Qatadah has quoted Jabir quoting `Ammar ibn Yasir citing the Messenger of Allah saying, “The table was sent down with bread and meat on it because they had asked Jesus for food to eat, and that it would not be exhausted.

He said to them, `I shall do so, and it shall always come to you as long as you do not become malicious or betray (me), for in the latter case, you will be tormented.' It was only one day after its descent upon them that they became malicious, and they betrayed (Jesus).” Ata ibn Abu Rabah[^1] is quoted as citing Salman al-Farisi (the Persian) saying that Jesus never committed any wrong deed, nor did he rebuke an orphan, nor did he burst laughing, nor did he drive flies away from his face[^2]...

When the disciples asked him to bring them tables of viands, he said, “Lord! Do send down to us food from heavens to be for us an ever-recurring happiness, to the first of us and to the last, and [^1] Ata ibn Abu Rabah (d. 114 A.H./732 A.D.) was a renown tabi`i who learned from the sahaba and reported hadith from them. He was once the mufti of Mecca.

[^2] This is a figure of speech which means: “He never hurt anyone.” (89) a sign from You, and grant us means of subsistence, and You are the best of Providers” (Qur'an, 5:114). A red table between two clouds, one above it and one underneath it, came descending upon them as they looked at it till it settled on the ground before them. Jesus wept and said, “Lord! I implore You to count me among those who are grateful to You! Lord!

Make it a sign of mercy from You rather than one of penalty!” When they saw it, they found it something which they had never seen before, and similar to its fragrance they had never inhaled.