The Story of “Manna” from the Holy Qur’an

The Quran describes Manna as a miraculous, sweet food sent down by Allah to the Children of Israel during their wandering in the Sinai Desert. It is mentioned in several verses, including 2:57, 7:160, and 20:80, and is always paired with Salwa (quails). Unfortunately, the divine blessing was ultimately rejected by the Israelites, who grew tired of consuming the same food. No surprises there. 

To quote the Qur’an:  

“And remember when you said, ‘O Moses! We cannot endure the same meal every day. So just call upon your Lord on our behalf; He will bring forth for us some of what the earth produces of herbs, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions.’ Moses scolded them, ‘Do you exchange what is better for what is worse? You can go down to any village, and you will find what you have asked for.’ They were stricken with disgrace and misery, and they brought upon themselves the displeasure of Allah for rejecting His signs and unjustly killing the prophets. This is a fair reward for their disobedience and violations.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 61)

This story serves as a lesson on the importance of ‘shukr‘ (gratitude) for consistent, effortless blessings.

The Etymology of the Word Manna

The Arabic root of “Manna,” ‘mann,’ means ‘a favor that reminds of obligation.’ This linguistic layer reveals that Manna was not just food, but a constant, physical reminder of the covenant between Allah and Bani Israel. Every meal was a renewal of their duty to be grateful and obedient, making their eventual complaint even more spiritually significant. They were not merely rejecting food, but the very symbol of their special relationship with God.

Tafsir authorities such as Ibn Kathir and Qatadah, drawing on narrations by companions such as Ibn Abbas, support the view that ‘Manna’ signified a ‘favor,’ a ‘gift,’ or a pure blessing from Allah that required no labor or cultivation. They also described Manna as a substance that ‘descended‘ upon trees and rocks like snow or dew, being whiter than milk and sweeter than honey.

Manna, the “Bread from Heaven.”

The Bible makes multiple references to Manna, including God’s promise to Moses (PBUH) that He would “rain bread from heaven” to feed Moses’ people. The story goes that dew began to fall miraculously during the night and, in the morning, crystallized into an edible substance that nourished the people of Moses. The same chapter describes Manna as being “like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.”

Hadith’s Narrative

In Sahih Muslim, the second hadith collection of the Six Books of Sunni Islam, it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) says: “Truffles are part of the ‘Manna’ which God sent to the people of Israel through Moses, and its juice is a medicine for the eye.”

Identifying Manna

Theories regarding Manna’s exact identity have ranged from the improbable—a type of lichen not found in the Sinai Desert—to the more plausible: a sweet secretion from a plant caused by scale insects or aphids feeding on it.

Manna and Tamarisk

Medieval Persian writings on the Qur’an, along with a medical pamphlet compiled by the Persian scholar Al-Biruni (973–after 1050), describe Manna as the sweet drops that form on the tamarisk tree, which is common in the Sinai Peninsula and in modern-day Iraq and Iran. Some botanists believe these droplets are due to the ‘mana scale,’ an insect that feeds on tamarisk. After feeding, the insect excretes a sweet substance, often considered the prime candidate for the Manna described in the scriptures. In the West, this excretion is known as honeydew.

Harvesting Manna in Iran and Iraq

The Manna, or “bread from heaven,” mentioned in the Torah, is still harvested and used in parts of Iran and Iraq. In this context, the term has dual meanings: it refers either to the sweet sap of any plant (tree or bush) in the region or to the excrement of insects that feed on trees, such as tamarisk.

A Precious Medicine

Ancient Greek, Roman, and Arab doctors regarded Manna as a precious medicine for its recognized therapeutic properties. One of its most prolific sources was the ash trees, from which “Manna dripped like a whitish resin,” according to one chronicler.

Manna’s Arab-Sicilian Connection

Dubbed “white gold,” the substance is still produced and harvested in Sicily’s Madonie Mountains, in the island’s north, about 40 miles east of Palermo. The cultivation of Manna dates back to the 9th century, when Arabs ruled the island and taught the local population how to harvest it.

A Sweet Treat

In keeping with the narratives of old, mann al-sama is an exquisite treat that combines Manna, corn syrup, honey, cardamom, honey date, and crunchy pistachios—a food cherished across all three monotheistic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

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