Signs and Sustenance
اللَّهُمَّ. رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا، وَآخِرِنَا، وَآيَةً مِنْكَ، وَارْزُقْنَا، وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ تَكُونُ لَنَا عِيدًا لِأَوَّلِنَا وَآخِرِنَا وَآيَةً مِنْكَ وَارْزُقْنَا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ
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“O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table from heaven that will be a feast for the first of us and the last of us and a sign from You, and provide for us; You are the best of providers.”
Form: the combination of the names “Allahumma Rabbana” and the verbs “anzil” (أَنزِلْ) and “urzuqna” (ارْزُقْنَا); the supreme supplicatory etiquette of the Prophet Isa when asking for a sign and sustenance.
Tafsir of Sheikh Abd al-Rahman al-Saadi
Shaykh as-Saadi writes: “Isa implored Allah, addressing Him with all the names of the Most Great Lord, asking Him to send down a heavenly table as a sign of His power and a feast of joy for the believers.”
Tafsir of Imam Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir explains: “Isa asked for the table after the disciples had asked him to do so in order to strengthen their hearts. Allah sent down the table, which contained heavenly fruits and fish.”
Tafsir al-Baghawi
“Isa, son of Maryam, said…” when he understood the sincerity of their intentions
“... O Allah, our Lord! Send down to us a table spread from heaven, which will be a festival for the first of us and the last of us...” that is, it will return to us from Allah as a proof and evidence. A festival (‘id) is a day of joy.
A festival (‘id) is so called because joy returns after sorrow. It is also used for something to which you are accustomed and which comes back to you. The day of breaking the fast and the day of sacrifice are called festivals because they return every year.
As-Suddi said: “The meaning is: We will take the day on which You sent down the table spread to us as a festival for those who live now and for those who will live after us. That is, we ourselves will honor this day, as will those who come after us.” Sufyan said: “We will perform the prayer on this day.”
The expression “for the first of us” means “for those who live now,” while “for the last of us” means “for those who will live after us.”
Ibn ‘Abbas said: “The people of later times will eat from this table spread, just as the first among them ate from it.” “...and a sign from You...” a proof and evidence. “...And provide us with sustenance, for You are the best of providers!”
In Sunan at-Tirmidhi (No. 3061) a report is transmitted describing the table from heaven and the trial connected with concealing it from others.