Al-Baqarah: (57) And We shaded you with clouds...

Exegesis

Know that this is the seventh favor (Ni'mah) that Allah Almighty mentioned. Allah Almighty mentioned this verse with these exact words in Surah Al-A'raf.

The apparent meaning of this verse suggests that this shading occurred after He resurrected them, because Allah Almighty said: {Then We resurrected you after your death, perhaps you would be grateful And We shaded you with clouds}. One part is connected to the other, although the opposite is not impossible, as the objective is to enumerate the favors by which Allah Almighty singled them out.

Interpretation of the Verse

The exegetes said: {And We shaded you} means We made the clouds shade you. This occurred in the wilderness (Tih). Allah subjugated the clouds for them, making them move with their movement, shading them from the sun. He sent down the Manna (al-mann) for them, which is like honey dew (turanjabīn) resembling snow, falling from dawn until sunrise. Each person received a measure (Sā') of it, and Allah sent them the Quail (al-Salwā), which are partridges. A man would slaughter enough of it to suffice him.

{Eat} (is implied, meaning: We said, "Eat").

{And they did not wrong Us} means they wronged Us by disbelieving these favors, or by taking more than what was permitted for them in taking it, or by asking for a type of sustenance other than that which was provided. {And they did not wrong Us}, so the statement was shortened by omitting the consequence, as {And they did not wrong Us} indicates it.

{And [recall] when We said, "Enter this town and eat freely from it wherever you wish, and enter the gate in prostration (sujūdan), and say, 'Hittah' (forgive us)." We will forgive you your sins, and We will increase the doers of good." *But the wrongdoers among them changed the word to something other than what they had been told. So We sent down upon the wrongdoers a plague from the sky because they were defiantly disobeying.} (2:58-59)