“And inform them that the water is shared between them, each [day of] drink attended [by turn].”

Attended by turn Shared water

Language points and insights

شِرْب (Shirb)

Means: share of water.

مُحْتَضَر (Muhtadar)

Means: to be attended at its right or specified time.

Division and attendance

They are informed that the water is now to be divided between them; each party who has a share of the water will have their set time to attend its source.

Water-sharing scheme conveyed

Shared allocation

“The water is shared between them” — it is apportioned so each party has a defined share.

Timed turns

“Each share attended by turn” — attendance is due at its right, specified time.

Order and clarity

The arrangement sets clear expectations: divided shares and scheduled access to the source.

What this ensures

Everyone’s share is acknowledged (“Shirb”).
Attendance is tied to a rightful time (“Muhtadar”).
The flow at the source is respected by scheduled presence.

Context highlighted in the explanation

Initial attitude

They had previously dismissed Ṣāliḥ (peace be upon him) and accused him of being a perpetual great liar and an insolent person.

The Camel as a sign

They then listened because this camel was not a normal camel; it is linked directly to Allah and described as an Ayah (sign and miracle).

وَيَا قَوْمِ هَٰذِهِ نَاقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً

As noted in the explanation, narrations recorded in books of Tafsīr explain that the people of Ṣāliḥ demanded such a sign, that this camel emerged from the rock itself and that it was huge in size. Seeing this miracle made them initially listen to Ṣāliḥ and his instructions concerning the division of the water.

Insights conveyed

Sign leads to attentiveness

A manifest sign prompted initial receptiveness to the instruction after prior dismissal.

Order in shared resources

The ayah institutes clarity: defined shares and defined times at the source.

Recap

Shirb: share of water; Muhtadar: attendance at its right/specified time.
The water is divided; each party attends their turn at the source.
After accusing him before, they initially listened to Ṣāliḥ due to the miraculous camel, described as an Ayah and linked to Allah. Tafsīr narrations mention it emerged from rock and was huge.