Who are the twelve tribes (Al-Asbat)?
من هم الأسباط؟
The term "Al-Asbat" is used specifically for the Children of Israel to describe their tribal divisions, similar to how the term "tribes" is used for Arabs or "nations" for foreigners. Each of the twelve sons of Prophet Yaqoub became the head of a distinct lineage, all of which were provided for and guided by Allah through Prophet Musa (PBUH) during their time in the wilderness.
الأسباط في بني إسرائيل كالقبائل في العرب والشعوب في العجم، وهم ذرية إخوة يوسف عليه السلام. وقد قسمهم الله تعالى إلى اثنتي عشرة أمة متميزة، جعل لكل منها مورداً خاصاً للماء ومعجزة تظللهم، ليكونوا شعوباً معروفة الأصول والنسب تحت لواء دعوة نبي الله موسى عليه السلام.
Quranic Evidence | الدليل من القرآن الكريم
(And We divided them into twelve tribes (as distinct) nations. We directed Musa (Moses) by inspiration, when his people asked him for water, (saying): "Strike the stone with your stick", and there gushed forth out of it twelve springs: each group knew its own place for water. We shaded them with the clouds and sent down upon them Al-Manna and the quails (saying): "Eat of the good things with which We have provided you." They harmed Us not but they used to harm themselves.)
(وَقَطَّعْنَاهُمُ اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أَسْبَاطًا أُمَمًا ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰ إِذِ اسْتَسْقَاهُ قَوْمُهُ أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْحَجَرَ ۖ فَانبَجَسَتْ مِنْهُ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ عَيْنًا ۖ قَدْ عَلِمَ كُلُّ أُنَاسٍ مَّشْرَبَهُمْ ۚ وَظَلَّلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْغَمَامَ وَأَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَنَّ وَالسَّلْوَىٰ ۖ كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ ۚ وَمَا ظَلَمُونَا وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ)
[سورة الأعراف: آية ١٦٠]