"If your water were to become sunken," meaning: it has sunk into the earth and vanished, and the 'ghawr' (sunken water) is that which cannot be reached and which buckets cannot attain. "Then who could bring you flowing water?" It is related from 'Ikrimah: The 'ma'in' is that which is visible. Al-Hasan said: The 'ma'in' is that which originates from springs.
﴿إِن أصبح ماؤكم غورا﴾ أَيْ: قَدْ غَارَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَذَهَبَ، وَالْغَوْرُ الَّذِي لَا يُقْدَرُ عَلَيْهِ وَلا تُدْرِكُهُ الدِّلاء ﴿فَمَنْ يأتيكم بِمَاء معِين﴾ جَاءَ عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ: الْمَعِينُ الظَّاهِرُ. قَالَ الْحَسَنُ: الْمَعِينُ: الَّذِي أَصْلُهُ مِنَ الْعُيُونِ (٦).
