Transliteration:( Aw kallazee marra 'alaa qaryatinw wa hiya khaawiyatun 'alaa 'urooshihaa qaala annaa yuhyee haazihil laahu ba'da mawtihaa fa amaatahul laahu mi'ata 'aamin summa ba'asahoo qaala kam labista qaala labistu yawman aw ba'da yawmin qaala bal labista mi'ata 'aamin fanzur ilaa ta'aamika wa sharaabika lam yatasannah wanzur ilaa himaarika wa linaj'alaka Aayatal linnaasi wanzur ilal'izaami kaifa nunshizuhaa summa naksoohaa lahmaa; falammaa tabayyana lahoo qaala a'lamu annal laaha 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer )
"Or like the one who passed by a town [669] (prophet Uzair) which had fallen into ruins. He said: 'How will Allah bring this to life [670] after its death?' So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years [671], then He revived him. He said: 'How long have you stayed here?' He replied: 'I've remained a full day or part of it.' Allah said: 'No, you stayed for a hundred years [672]. Look at your food and your drink; they have not changed with time. Yet, look at your donkey, whose bones are not safe [673]. And We will make you a sign for mankind. Look at the bones [674] how We raise them, and then cover them with flesh.' When this matter became clear to him, he said: 'I know very well [675] that Allah has power over all things [676].'"
✅ [669] The Town and the Passing of Hazrat Uzair (AS)
The one referred to is Hazrat Uzair (AS). The ruined town is Bayt al-Muqaddas (Jerusalem), destroyed by King Bakht Nasr.
Hazrat Uzair was traveling on a donkey with grape juice and dates.
Finding no life in the town, he questioned (not in denial) how Allah would restore life to it, then passed away on the spot as per Allah’s will.
✅ [670] His Question Was Not a Denial of Resurrection
His words were not of rejection but astonishment or reflection.
As belief in resurrection is essential to faith, he was not doubting, but pondering the method of Allah’s giving life.
✅ [671] Allah Caused His Death for 100 Years
The purpose of this prolonged death was to show that Prophets can be detached from worldly awareness during divine miracles.
As with Hazrat Musa and others, Prophets remain spiritually connected even when physically hidden or removed from time.
Prophets like Hazrat Musa attended the Farewell Hajj and prayed behind the Holy Prophet ﷺ on the night of Mi‘raj.
✅ [672] Total Unawareness of Time Passed
While in the state of divine sleep (death), Hazrat Uzair was made completely unaware of the world, similar to how the Holy Prophet ﷺ once missed Fajr due to sleep but was not held blameworthy.
✅ [673] A Contrast Between Perishable and Non-Perishable
His food and drink were untouched by time, though they spoil quickly.
Yet his donkey’s body decayed completely, showing Allah’s power to preserve or perish at will.
This was a clear sign of divine control over all creation.
✅ [674] The Donkey’s Resurrection Before His Eyes
Hazrat Uzair witnessed the limbs and bones of his donkey coming together, the flesh forming, and it coming to life braying.
He then rode it back to his town, located his former house, and knocked at the door.
An old blind lady, his maid, recognized his voice. Upon his du‘a, her sight was restored.
She then took him to a gathering that included his 118-year-old son and grandson, who confirmed his identity.
People recognized him from his appearance, and due to the miracle, the Jews began to call Hazrat Uzair the “son of God.”
✅ [675] Transition from Knowledge to Certainty
His earlier belief was based on information, now it turned into firsthand visual certainty.
This is why Prophets have a stronger level of faith, based on direct observation.
Like the Holy Prophet ﷺ who saw Paradise, Hell, and other hidden realities during Mi‘raj.
✅ [676] Qur’anic Puzzle and the Timelessness of Uzair’s Body
The verse implies a spiritual riddle:
Who was 40 years old, with a 140-year-old son and a 90-year-old grandson?
Answer: Hazrat Uzair (AS).
He was 40 when he died and remained so after 100 years of divine suspension, while his descendants aged normally.
258. Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom When Ibrahim said (to him): “My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death.” He said, “I give life and cause death.” Ibrahim said, “Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east; then bring it you from the west.” So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who are wrongdoers.
The king who disputed with Ibrahim was King Nimrod, son of Canaan, son of Kush, son of Sam, son of Noah, as Mujahid stated. It was also said that he was Nimrod, son of Falikh, son of `Abir, son of Shalikh, son of Arfakhshand, son of Sam, son of Noah. Mujahid said, “The kings who ruled the eastern and western parts of the world are four, two believers and two disbelievers. As for the two believing kings, they were Sulayman bin Dawud and Dhul-Qarnayn. As for the two disbelieving kings, they were Nimrod and Nebuchadnezzar.” Allah knows best.
Allah said,
(Have you not looked) meaning, “With your heart, O Muhammad!”
(at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord) meaning, about the existence of Allah. Nimrod denied the existence of a god other than himself, as he claimed, just as Fir`awn said later to his people,
(I know not that you have a god other than me) ﴿28:38﴾.
What made Nimrod commit this transgression, utter disbelief and arrant rebellion was his tyranny and the fact that he ruled for a long time. This is why the Ayah continued,
(Because Allah had given him the kingdom. )
It appears that Nimrod asked Ibrahim to produce proof that Allah exists. Ibrahim replied,
(My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death) meaning, “The proof of Allah’s existence is the creations that exist after they were nothing and perish after they had existed. This only proves the existence of the Creator, Who does what He wills, for these things could not have occurred on their own without a Creator who created them, and He is the Lord that I call to for worship, Alone without a partner.”
This is when Nimrod said,
(I give life and cause death.)
Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ishaq and As-Suddi said that he meant, “Two men who deserved execution were to be brought before me, and I would command that one of them be killed, and he would be killed. I would command that the second man be pardoned, and he would be pardoned. This is how I bring life and death.” However, it appears that since Nimrod did not deny the existence of a Creator, his statement did not mean what Qatadah said it meant. This explanation does not provide an answer to what Ibrahim said. Nimrod arrogantly and defiantly claimed that he was the creator and pretended that it was he who brings life and death. Later on, Fir`awn imitated him and announced,
(I know not that you have a god other than me) ﴿28: 38﴾.
This is why Ibrahim said to Nimrod,
(Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east; then bring it you from the west.)
This Ayah means, “You claim that it is you who brings life and death. He who brings life and death controls the existence and creates whatever is in it, including controlling its planets and their movements. For instance, the sun rises everyday from the east. Therefore, if you were god, as you claimed, bringing life and death, then bring the sun from the west.” Since the king was aware of his weakness, inadequacy and that he was not able to reply to Ibrahim’s request, he was idle, silent and unable to comment. Therefore, the proof was established against him. Allah said,
(And Allah guides not the people, who are wrongdoers) meaning, Allah deprives the unjust people of any valid proof or argument. Furthermore, their false proof and arguments are annulled by their Lord, and they have earned His anger and will suffer severe torment.
The meaning that we provided is better than the meaning that some philosophers offered, claiming that Ibrahim used the second argument because it was clearer than the first one. Rather, our explanation asserts that Ibrahim refuted both claims of Nimrod, all praise is due to Allah.
As-Suddi stated that the debate between Ibrahim and Nimrod occurred after Ibrahim was thrown in the fire, for Ibrahim did not meet the king before that day.
(2:259) Or consider him by way of example who passed by a town that was fallen down upon its turrets.[293] He exclaimed: “How will Allah restore life to this town that is now dead?”[294]
Allah then caused him to remain dead for a hundred years and then raised him to life, and asked him: “How long did you remain in this state?” He replied: “I remained so for a day or a part of a day.” Allah rejoined: “No, you have rather stayed thus for a hundred years. But look at your food and your drink, there is no deterioration in them. And look at your ass (how its entire skeleton has rotted)! And We did all this so that We might make you a token of instruction for people.[295] And see how We will put the bones (of the ass) together and will clothe them with flesh.” Thus when the reality became clear to him, he said: “I know that Allah has power over everything.”
293. It is irrelevant to ask who the person was and the place where this incident occurred. The real purpose in mentioning this event is to show how God showed light to the one who had chosen God as his protector and supporter. As for determining the name of the person and the locality, we neither possess the means to do so, nor is such an endeavour in any way beneficial. What seems to be evident from the statement that follows is that the person concerned must necessarily have been a Prophet.
294. This question does not signify that the person concerned denied or entertained any doubts regarding life after death. His enquiry merely indicates his wish to have direct knowledge of reality, like the Prophets of the past.
295. The restoration of life to a man considered to have died a hundred years ago was in itself sufficient to make him, for his contemporaries, a living testimony.
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