Allah Is Able To Do All Things

LESSON # 304 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Allah Is Able To Do All Things

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse – 259 of  286, Section –35  (Part - 3)

Or (bethink thee of) the like of him, who passing by a township which had fallen into utter ruin, exclaimed: How shall Allah give this township life after its death? So Allah made him die a hundred years, then brought him back to life. He said: How long hast thou tarried? (The man) said: I have tarried a day or part of a day. (He) said: Nay, but thou hast tarried for a hundred years. Just look at the food and drink which have rotted not! Look at thine ass! And, that We may make thee a sign unto mankind, and look at the bones, how We adjust them and then cover them with flesh! And when (the matter) became clear unto him, he said: I know that indeed Allah is Able to do all things.

‘Aw  kallazii  marra  ‘alaa  qaryatinw-wa  hiya  khaawi-yatun  ‘alaa  ‘uruu-shihaa.  Qaala  ‘annaa  yuhyii  haazihil-laahu  ba’-da  mawtihaa.  Fa- ‘amaata- hullaahu  mi-‘ata  ‘aamin-  summa ba- ‘asah.  Qaala  kam- la-bist.  Qaala  la-bistu  yawman  ‘aw  ba’-za  yawm.  Qaala  bal- labista  mi-‘ata ‘aamin-  fan- zur  ‘ilaa-  ta- ‘aamika  wa  sharaabika  lam  yata-sannah.  Wan-zur  ‘ilaa  himaa-rika  wa  li-naj- ‘ala- ka  ‘aayatal-linnaasi  wan-zur  ‘ilal-‘izaami  kayfa  nun-shizuhaa  summa  nak-suuhaa lahmaa.  Falam-maa  tabayyana  lahuu,  qaala  ‘a’-lamu  ‘annallaaha  ‘alaa  kulli  shay- ‘in- Qadiir.

Lesson

‘al-lazii  marra – ( the person, who passed by), there are different views about that person. Some Commentators consider that he was Prophet Ezra (peace be upon him). He was a famous Prophet in the chain of Israelite Prophets (peace be upon them). His time was fifth century BC. He brought 1500 Jews to Palestine after getting them released from banishment and prison during 450 BC.

Some commentators think that he was Prophet Yarmiyaah (peace be upon them), who was also from the series of Israelite Prophets (peace be upon them) and his reign was seventh century BC.

Description Of This Example

There are different views of historians about that ruined township, which is mentioned in the above verse. However mostly scholars imagine that it was Jerusalem, which was ruined by the king of Babel (Bakht Nasr). This example has been described to show the sign of Power and Greatness of Allah Almighty. Bakht Nasr attacked on the city of Jerusalem, destroyed it and brought many people of the children of Israel making them prisoners.

When Prophet Ezra (peace be upon him) reached here after freedom from the imprisonment, he saw a ruined city in his way, the buildings of which had become upside down. Looking this he said in his heart that entire citizens of this place have died. How shall Allah give this township life after its death? So Allah made him die at the same time and his ass which was for his conveyance also died for a hundred years, and neither anybody saw them in this condition, nor information of that place spread out. Meanwhile Bakht Nasr died too and the Jerusalem was populated by some other king. After one hundred years God Almighty brought him back to life. His food and drink had lain likewise which had not rotted. His ass had died and its bones had rotted, which became alive in front of him (peace be upon him). During these one hundred years the children of Israel had gotten freedom and re-populated this city.

When Prophet Ezra (peace be upon him) died, the sun had risen, but when he became alive, the sun had not yet set. So when Allah Almighty asked him, “How long have you tarried here?” after thinking he told, “I have tarried a day or part of a day”.

In the presence of Prophet Ezra (peace be upon him) all the bones of ass assembled in its body with correct arrangement. Then Allah covered them with flesh and skin, then the ass became alive with God’s order and that stood up.   

Prophet Ezra said after looking this entire situation, “I have believed that indeed Allah is Able to do all things. Although I did know already that it is very easy for Allah Almighty to give life to the dead, now I have seen it with my own eyes”. Later on when he reached Jerusalem from here, no body recognized him because he still remained young and who were infants, they had become old.

When he caused to hear (recited) the Torah by heart, then the people believed in him. Aim to tell this story is that it is not distant from the Power of Allah Almighty to give life to the dead persons; also it is extremely easy for Him. Occurrence the Day of Resurrection is Sure, while the entire dead bodies will get lives immediately.

It should be kept in mind that the name of that city has neither been described in the Holy Qur’an, nor its aim is to mention these types of historical happenings as history, nor we recite the Speech of Allah Almighty in historical manner. Root purpose is advice and counsel. It should be kept in front every time.     

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Lesson collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)