Islam Guidance

Verse259

(259) أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَى قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّى يُحْيِي هَذِهِ اللّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا

فَأَمَاتَهُ اللّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ ماِئَةَ

عَامٍ فَانظُرْ إِلَى طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ وَانظُرْ إِلَى حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَانظُرْ

إِلَى العِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

259. " Or like him (Ezra) who passed by a town and it had fallen on its roofs, he said: ' How shall Allah bring this to life again after its death? ' So Allah made him die a hundred years, then He raised him up and said: ' How long have you tarried? ' He said, ' (Perhaps) I have tarried a day or a part of a day.' He said: ' Nay, you have tarried (thus) a hundred years. But look at your food and your drink ِ they show no effect of age; and look at your ass; and that We may make of you a sign for people; and look at the bones, how We assembled them together and then clothed them with flesh.' So, when it became clear to him, he said: ' I know that Allah is All-Powerful over all things."
Commentary:
The previous verse stated the dispute of Abraham (a.s.) with Nimrod around the subject of Unity. That statement, indeed, was a guidance through logical reasoning. Now, this holy verse speaks about Resurrection, wherein guidance is accomplished through illustration of some sensible things.

" Or like him (Ezra) who passed by a town and it had fallen on its roofs, ..."
Some Islamic narrations and commentary books denote that the name of the man referred to in this verse has been 'Uzayr (Ezra). They also said that he must be a prophet whom, as the verse indicates, Allah has spoken to.
Explanations
1. Illustration is the best way of reasoning.
"...but look at your food and your drink they show no effect of age; ..."
2. It is appropriate to die one hundred years to recognize one important point.
3. Increase your knowledge by experience, inquiring, and so on, although you know the fact.
"... he said: ' How shall Allah bring this to life again after its death? '..."
4. We should take new lessons from old ruined towns and ancient civilizations, too, and ask questions.
5. Everybody will be raised with the same feature the one has at the time of death.
"...then He raised him up..."
6. The past of time, however much long may be, does not affect on the Might of Allah.
"...so Allah made him die a hundred years, them He raised him up..."
7. With Allah's Will, the firm bones rot, but fresh food, which becomes rotten in a short time, remains one hundred years fresh.
"... and said: ' How long have you tarried? '
He said, ' (Perhaps) I have tarried a day or a part of a day.'
He Said: ' Nay, you have tarried (thus) a hundred years. ..."
8. The exposition of Allah's Power is for guiding and leading people.
"... and that We may make of you a sign for people; ..."
9. Allah has brought a scene of the Hereafter in this world. The verse says:
"...and look at the bones, how We assembled them together and then clothed them with flesh.'... "
10. The Resurrection is a resurrection of the body, because if it were a mere spiritual resurrection, the statement of bone, dead and grave wauld not come forth.
"...and look at the bones..."
11. A handful of a thing is a sample of a ton of that thing.
" So when it became clear to him, he said: ' I know that Allah is All-Powerful over all things."
12. The dead returning to life again is also admissible in this very world and before that the final Resurrection Day happens.
" ...so Allah made him die a hundred years, then He raised him up ..."

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