The story of the thousand who moved out of their

237. A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ibn Mahboub, from Umar Bin Yazeed and someone else, from some of them, who have narrated the following: Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام, and some of them from Abu Ja’far عليه الصلاة والسلام regarding the Statement of Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic: “[2:243] Have you not considered those who went forth from their homes, for fear of death, and they were thousands, then Allah said to them, Die; again He gave them life”. These were city folk from the cities of Syria, and there were seventy thousand households and plague used to occur among them every time. So whenever they sensed it, the rich ones would exit the city due to their (financial) strength and the poor would remain due to their (financial) weakness. So the death occurred mostly among those who would remain and less among those who went out. So those who left said, ‘Had we been of those who remained, death would frequent among us’. And those who remained said, ‘Had we been of those who went out, death would be less among us’. He عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘So they formed a consensus of their opinions that whenever they sense the plague occurring among them, all of them would go out from the city. So when they sensed the plague affecting them, all of them went out and took precaution against the death. So they travelled in the countryside for as long as Allah عز وجل so Desired. Then they passed by a city which was in ruins and its inhabitants had all left, being destroyed by the plague. So they encamped there, and settled their belongings being reassured by it. Allah عز وجل Said to them: “All of you die!” They all died at that instant and became decayed. The passers-by passed by and collected their ashes and gathered them in one place. So a Prophet عليه السلام from the Prophets عليه السلام of the Children of Israel passed by them, whose عليه السلام name was Hizkeel عليه السلام. So when he عليه السلام saw those bones, he عليه السلام wept and reflected upon it and said: ‘O Lord عز وجل! If You عز وجل so Wish, You عز وجل can Revive them instantly, just as You عز وجل Caused them to die, so they would then inhabit Your عز وجل Country, and bear Your عز وجل servants who would worship You عز وجل along with those from Your عز وجل creatures who worship You عز وجل’. So Allah عز وجل the High Revealed unto him عليه السلام: “Is that what you عليه السلام would like to happen?’ He عليه السلام said: ‘Yes, O Lord عز وجل! Revive them”. So Allah عز وجل Revealed unto him عليه السلام; “Say such and such”. So he عليه السلام said that which Allah عز وجل Mighty and Majestic had Commanded him عليه السلام to say’. Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘And it was the Great Name (Al-Ism Al-Aazam). So when Hizkeel عليه السلام said that Word, he عليه السلام saw the bones flying towards each other. So they came back alive. Some of them looked at the others Glorifying Allah عز وجل and Exclaiming His عز وجل Greatness and Extolling His عز وجل Holiness. So Hizkeel عليه السلام said during that: ‘I عليه السلام hereby testify that Allah عز وجل has Power over all things’. Umar Bin Yazeed (the narrator) said, ‘Abu Abdullah عليه الصلاة والسلام said: ‘This Verse was Revealed regarding them’.