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ʾaw ka-lladhī marra ʿalā qaryatin wa-hiya khāwiyatun ʿalā ʿurūshihā qāla ʾannā yuḥyī hādhihi llāhu baʿda mawtihā fa-ʾamātahu llāhu miʾata ʿāmin thumma baʿathahū qāla kam labithta qāla labithtu yawman ʾaw baʿḍa yawmin qāla bal labithta miʾata ʿāmin fa-nẓur ʾilā ṭaʿāmika wa-sharābika lam yatasannah wa-nẓur ʾilā ḥimārika wa-li-najʿalaka ʾāyatan li-n-nāsi wa-nẓur ʾilā l-ʿiẓāmi kayfa nunshizuhā thumma naksūhā laḥman fa-lammā tabayyana lahū qāla ʾaʿlamu ʾanna llāha ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīrun
Or him who came upon a township as it lay fallen on its trellises. He said, ‘How will Allah revive this after its death?!’ So Allah made him die for a hundred years, then He resurrected him. He said, ‘How long did you remain?’ Said he, ‘I have remained a day or part of a day.’ He said, ‘No, you have remained a hundred years. Now look at your food and drink which have not rotted! Then look at your ass! [This was done] that We may make you a sign for mankind. And now look at its bones, how We raise them up and clothe them with flesh!’ When it became evident to him, he said, ‘I know that Allah has power over all things.’
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 259
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."
The previous verse stated the dispute of Abraham (as) with Nimrod around the subject of Unity. That statement, indeed, was guidance through logical reasoning. Now, this holy verse speaks about Resurrection, wherein guidance is accomplished through illustration of some sensible things.
Some Islamic narrations and 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.
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.
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.
6. The past of time, however much long may be, does not affect on the Might of Allah.
7. With Allah's Will, the firm bones rot, but fresh food, which becomes rotten in a short time, remains one hundred years fresh.
8. The exposition of Allah's Power is for guiding and leading people.
9. Allah has brought a scene of the Hereafter in this world. The verse says:
10. The Resurrection is a resurrection of the body, because if it were a mere spiritual resurrection, the statement of bone, dead and grave would not come forth.
11. A handful of a thing is a sample of a ton of that thing.
12. The dead returning to life again is also admissible in this very world and before that the final Resurrection Day happens.