أَوْ كَٱلَّذِى مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْىِۦ هَـٰذِهِ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ ٱللَّهُ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُۥ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَل لَّبِثْتَ مِا۟ئَةَ عَامٍ فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ ءَايَةً لِّلنَّاسِ ۖ وَٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 259
Translations
Or [consider such an example] as the one who passed by a township which had fallen into ruin. He said, "How will Allāh bring this to life after its death?" So Allāh caused him to die for a hundred years; then He revived him. He said, "How long have you remained?" He [the man] said, "I have remained a day or part of a day." He said, "Rather, you have remained one hundred years. Look at your food and your drink; it has not changed with time. And look at your donkey; and We will make you a sign for the people. And look at the bones [of this donkey] - how We raise them and then We cover them with flesh." And when it became clear to him, he said, "I know that Allāh is over all things competent."
Transliteration
Aw kalladhee marra 'ala qaryatin wa hiya khaawiyatun 'ala 'urushihaa qala annaa yuhyee hadhihi allaahu ba'da mawtiha fa-amaatahu allaahu mi'ata 'aamin thumma ba'athahu qala kam labithta qala labithtu yawman aw ba'da yawmin qala bal labithta mi'ata 'aamin fanzur ila ta'amika wa sharabika lam yatasannah wanzur ila himarika wa linaaj'alaka ayatan lilnnasi wanzur ila al-'izami kayf nunshizuhaa thumma naksouha lahman falamma tabayyana lahu qala a'lamu anna allaaha 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah narrates the miraculous story of a man who passed by a ruined city and doubted Allah's power to revive it, whereupon Allah caused him to die for one hundred years and then resurrected him. Upon his awakening, he finds his food and drink preserved and witnesses the resurrection of his donkey's bones being clothed with flesh, serving as a profound sign of Allah's power over all creation. According to Ibn Kathir and classical scholars, this exemplifies how Allah demonstrates His absolute power (qudrah) and the certainty of resurrection (al-ba'th), transforming the man's doubt into firm faith and knowledge of Allah's omnipotence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan context of Surah Al-Baqarah and responds to the Jewish and disbelieving community's denial of resurrection and Allah's ability to revive the dead. It serves as a direct answer to those who questioned the Day of Judgment, providing a concrete example of divine resurrection as evidence for the greater resurrection on the Last Day.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 3393: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the People of the Cave as a sign of Allah's power. Additionally, various hadiths emphasize belief in resurrection and the Last Day as a fundamental article of faith (e.g., Sahih Muslim 8: 'Imaan includes belief in the Last Day').
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that doubt in Allah's power stems from limited human understanding, and that experiencing or witnessing divine signs can transform hearts and minds toward complete certainty in Allah's abilities. For modern readers, it emphasizes that apparent impossibilities are entirely possible for Allah, encouraging believers to submit their doubts to faith and trust in divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.
۞ وَإِن كُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ وَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ كَاتِبًا فَرِهَـٰنٌ مَّقْبُوضَةٌ ۖ فَإِنْ أَمِنَ بَعْضُكُم بَعْضًا فَلْيُؤَدِّ ٱلَّذِى ٱؤْتُمِنَ أَمَـٰنَتَهُۥ وَلْيَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ رَبَّهُۥ ۗ وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ ۚ وَمَن يَكْتُمْهَا فَإِنَّهُۥٓ ءَاثِمٌ قَلْبُهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ
And if you are on a journey and cannot find a scribe, then a security deposit [should be] taken. And if one of you entrusts another, then let him who is entrusted discharge his trust [faithfully] and let him fear Allāh, his Lord. And do not conceal testimony, for whoever conceals it - his heart is indeed sinful, and Allāh is Knowing of what you do.
وَإِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
And your god is one God. There is no deity [worthy of worship] except Him, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱلْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُم بِٱلْفَحْشَآءِ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَعِدُكُم مَّغْفِرَةً مِّنْهُ وَفَضْلًا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allāh promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.