Stories From The Quran

The Story of The Pious Man Uzair

    Uzair was a pious man from the Children of Israel. It has not been proven that he was a prophet. His story is mentioned in the Quran, in Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 259. One day, he passed by a ruined town and looked at what remained of it. He said, “How will Allah ever bring it to life after its death?” He said this after seeing the massive destruction that had afflicted the town and its people. So, Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and then brought him back to life. During the hundred years that he was dead, many changes had taken place in the town, and people had returned to it and rebuilt it. The first part of his body that was revived was his eyes, allowing him to see what Allah had done to his body. After he was fully brought back to life, he was asked how long he had remained there. He replied, “(Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day.” The scholars said that since the man died in the early part of the day and Allah resurrected him in the latter part of the day, and he saw that the sun was still apparent, he thought that it was the sun of the same day. Therefore, he replied, “A day or part of a day.”

     Allah informed him that he had remained dead for a 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].” It was mentioned that he had grapes, figs, and juice, and he found them as he had left them. Neither had the juice spoiled, nor had the figs become bitter, nor had the grapes rotted. However, his donkey had decayed. Allah said to him, “And thus, We have made you a sign for the people.” The pious man received the answer to his question about how Allah resurrects the dead. Allah said to him in the same Ayah, “And look at the bones [of this donkey]—how We raise them and then We cover them with flesh.” Then, he submitted to Allah’s power and declared, “I know (now) that Allah is Able to do all things.”

 what do we learn from this story?

            the name of allah, Al-Muhyi ٱلْمُحْيِى

            The Giver of Life, Bestower of life, The Reviver

Allah is the One Who brings His creatures back to life after death. As Allah showed the pious man His power to resurrect the dead, He gave him a simple example of His power and Attributes. The Name of Allah, Al-Muhyi, means the One Who gives life by returning the souls to the bodies and resurrecting His creatures on the Day of Resurrection. He is also the One Who gives life to hearts through the light of knowledge. His Name describes His power to give life and resurrect His creatures. Allah said in the Quran, “He gives life and causes death, and to Him you will be returned” (هُوَ يُحْيِۦ وَيُمِيتُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ). As Muslims, we should believe in His Names and Attributes. Just as Allah can revive the dead, He can revive our broken souls and hearts. Allah can change everything; it is all in His Hands. This should give us hope and inspire us while struggling to make it through life, knowing that Allah can change our circumstances and turn our difficulties into ease and happiness.

The story of Uzair reminds us of Allah’s infinite power to bring life after death. As we believe in Al-Muhyi, the One Who gives life, we should never lose hope in Allah’s power to revive our hearts and bring ease after hardship.