Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) Remained Dead For a Hundred Years

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The Lord of the Universe has, in verse 259 of Surah Baqarah, mentioned the story of Uzair (a.s.).

“Or the like of him (Uzair) who passed by a town, and it had fallen down upon its roofs; he said: When will Allah give it life after its death? So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him to life. “(2:259)

The summary, cause of revelation and explanation of this verse is that Uzair was one of the Prophets in Bani Israel. He had memorized the whole Torah by heart and also was a leader and teacher of Jews in Jerusalem. Once he was travelling on his donkey. He had some bread and few grapes with him.

When he reached a village wherein all its residents had died years ago and there was no sign of their life except their worn and torn bones. Uzair threw a glance full of gloom and astonishment at those bones and exclaimed: How will God turn these torn and worn bones into living beings again? (This statement of Uzair was only by way of wonder. He never doubted God’s might and never denied Resurrection).

The Lord of the Universe, in order to make Uzair (a.s.) understand that Resurrection might be an astonishing thing for him but for Him it is nothing strange or difficult, made him die instantly. So Uzair (a.s.) remained in the condition of death for one hundred years. The bones of his ass decayed. Of course what was wonderful to human eye was that grapes were fresh and sweet despite passing of such a long time. There was no change even in their colour!

God made Uzair (a.s.) alive after one hundred years. An angel came to him in human form and asked him, “How long have you remained here?” He replied, “For one day or a part of it.” The angel said, “No, but you have stayed for a full period of a hundred years. Just look at your food. It has not at all decayed or deteriorated. (But) look at your donkey. Its bones have become rotten. Now you see what happens before your eyes and realize the Might of your Lord.”

Uzair (a.s.) saw that the particles of the decayed body of the ass began to move and instantly joined with one another, restructuring its legs, head, eyes and ears etc. The donkey soon got up. Then Almighty Lord said, “See how We are able to recollect and reassemble the particles of the body of the donkey and to give it a new life. So understand that God is able to do everything.”

When Uzair (a.s.) returned to Baitul Maqdas (Jerusalem), there also he found a totally different scene. The city had been totally altered. None of the people known to him was found there. In a very astonished state of mind he knocked at the door of his house. People inside asked, “Who is it?” He said, “It is I, Uzair.”

People rushed out and said, “Are you joking? There is no trace of Uzair for the last one hundred years. Have you any of his signs of identification?” (Uzair was one of those whose prayer was answered by Almighty God). An old lady stepped forward and said, “If you are Uzair, then I am his aunt and I have become blind. Pray to God so that I may regain my eyesight.”

Uzair (a.s.) prayed to God Almighty and that lady could see again. Then both described what had happened during the past years. All understood what had happened and the story became a reminder for all.

Reference:The Hereafter (Ma’ad)- Ayatullah Dastaghaib Shirazi