once upon a time..

”][74]

Lo! Ibrahim said to his father Azar: “Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error.”  [75] So also did We show Ibrahim the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, that he might (with understanding) have certitude. [76] When the night covered him over, he saw a star: he said: “This is my Lord.” But when it set, he said: “I love not those that set.” [77] When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: “This is my Lord.” But when the moon set, he said: “Unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray.”

Al-An’am [74-77]

”]

[259] Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: “Oh! how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?” But Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: “How long didst thou tarry (thus)?” He said: “(Perhaps) a day or part of a day.” He said: “Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age: and look at thy donkey; and that We may make of thee a Sign unto the people, look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh!” When this was shown clearly to him, he said: “I know that Allah hath power over all things.”

Al-Baqarah [259]

”]

[30] The Jews call ‘Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Al-Masih the son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. Allah’s curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!  

[31] They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Al-Masih, the son of Maryam; yet they were commanded to worship but One God: there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: (far is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him). 

 At-Taubah [30-31]

Ishaq Ibn Bishr narrated after Sa`id after Abu `Urubah after Qatadah after Al-Hasan after `Abdullah Ibn Salam that `Uzair was the man whom Allah caused to die for a hundred years, then raised him up again.

Ibn Ishaq Ibn Bishr said: I was told by Sa`id Ibn Bashir after Wahb Ibn Munabih: `Uzair was a wise, pious worshiper. One day, he went out to look after some of his properties. When he finished, he passed by a ruined place, where he was scorched by the blazing sun. So, he entered that ruined place riding on his donkey. He got off the donkey holding two baskets, one full of figs and the other full of grapes. He sat down and brought out a bowl in which he squeezed the grapes and soaked the dried bread he had in it. He ate of it and then lay on his back, with his two legs against a wall, and started to gaze at the ceiling of the house. He saw some decomposed bones and said: {Oh! How will Allah ever bring it to life after its death?} He did not doubt Allah’s Omnipotence to do this, but he said it in exclamation. Upon this, Allah the Almighty sent the Angel of Death, who seized his soul, and thus Allah caused him to die for a hundred years. And, after one hundred years, Allah the Almighty sent to him an Angel who first created his heart to make him heedful; then, he created his two eyes to enable him to see and realize how Allah the Almighty revives the dead. Then, the Angel continued to complete his creation once more while `Uzair was looking on. Then the Angel clothed his bones with flesh, skin and hair. Then he breathed the soul into him. All this while `Uzair was watching and perfectly heedful. The Angel asked him saying: {How long did you remain (dead)? He (the man) said: (Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day} He was caused to die in the afternoon and then was given life again by the end of day while the sun was still in the sky; that’s why he said: {or part of a day} that is, not even a whole day. The Angel said: {Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink} that is, the dried bread and the squeezed grapes that had not altered or turned bad, {they show no change}, and the grapes and the figs had not changed as well. As if he began to deny the matter in his heart, the Angel said: Do you deny what I have said? {and look at your donkey!} He looked at his donkey and found its bones to be decomposed and totally ruined. The Angel called upon the donkey’s bones and they answered his call and gathered together from all directions till he was made one whole again. All the while `Uzair was looking, and the Angel clothed them with flesh, skin and hair. Then, the Angel breathed life into it and it roused, erecting his ears and head towards the sky thinking the Last Hour had come. That was stated in His Saying: {and look at your donkey! And thus We have made of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh}. And {When this was clearly shown to him, he said, I know (now) that Allah is Able to do all things}. Then, `Uzair rode his donkey back to his village, where he seemed unfamiliar to the people and the people looked unfamiliar to him. He did not even find his own house easily. When he reached the house, he found a crippled, blind old woman who was one hundred twenty years old. She was a maid owned by him in the past and he left her when she was only twenty years old. He asked her, “Is this the house of `Uzair?” She said, “Yes, it is.” She wept and said, “Today no one ever remembers `Uzair.” He told her that he was `Uzair and that Allah the Almighty had caused him to die for one hundred years then gave him life again. She said, “Glory be to Allah! We lost `Uzair one hundred years ago and never heard anything about him.” He said, “Verily, I am `Uzair.” She said, “`Uzair was a man whose supplications were acceptable by Allah the Almighty, so invoke Allah to return my sight to me to look at you, so if you are `Uzair, I will certainly know you.” So he invoked Allah the Almighty, then he wiped over her eyes and they were recovered. He took her by the hand and said, “Stand up by the Leave of Allah!” She stood up by the Leave of Allah. She looked at him and said, “I bear witness that you are `Uzair.” Then she set out for the Children of Israel in their meetings and gatherings, and `Uzair’s son —who was about one hundred eighteen years old—and his grandsons, and she called them saying, “This is `Uzair who has come back to you.” They belied her, but she said, “I am so-and-so, your maid. He invoked Allah for me and He recovered my eyesight and legs.” She added, “He claims that Allah caused him to die for one hundred years and then He gave him life again.” The people rose up and went to look at him. His son said, “My father had a black mole between his shoulders.” He uncovered his shoulders and they realized that he was `Uzair. The Children of Israel said, “`Uzair was the only one who committed the whole Torah to heart, and Bikhtinassar burned it and nothing is left of it but what the men can remember, so (if you are the true `Uzair) write it down for us.” His father, Surukha, had buried the Torah during that era of Bikhrinassar in a place known to nobody but `Uzair. Thus, he took them to that place and brought it out, but unfortunately, the papers were rotten and ruined. Consequently, he sat under the shade of a tree surrounded by the Children of Israel, and he restored the Torah for them. At that time, two stars descended from the sky and entered into his mouth, whereby he remembered the whole text of the Torah and thus restored it to the Children of Israel. Thus, {The Jews say: `Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allah} (At-Tawbah 30) because of the two stars, his restoring the Torah and charging the affairs of the Children of Israel. He restored the Torah for them in the land of As-Sawad. The town in which he died is said to be called Sairabadh

`Abdullah Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) said: Thus he was as said by Allah the Almighty: {And thus We have made of you a sign for the people} that is, for the Children of Israel. He was with his sons a young man among old people, for he died when he was only forty and was revived at the same age and status. `Abdullah Ibn `Abbas said: He was resurrected after the time of Bikhtinassar. The same was related by Al-Hasan.

”]In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[1] By the Sky, (displaying) the Zodiacal Signs; [2] By the promised Day (of Judgment); [3] By one that witnesses, and the subject of the witness; [4] Woe to the makers of the pit (of fire), [5] Fire supplied (abundantly) with Fuel: [6] Behold! They sat over against the (fire), [7] And they witnessed (all) that they were doing against the Believers. [8] And they ill-treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise! [9] Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And Allah is Witness to all things.

Al-Buruj [1-9]

There is a Prophetic Hadith narrating the story of those mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an. Imam Ahmed said: I was told by Hammad Ibn Salamah after Thabit after `Abdur Rahman Ibn Abu Laila as saying: Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) thus said: “There lived a king before you and he had a (court) magician. As he (the magician) grew old, he said to the king: I have grown old, send some young boy to me so that I should teach him magic. He (the king) sent him a young boy so that he should train him (in magic). And on his way (to the magician) he (the young boy) found a monk sitting there. He listened to the monk’s talk and was impressed by it. It became his habit to pass by the monk and spend the time with him listening to his teachings and then leave to the magician late. He (the magician) beat him because of delay. He made a complaint of that to the monk and he said to him: When you feel afraid of the magician, say: Members of my family detained me. And when you feel afraid of your family you should say: The magician detained me. It so happened that there came a huge beast (of prey) and it blocked the way of the people, and he (the young boy) said: I will come to know today whether the magician is superior or the monk is superior. He picked up a stone and said: O Allah, if the affair of the monk is dearer to You than the affair of the magician, cause death to this animal so that the people should be able to move about freely. He threw that stone at it and killed it, and the people began to move about (on the path freely). He then came to that monk and informed him and the monk said: Son, today you are superior to me. Your affair has come to a stage where I find that you would be soon put to a trial, and in case you are put to a trial don’t give a clue of me. That young man began to treat the blind and those suffering from leprosy. He, in fact, began to cure people from (all kinds) of illness. When a companion of the king who had gone blind heard about him, he came to him with numerous gifts and said: If you cure me, all these things collected together here will be yours. He said: I myself do not cure anyone. It is Allah Who cures, and if you affirm faith in Allah, I shall also supplicate Allah to cure you. He affirmed his faith in Allah and Allah cured him and he came to the king and sat by his side as he used to sit before. The king said to him: Who restored your eyesight? He said: My Lord! The king was astounded: Does it mean that your Lord is another One besides me? He said: My Lord and your Lord is Allah. So he (the king) took hold of him and tormented him till he gave a clue of that boy. The young man was thus summoned and the king said to him: O boy, it has been conveyed to me that you have become so proficient in your magic that you cure the blind and those suffering from leprosy and you do such and such things. The boy said: I do not cure anyone; it is Allah Who cures. The king took hold of him and began to torment him. Eventually the boy gave a clue of the monk. The monk was thus summoned and it was said to him: You should turn back from your religion. He, however, refused to do so. He (the king) ordered for a saw to be brought, (and when it was done) he (the king) placed it in the middle of his head and tore it into parts till a part fell down. Then the courtier of the king was brought and it was said to him: Turn back from your religion. And he refused to do so, and the saw was placed in the middle of his head and it was torn till a part fell down. Then that young boy was brought and it was said to him: Turn back from your religion. He refused to do so and he was handed over to a group of his courtiers. The king ruled: Take him to such and such mountain; make him climb up that mountain and when you reach its top (ask him to renounce his faith) but if he refuses to do so, then throw him (down the mountain). So they took him and made him climb up the mountain and he said: O Allah, save me from them (in any way) You like. And the mountain began to quake and they all fell down and that person came walking to the king. The king said to him: What has happened to your companions (the courtiers)? He said: Allah has saved me from them. He again handed him to some of his courtiers and said: Take him and carry him in a small boat and when you reach the middle of the ocean ask him to renounce his religion, but if he does not renounce his religion throw him (into the water). So they took him and the boy said: O Allah, save me from them and what they want to do. It was quite soon that the boat turned over and they were drowned and he came walking to the king, and the king said to him: What has happened to your companions (the courtiers)? He said: Allah has saved me from them. And he said to the king: You cannot kill me until you do what I ask you to do. And he said: What is that? He said: You should gather people in a plain and hang me by the trunk (of a tree). Then take hold of an arrow from the quiver and say: In the name of Allah, the Lord of the worlds; then shoot an arrow and if you do that then you would be able to kill me. The king called the people in an open plain and tied the boy to the trunk of a tree, then he took hold of an arrow from his quiver and then placed the arrow in the bow and then said: In the Name of Allah, the Lord of the young boy. He then shot an arrow and it pierced his temple. He (the boy) placed his hands upon the temple where the arrow had pierced him and he died and the people said: We affirm our faith in the Lord of this young man, we affirm our faith in the Lord of this young man, we affirm our faith in the Lord of this young man. The courtiers came to the king and it was said to him: Do you see that Allah has actually done what you aimed at averting? They (the people) have affirmed their faith in the Lord. The king commanded ditches to be dug at certain points in the path. When these ditches were dug and the fire was lit in them, it was said (to the people): He who would not turn back from his (the boy’s) religion would be thrown in the fire or it would be said to them to jump in it. (The people courted death but did not renounce religion) till a woman came with her child and she felt hesitant in jumping into the fire and the child said to her: O mother, endure (this ordeal) for it is the Truth.” (Transmitted by Imam Ahmad, Imam Muslim and An-Nasa’i from the Hadith of Hammad Ibn Salamah).

Some scholars claimed that the incident of the ditch was repeated in the past more than once. Ibn Abu Hatim said: I was told by my father after Abul Yaman after Safwan Ibn `Abdur Rahman Ibn Jubair as saying: The incident of the ditch took place in Yemen during the lifetime of Tubba`. And, it took place in Constantinople during the lifetime of Constantine who set the fires in which he threw the Christians who were sticking to the religion of `Isa (Jesus—peace be upon him) (Islamic Monotheism). It also took place in Iraq, in the land of Babylon during the lifetime of Bikhtinassar, who erected an idol and ordered the people to prostrate themselves before it. Daniel, `Izrya and Mashayl refused and thereupon, he set a great fire and threw them into it. However, Allah Almighty saved them from the fire and caused the nine men who transgressed over them to fall into the fire they themselves had made.

As-Sadiy said: (Concerning) Allah’s Saying: {Cursed were the people of the Ditch}, there were three ditches: one in Al-Sham (Syria), another in Iraq, and the third in Yemen. (Narrated by Ibn Abu Hatim)

”][16]

(Their allies deceived them), like the Evil One, when he says to man, “Deny Allah”: but when (man) denies Allah, (the Evil One) says, “I am free of thee: I do fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!” [17] The end of both will be that they will go into the Fire, dwelling therein forever. Such is the reward of the wrong-doers. [18] O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) he has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. [19] And be ye not like those who forgot Allah, and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!

Al-Hashr [16-19]

One day, he was attracted to her and he committed fornication with her. She got pregnant and he killed her (to conceal his first crime). Her brothers came (after knowing the matter) and Satan appeared again to the monk and said: I am your friend, I did not find a solution or way to mislead you, but (finally) I set you up. So, obey me and I will save you from this. Prostrate yourself before me and you will be saved. The monk did so. Then, Satan said: {“I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!”}. (Al-Hashr 16) This is the interpretation of Allah’s Saying: {(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: “Disbelieve in Allah.” But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: “I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the `Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!” So the end of both will be that they will be in the Fire, abiding therein. Such is the recompense of the Zalimun (i.e. polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers in Allah and in His Oneness)}. (Al-Hashr 16-17)

[Barsisa the Worshiper]

”]In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

[1] Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the Companions of the Elephant? [2] Did He not make their treacherous plan go astray? [3] And He sent against them flights of Birds, [4] Striking them with stones of baked clay. [5] Then did He make them like an empty field of stalks and straw, (of which the corn) has been eaten up.

Al-Fil [1-5]

”] Hast thou not turned thy vision to the Chiefs of the Children of Israel after (the time of) Musa? They said to a Prophet (that was) among them: “Appoint for us a king, that we may fight in the cause of Allah.” He said: “Is it not possible, if ye were commanded to fight, that ye will not fight?” They said: “How could we refuse to fight in the cause of Allah, seeing that we were turned out of our homes and our families?” But when they were commanded to fight, they turned back, except a small band among them. But Allah has full knowledge of those who do wrong. ”] [247] Their Prophet said to them: “Allah hath appointed Talut as king over you.” They said: “How can he exercise authority over us when we are better fitted than he to exercise authority, and he is not even gifted, with wealth in abundance?” He said: “Allah hath chosen him above you, and hath gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily prowess: Allah granteth His authority to whom He pleaseth. Allah is All-Embracing, and He knoweth all things.” [248] And (further) their Prophet said to them: “A Sign of his authority is that there shall come to you the Ark of the Covenant, with (an assurance) therein of security from your Lord, and the relics left by the family of Musa and the family of Harun, carried by angels. In this is a Symbol for you if ye indeed have faith.”

”] [249] When Talut set forth with the armies, he said: “Allah will test you at the stream; if any drinks of its water, he goes not with my army; only those who taste not of it go with me; a mere sip out of the hand is excused.” But they all drank of it, except a few. With they crossed the river, he and the faithful ones with him, they said: “This day we cannot cope with Jalut and his forces.” But those who were convinced that they must meet Allah, said: “How oft, by Allah’s will, hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere.”

”] [250] When they advanced to meet Jalut and his forces, they prayed: “Our Lord! Pour out constancy on us and make our steps firm: help us against those that reject faith.” [251] By Allah’s will they routed them: and Dawud slew Jalut: and Allah gave him Power and Wisdom and taught him whatever (else) He willed. And did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief: but Allah is full of bounty to all the worlds.

”] [252] These are the Signs of Allah: We rehearse them to thee in truth: verily thou art one of the Messengers. [253] Those Messengers We endowed with gifts, some above others: to one of them Allah spoke; others He raised to degrees (of honour); to ‘Isa, the son of Maryam, We gave Clear (Signs), and strengthened him with the holy spirit. If Allah had so willed, succeeding generations would not have fought among each other, after Clear (Signs) had come to them but they (chose) to wrangle, some believing and others rejecting. If Allah had so willed, they would not have fought each other; but Allah fulfilleth His plan.

“][09]Or dost thou reflect that the Companions of the Cave and of the Inscription were wonders among Our Signs? [10] Behold, the youths betook themselves to the Cave: they said, “Our Lord! bestow on us mercy from Thyself, and dispose of our affair for us in the right way!” [11] Then We drew (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they heard not): [12] Then We roused them, in order to test which of the two parties was best at calculating the term of years they had tarried! [13] We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance:

”][14] We gave strength to their hearts: behold, they stood up and said: “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: never shall we call upon any god other than Him: if we did, we should indeed have uttered an enormity!” [15] “These our people have taken for worship gods other than Him: why do they not bring forward an authority clear (and convincing) for what they do? Who doth more wrong than such as invent a falsehood against Allah? [16] “When ye turn away from them and the things they worship other than Allah, betake yourselves to the Cave: your Lord will shower His mercies on you and dispose of your affair towards comfort and ease.”

”][17] Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: he whom Allah guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray; for him wilt thou find no protector to lead him to the Right Way. [18] Thou wouldst have deemed them awake, whilst they were asleep, and We turned them on their right and on their left sides: their dog stretching forth his two fore-legs on the threshold: if thou hadst come up on to them, thou wouldst have certainly turned back from them in flight, and wouldst certainly have been filled with terror of them.

”][19] Such (being their state), We raised them up (from sleep), that they might question each other. Said one of them, “How long have ye stayed (here)?” They said, “We have stayed (perhaps) a day, or part of a day.” (At length) they (all) said, “Allah (alone) knows best how long ye have stayed here. . . Now send ye then one of you with this money of yours to the town: let him find out which is the best food (to be had) and bring some to you, that (ye may) satisfy your hunger therewith: and let him behave with care and courtesy, and let him not inform any one about you. [20] “For if they should come upon you, they would stone you or force you to return to their cult, and in that case ye would never attain prosperity.”

”][21] Thus did We make their case known to the people, that they might know that the promise of Allah is true, and that there can be no doubt about the Hour of Judgment. Behold, they dispute among themselves as to their affair. (Some) said, “Construct a building over them”: their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, “Let us surely build a place of worship over them.” [22] (Some) say they were three, the dog being the fourth among them; (others) say they were five, the dog being the sixth, doubtfully guessing at the unknown; (yet others) say they were seven, the dog being the eighth. Say thou: “My Lord knoweth best their number; it is but few that know their (real case).” Enter not, therefore, into controversies concerning them, except on a matter that is clear, nor consult any of them about (the affair of) the Sleepers.

”][23] Nor say of anything, “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow”, [24] Without adding, “So please Allah!” and call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say, “I hope that my Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road.” [25] So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years, and (some) add nine (more). [26] Say: “Allah knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees, how finely He hears (everything)! they have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His Command with any person whatsoever.

Al-Kahfi [9-26]