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Uzair (AS) “Ezra” – Part 2:

 

"Or like the one who passed by a town while it had tumbled over its roofs. He said: "Oh! How will Allâh ever bring it to life after its death?" So Allâh caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: "How long did you remain (dead)?" He (the man) said: "(Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day". He said: "Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they show no change; 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". When this was clearly shown to him, he said, "I know (now) that Allâh is Able to do all things." (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:259)[1].

 

What does Allah (SWT) want to convey to us throughout this story? He wants us to increase our trust in Him and in His ability. He is the Eternal Owner of Sovereignty; why then should we be afraid or concerned about our sustenance, children or life?

We should notice a very important concept; the Qur’an’s aim is not just to narrate stories.  The goal is much bigger than this; it is to awaken our hearts so that we may put our ultimate trust in Allah (SWT).  We should surrender to His will and  accept satisfactorily  all what He does to us.

 

‘Uzair (AS) rode his donkey one day to a town; all the aforementioned miracles happened in one day. It was for this reason that these three Ayahs were mentioned successively in Surat Al-Baqara to emphasize that life and death are, only, in the hands of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) implants this meaning in our hearts.

 

In Surat Al-Baqara, Allah says what can be translated as, " Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrâhîm (Abraham) about his Lord (Allâh), because Allâh had given him the kingdom? When Ibrâhîm (Abraham) said (to him): "My Lord (Allâh) is He Who gives life and causes death."  (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:258 ).  In another Ayah, Ibrahim wants to inform his people about Allah (SWT), "Who has created me, and it is He Who guides me. And it is He Who feeds me and gives me to drink.  And when I am ill, it is He who cures me. And Who will cause me to die, and then will bring me to life (again)." (TMQ Surat Al Shu'ra':78-81).  He was certain that his soul was not his own property; rather, his life and death were in the hands of Allah  (TWT)[2].

 

Accordingly, we have to please Allah (SWT) until we see the truth of certainty, which is Day of Judgment. Since our life and death are both in Allah's (SWT) hand, we must never fear from this life and we must never allow our lusts to dominate us. The Islamic theory, as a matter of fact, is based on knowing that life and death are in the hands of Allah (SWT) and consequently, we should surrender to His will.

 

In a separate incident with Ibrahim (AS), in Surat Al-Baqara, Allah (SWT)says what can be translated as, "My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead.  He (Allâh) said: "Do you not believe?" He [Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] said: "Yes (I believe), but to be stronger in Faith." (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:260).  In the same Ayah, Allah (SWT) then gives Ibrahim (AS) a similar example of ‘Uzair's (AS) donkey, but in a different manner. He said, what can be translated as, "Take four birds, then cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces), and then put a portion of them on every hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste. And know that Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise." (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:260)., which means that Allah (SWT) asked him to first take four birds and "cause them to incline towards you", or, to label them by putting a sign on each so as to easily recognize them later on. Secondly, he was told to slaughter them and was then asked to mix the parts (the blood, flesh, bones and feathers). Finally, he was told to put parts of the birds after being mixed on each mountain while the heads of the birds remained with him. He was then told to call them.

 

Ibrahim (AS) saw in the sky, in front of his own eyes, feathers, flesh and bones flying towards him. They gathered and formed the bodies of the birds just as they were before. Then, every bird came to Ibrahim (AS), gathered its head, and began flying away. How Glorious is Allah!

 

In fact, if we look at the issue of giving life and causing death in the life of the prophets in general we will see many wonders.  For example, Adam (AS), as mentioned in a Good and  authentic Hadith narrated by  Abi Musa Al-Asha’ri[3], was created from a handful of earth's dust. The dust was then mixed with water to become mud. When dried, the mud became a sticky substance. Allah (SWT) then formed it as a statue, just as we do with clay. The “statue” form was left for a certain period of time until its color changed to become clay of sharpened mud (like in pottery).  Allah (SWT) then made a cavity in the mud form, which became the mouth; it made a sound like pottery when it was knocked.  This was the beginning of Adam (AS) and it was mentioned that the angels and Satan - Iblis  used to move inside the statue. Iblis used to look at him and say, "You have been created for a great matter ( purpose) ".  When Allah (SWT) blew into this statue from His Own Soul it became a human being.  May He be Glorified who made out of pottery a human who can move and walk. 

 

Let's move to how Hawaa' ("Eve") was created. She was created from Adam's (AS) rib (the left rib above the heart), which is a crooked structure that serves as a protection of the heart. This crookedness is symbolic to a woman's passion, without which families may never be stable. Orientalists use this Hadith to claim that Islam devaluate women. Our Prophet Muhammad  (PBUH), however, during the last moments of his life, recommended  the fair treatment of women.  He (PBUH) said, "Treat women nicely, for a woman is created from a rib, and the most curved portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if you should try to straighten it, it will break, but if you leave it as it is, it will remain crooked. So treat women nicely."[4]

 

Allah (SWT) created Isa (AS) "Jesus" with a mother and no father with a blow inside Maryam (AS) ("Mary".)

 

Therefore, we notice Allah's (SWT) absolute ability in His creations and evident miracles. His creations came in four patterns:

a)      A kind from neither a male nor a female - Adam (AS).

b)      A kind from a male only – Hawaa' .

c)      A kind from a female only - Isa (AS).

d)      A kind from both a male and a female – all mankind.

 

Thus, we must never forget that our creation is also one of Allah's (SWT) miracles. We overlook this as we see generations after generations coming out of marriage and reproduction; this, in itself, is one of Allah's miracles in creation.

 

There is another issue concerning giving life that we have also overlooked.  In another Good Hadith  it was mentioned that “ When Allah (TWT) created Adam (AS), He wiped his back which means that He gives life and causes death according to His Own Will), so that, until The Day of Judgment, Adam's progeny will continue to reproduce and grow”.[5]  The contents of this Hadith is emphasized in the Qur'an, where Allah says what can be translated as, "And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam’s loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this." (TMQ Surat Al-A'raf:172).

 

Allah (SWT) has made all of Adam’s offspring (until the Day of Judgment) alive for an extended period, far before the normal timing of their life, so that they may take their Shahada "declaration of faith". This was, in fact, our first meeting with Allah (SWT) when He created Adam (AS) and this Shahada is the instinct inside each one of us that attracts us towards Allah and causes us to express grief with ourselves whenever we disobey Him or become lazy in performing worship.  Thus, we must observe how Allah (TWT) created this universe and to His ingenuity in arranging the issue of giving life and causing death! 

 

Let's refer back to ‘Uzair (AS) and how Allah told him,"… And thus We have made you a sign for the people"(TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:259 ), Allah (SWT) ordered him to ride his donkey to a certain town for Da'wa "missionary activity".  It came to happen that after he had arrived, he died.  After 100 years, a miracle took place in the same town; Allah brought him back to life as a man of 40 years of age, just as he was the day he arrived to that town when he died. How then would he meet his sons and grandsons? Surely, they became older than him, even those who were his contemporaries! Some had died while others were still alive.

 

When ‘Uzair (AS) reached the center of the town, he saw its livelihood. He passed by people and asked them, "Have you ever heard of a man called ‘Uzair (AS)?” They answered," He was a good man who lived in a near town and died 100 years ago".  He said," I am Uzair". They denied him and accused him of lying.  Finally, they recalled that there was a woman who had been living during ‘Uzair's (AS) time and who knew him quite well. The woman was still alive, yet, she was blind. They realized that they could ask her to describe him, so they said" This woman knows ‘Uzair (AS). Let us bring her here so that she may describe you (‘Uzair) (AS) to us. If you are as she describes, then we will believe you".

 

The woman began to describe him and the people found ‘Uzair (AS) to have the same features as she related. Nevertheless, they said, "We need more proof". They said: " ‘Uzair (AS) had memorized Al -Tawrah (Torah) completely; if you are indeed ‘Uzair(AS), recite it, for it had been completely burnt by Bukhtu Nassar (Nebuchandnezzer) all but one copy, kept in heart by ‘Uzair(AS), remained. If you are he himself, recite Al -Tawrah for us."

 

‘Uzair (AS) began to recite it and started the Da’wa role  for which he had come to that town 100 years ago. The people began to be guided and cry as they were deeply affected by the magnificence of what they heard. Hence, Allah (SWT) fulfilled what He commanded “Uzair (AS) to do, which was the Da'wa, and the people turned into believers with the help of ‘Uzair (AS).

 

How Glorious Allah (SWT) is, Who dominates the whole universe! The purpose of this story is to increase our trust in Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) mentions this at the end of the Ayah, what can be translated as, " When this was clearly shown to him, he said, "I know (now) that Allâh is Able to do all things." (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:259). Everything is in the hands of Allah (SWT); if you are oppressed, and  you've been committing sins for a long time, pray to Him sincerely to remove such sins from your heart. Be certain that this will be realized in a moment. This teaches us to seek Allah's (SWT) help in all our life aspects, as He is The Most Able.

 

It is worth mentioning that the word "Look" is repeated several times in this Ayah. Allah (SWT) wants us to look at everything around us to witness His ability and dominance. In addition, the word "Know" is also repeated. The goal behind this is great; namely, it is mentioned to ascertain the certainty in His knowledge and absolute ability

 

Accordingly, we can conclude the following four benefits from this story : 

                                                                  

1.   Allah (SWT) withholds and expands time the same way as He does with sustenance and souls.

 

2.   The issue of life and death takes place everyday, since, in Islam, sleeping is just like death. The soul leaves the body every night, but in a different way than what happens in the case of death. We feel the moment of death, but Allah (SWT) takes the souls away everyday during sleep; we cannot feel this. " It is He Who takes your souls by night (when you are asleep), and has knowledge of all that you have done by day…" (TMQ Surat Al-An'am: 60).

 

Let’s look at the Prophet's (PBUH) Dua’a “supplication’ before going to sleep, " By the name of Allah, I lie down to sleep and by His name, I get up. If You withhold my soul, have mercy upon it and if You send it back, protect it with what You protect Your good slaves".[6] Therefore, the great miracle that happened to Uzair (AS) is actually happening everyday to all of us; we simply don’t pay attention to this matter.

 

We have to, accordingly, implant this belief in our hearts. We must never sleep after committing a sin before repenting and asking for Allah's forgiveness, as we might, Allah forbid, die on that.

 

Let's look also at the Prophet's Dua’a after waking up, "Thank Allah for bringing life to me after death and we all will go back to Him"[7].  Life can never go on without sleeping every night because the soul has to ascend every day to Allah (SWT). Look at this Ayah where Allah (SWT) says, what can be translated as, " It is Allâh Who takes away the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed..." (TMQ Surat Az-Zumar: 42). 

 

All this proves that Allah (SWT) bestows life everyday. We must be aware of His forbearing and patience, despite our sins, since death is repeated daily in our life during sleep. Our souls do not belong to us, but to Allah (SWT) alone.

 

3.   The importance of Da'wa to Allah (SWT).  Why don’t we all carry out the Da’wa to Allah (SWT); If we  succeed to help someone to follow the right path, we will get rewarded for all that person's good deeds and also the good deeds of all those who will follow the right path through him.

 

4.   We must know that Allah (SWT) is The Most Able, exactly as ‘Uzair (AS) said, "…Oh! How will Allâh ever bring it to life after its death?" (TMQ Surat Al-Baqara:259)  Nowadays, we are in a critical position due to the spread of corruption in the West in addition to profligacy, which they call "freedom". The population of the whole world  now is six billion  human beings out of which only one and quarter billion are monotheists.  We must ask ourselves, "What is the difference between our world and the town which ‘Uzair (AS) was sent to?” The latter was destroyed and lifeless, while the former is morally, spiritually and religiously destroyed. How many people regularly pray the Fajr (Dawn), Qiyam (night prayer) or example?   Hence, the story of ‘Uzair (AS) assures us to put our absolute trust in Allah (SWT) because He will definitely bring back the true religion to our world just as He brought back life to the town of ‘Uzair; it is simply a matter of time.

 

Allah (SWT) brings life to the Earth after its death, revives the hearts of  people and even  resurrects civilizations. Bringing life to the dead may take a day and a night, while it takes a longer time to revive a nation. Allah (SWT) showed ‘Uzair (AS) His ability to bring life back to his donkey within seconds, but when ‘Uzair (AS) asked to see how Allah can bring life back to the whole town, He let him die for 100 years. Why? It is not, of course, because He (SWT) is unable to do such a task; on the contrary, “Verily, His command when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it ”Be!” and it is” (TMQ Surat Ya-Seen:82). However, there are rules, which Allah (SWT) has set for this universe, one of which is, "… Verily! Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh…)"(TMQ Surat Ar-Ra'd:11).          

Advancement and prosperity come gradually. Allah (SWT) created the earth in six days. This is His law that has been set since the first moment of creation. To change a nation this should come step by step, through exertion of efforts to reform the people; it may take 100 years. Whereas giving life and causing death may come in a moment (as it happens everyday during sleeping).  Therefore, when ‘Uzair (AS) asked to see the process of bringing back of life to the town, it did not happen as he expected; the matter needed a universal Law, unlike the issue of giving life and causing death, which happened in few seconds.

 

One hundred years is, thus, the sufficient time span for changing a civilization. Here, we can note a correlation between this and the numbers that have been mentioned in the Qur'an: In Musa's (AS)"Moses" story with his people, when they refused to enter the sacred land, Allah (SWT) punished them by causing them to wander through the land for 40 years. A question may be raised here: "Why is it 40 years in Musa's story and 100 years in ‘Uzair's ? Simply, to change a generation it takes 40 years, but to establish a civilization may take 100 years. Another proof may be found within the falling of Islam. It took 100 years for Islam to fall, from the eighteenth century until the nineteenth century; the curve declined gradually until Islam completely fell down. The European civilization, in the same time, took 100 years to be established; as its curve was rising, while that of Islam was declining.

 

These are Allah's (SWT) laws in His universe. Muslims has slackened that is why their curve went down gradually. Revival of  the nation, which is the main target of ‘Uzair’s (AS) story , shall take 100 years, while raising a new generation shall take 40 years. We have to be optimistic that the sun of Islam is about to rise once again since the European curve is beginning to decline, while there is indeed a feeling of religious, serious and moral awakening spreading among Muslims, which shall redirect that curve to go up again.

 

However, reviving Islam will not come overnight and what is important is not for us to see it, but for our children, our future generations, to see the Islamic sunrise once again. This will take efforts in all what can be for the benefit of this nation and until the moment of meeting Allah (SWT) comes, so that we can tell Him that we have worked and did our best for Islam’s triumph. The examples throughout history are many: The first martyr in Islam was Sumaya, who had died even before Islam was gained its victory.  Hamza also died in the battle of Uhud at the peek of the Muslims' defeat.

 

Allah (SWT) is not going to ask them why Islam wasn’t triumphant during their lifetime.  Instead the question is going to be, " Did you do any thing to help Islam to be victorious?” Will it be enough to tell Him (SWT), when we will be asked the same question, that we were praying and worshiping Him regularly?

 

There is a beautiful Ayah in the Qur’an in which Allah combines between both the reviving of hearts and the bringing back of life to land. Allah (SWT) says, what can be translated as, "Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) to be affected by Allâh’s Reminder (this Qur’ân), and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] before (i.e. Jews and Christians), and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were Fâsiqûn (the rebellious, the disobedient to Allâh)", (TMQ SuratAl-Hadid:16).  Allah then says just in the following Ayah, "Know that Allâh gives life to the earth after its death!"(TMQ Surat Al-Hadid:17).

 

This shows that there is a common relation between the two Ayahs: The One Who brings life to the land is the same Who revives hearts, souls and nations. Thus, we came to know the meaning of the two names of Allah (SWT), The Giver of Life and The Giver of Death.

 

At the end of this story, when ‘Uzair (AS) died, the Jews, due to their disbelief, said that he was the son of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) said, what can be translated as, "And the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allâh. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. Allâh’s Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!"(TMQ Surat At-Taubah:30).    They are deluded away from the truth because they do not differentiate between truth and falsehood.

    

Sheikh Al-Sha'rawy, Allah’s (SWT) mercy be upon him, has some very beautiful comments on the Jews’ claim that ‘Uzair (AS) is the son of Allah(SWT). He says: " What angers Allah (SWT) the most is their claim because it mistakenly, concerns His Majesty and Glory.

A man desires a son, usually, for one of four reasons:

1)      To immortalize his memory after his death, while Allah (TWT) is The Ever-Living and He never dies.

2)      To support and help him when he  gets old, while Allah (SWT) is The Most Strong and He never gets weak.

3)      To bequeath his son his kingdom, while Allah (SWT) is The Ultimate Inheritor Who inherits the whole earth and all those who are living on it.

4)      To boast about his son, while Allah (SWT) is The Mighty and we are the weak humans who need Him and resort to Him. 

 

Allah (SWT) doesn't need any of the reasons mentioned above. Thus, when they say He has a son, it is like accusing His Majesty and Glory (AW)[8] and this angers Allah (SWT) the most. He said in the Qur'an, what can be translated as,  "And they say: "The Most Gracious (Allâh) has begotten a son (or offspring or children) [as the Jews say: ‘Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say that He has begotten a son [‘خsâ (Jesus)], and the pagan Arabs say that He has begotten daughters (angels and others.)]. Indeed you have brought forth (said) a terrible evil thing. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins, That they ascribe a son (or offspring or children) to the Most Gracious (Allâh). But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Gracious (Allâh) that He should beget a son (or offspring or children). There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Gracious (Allâh) as a slave. Verily He knows each one of them, and has counted them a full counting. And everyone of them will come to Him alone on the Day of Resurrection (without any helper, or protector or defender)." (TMQ Maryam:88-95).

 

Finally, my advice to you at the end of this story is that everyone of us should be keen not to sleep after committing a sin without repenting. and if you angered someone, you should apologize and ask for his/her forgiveness. And last but not least, never forget Al- Da'wa to Allah (SWT). 

 

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