002:260

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                    002:260

اَوۡ كَالَّذِىۡ مَرَّ عَلٰى قَرۡيَةٍ وَّ هِىَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلٰى عُرُوۡشِهَا ‌ۚ  قَالَ اَنّٰى يُحۡىٖ هٰذِهِ اللّٰهُ بَعۡدَ مَوۡتِهَا ‌ۚ  فَاَمَاتَهُ اللّٰهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهٗ ‌ؕ  قَالَ كَمۡ لَبِثۡتَ‌ؕ قَالَ لَبِثۡتُ يَوۡمًا اَوۡ بَعۡضَ يَوۡمٍ‌ؕ  قَالَ بَلۡ لَّبِثۡتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانۡظُرۡ اِلٰى طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمۡ يَتَسَنَّهۡ‌ۚ  وَانْظُرۡ اِلٰى حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجۡعَلَكَ اٰيَةً  لِّلنَّاسِ‌ وَانْظُرۡ اِلَى الۡعِظَامِ كَيۡفَ نُـنۡشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكۡسُوۡهَا لَحۡمًا ‌ؕ  فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهٗ ۙ  قَالَ اَعۡلَمُ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡر

Auo-kul-la-zee-mur-ra-alaa-qur-ya-tin                                                                                       Wa-hay-ya-khaa-way-ya-toon-alaa-o-roo-shay-haa

Qaa-la-un-naa-yoh-yee-haa-zay                                                                                                      Hil-laa-ho-bau-da-mao-tay-haa

Fa-aa-maa-ta-hool-laa-ho-may-aa-ta-aa-min                                                                       Thoom-ma-ba-aa-tha-hoo.

Qaa-la-cum-la-bith-ta.                                                                                                                       Qaa-la-la-bith-to-yao-mun-auo-bau-dza-yao-min.                                                                 Qaa-la-bul-la-bith-ta-may-aa-ta-aa-min.

Fun-zoor-elaa-ta-aa-may-ka-wa-sha-raa-bay-ka-lum-ya-ta-sun-nah                                Wun-zoor-elaa-hay-maa-ray-ka-wa-lay-nuj-aa-la-ka-aa-ya-tun-lin-naa-say                Wun-zoor-elul-ezaa-may-kai-fa-noon-shay-zo-haa                                                                   Thoom-ma-nuk-soo-haa-luh-mun.

 Fa-lum-maa-ta-buy-yun-na-la-hoo-qaa-la-au-la-mo                                                                Un-nul-laa-ha-alaa-kool-lay-sai-in-qa-dee-r.

Or like he who passed by a village                                                                                        And it had fallen on its roofs.

He remarked, ‘How Allah gives (= can or will give) life                                               To this (village) after its death!’

So, Allah caused his death for a hundred years.                                                               Then He resurrected him.

He (Allah) asked him, “How long did you stay (that way)?”                                       He (the man) replied, “I stayed (that way) a day or a part of a day.”                  He (Allah) said, “Nay. You stayed (that way) for a hundred years.

So, look at your food and drink; it’s not spoiled.                                                            And look at your donkey, and so that We make you a sign for the people              And look at the bones how We revive them                                                                 Then We put flesh on them.” 

Thus when it became clear to him he said,                                                                          “I admit that Allah is in full control of everything.”

• اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively; another example; consider; think about)
• كَ — Ka…(ul) — Like (= Identical; resembling; similar to the one stated in prior verse to. Take the example or similitude of)
• ٱلَّذِي — La-zee — He who   *      (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to a passer-by.  Some translators have said that the man referred to was ‘Ezekiel’)
• مَرَّ — Mur-ra — Passed by (= Happened to come across; traveled by; traversed; went by)
• عَلٰى — A-laa — By (= To; in the direction of; on; upon; to; towards)
• قَرۡيَةٍ — Qur-ya-tin — Village   *      (= City; colony; hamlet; habitat; population center; town; township. Where Man had lived, prospered or resided.  Some translators have said that the town referred to was ‘Jerusalem’)
• وَّ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
• هِىَ — Hay-ya — It (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid village, قَرۡيَةٍ )
• خَاوِيَةٌ — Kha-vay-ya-toon — Fallen  *  (= Buckled; crashed; crumbled; desolate; destroyed; in an  utter ruin; ruined; tumbled. Some translators have said that the town was ruined by Nebuchadnezzar’)
• عَلَى — Alaa — On (= Above; for; over; upon)
• عُرُوۡشِ — O-roo-shay — Roofs (= pl., The Top. Ceilings. The phrase refers to something rendered topsy-turvy or is in ‘utter ruin’)
• هَا — Haa — Its (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid village, قَرۡيَةٍ )
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He remarked (= Announced; declared; exclaimed; said; stated; told)
• اَنّٰى — Un-naa — How (= How can, could or would; I wish; wonder if. A/t/a when
• يُحۡىِ — Yoh-yee — Gives life (= v., pres., 3^rd person. Brings, creates; enlivens; ordains;   quickens to life; preserve alive; raises or restores to life to those considered dead; revive.  A/t/a, ‘Fertilizes the earth’ and ‘gave life to Jesus by saving him from death on cross by crucifixion’)
• هٰذِهِ — Haa-zay-hay(il) — This (= Pointing to something right there to look at. Here it refers to the aforesaid town or village)
• اللّٰهُ — Alla-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• بَعۡدَ — Bau-da — After (= Subsequent to)
• مَوۡتِ — Mao-tay — Death (= n., After life has ended; downfall; end of life on earth; extinction; stupor. Total desolateness, demolition, destruction or ruin)
• هَا — Haa — Its (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid village, قَرۡيَةٍ )
• فَ — Fa — So (= Consequently; since; then; thus; thereafter; therefore)
• اَمَاتَ — Aa-maa-ta — Caused death (= v., Brought about on him the desolateness, demolition, destruction or ruin. Some translations hold this was an actual physical death where God Almighty retrieved man’s soul to Himself. Others extrapolate this as a mere induction of a feeling, thought or physical condition of apparition, dream, idea, mental picture, stupor, trance, vision or visualization of Death)
• هٗ — Hoo…(l) — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• اللّٰهُ — Laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• مِائَةَ — May-aa-ta — A hundred (= Cardinal number equal to the sum of 99 + 1)
• عَامٍ — Aa-min — Years (= Periods consisting of twelve months or 365 days)
• ثُمَّ –Thoom-ma — Then (= After that; later on; subsequent to that)
• بَعَث — Ba-a-tha — Resurrected (= v., 1. Brought back; raised again; restored; reverted; revived. 2. Appointed; established; set up)
• هٗ — Hoo — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — Asked (= Interrogated; queried; questioned; sought an answer or  information; stated; told)
• كَمۡ — Cum — How long (= Asking about number of times, events or occurrences)
• لَبِثۡتَ‌ — La-bith-ta — You stayed (= v., past. Lingered; stayed in a stupor; remained; tarried. The limbo between life and death in which one stays or tarries temporarily)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He replied (= Answered; announced; declared; informed, said; stated; told)
• لَبِثۡتُ — La-bith-to — I stayed (= v., past. Lingered; stayed in a stupor. See لَبِثۡتَ‌  above)
• يَوۡمًا — Yao-mun — A day (= Period of time consisting of twenty for hours)
• اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively)
• بَعۡضَ — Bau-dza — Part of (= A few; fraction; portion; some)
• يَوۡمٍ‌ — Yao-min — A day (= Period of time consisting of twenty for hours)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= Announced; declared; informed; specified; stated; told)
• بَلۡ — Bul — The fact is (= Instead; nay; really; the fact is truthfully)
• لَبِثۡتَ‌ — La-bith-ta — You stayed (= v., past. Lingered; stayed in a stupor. See لَبِثۡتَ‌  above)
• مِائَةَ — May-aa-ta — One hundred (= Cardinal number equal to the sum of 99 + 1)
• عَامٍ — Aa-min — Years (= Periods consisting of twelve months or 365 days)
• فَ — Fa..(un) — Then (= Consequently; so; thus; thereafter; therefore)
• انْظُرۡ — Un-zoor — You look (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Check out; find; get to view; look at; look out; observe; see; take notice; understand; view; watch for)
• إِلَى — Elaa — At (= In the direction of; to; towards)
• طَعَامِ — Ta-aa-may — Food (= Eatables)
• كَ — Ka — Your (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• شَرَابِ — Sha-raa-bay — Drink (= Drinkable like the water)
• كَ — Ka — Your (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• لَمۡ — Lum — Not (= Does not, did not or would not)
• يَتَسَنَّهۡ‌ۚ — Ya-ta-sun-nah — Spoiled (= Most translations have correctly described that the food had escaped and NOT changed for worse, rotted, damaged, deteriorated, spoiled or affected by the time. ‘Years have not passed over it’ (food) – Mohammad Ali. But some have stated exactly the opposite meanings that it ‘had not survived in its original eatable state’)
• وَ — Wa…(un) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• انْظُرۡ — Un-zoor — You look (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Check out; find. See انْظُرۡ above)
• إِلَى — Elaa — At (= In the direction of; to; towards)
• حِمَارِ — Hay-maa-ray  — Donkey (= Ass; animal in the group of horse and pony but much  smaller and shorter than them and used by people for riding on or transporting goods)
• كَ — Ka — Your (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• لِ — Lay — So that (= For; for the purpose of; with intent to; with the object of
• نَجۡعَل — Nuj-aa-la — We make (= Convert; set up; turn)
• كَ — Ka — You (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• اٰيَةً — Aa-ya-tun..(l) — Sign (= s., 1. Manifestation; message; narrative; revelation; verse. 2. Command; direction; evidence; law; order.  3.  Corroboration; indication; lesson; portent; proof; pointer; symbol; token. 4. Every element to create the crystal clear picture leading to an absolute conviction.  5. Argument, part or portion that highlights or points to something
• لِّ — L…(in) — For (= For the purpose of; with intent to; with the object of)
• ٱلنَّاسِ — Naa-say — People (= Mankind; men and women)
• وَ — Wa…(un) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• انْظُرۡ — Un-zoor — You look (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Check out; find. See انْظُرۡ above)
• إِلَى — Ela … (ul) — At (= In the direction of; to; towards)
• الۡعِظَامِ — Ezaa-may — The bones (= Bare bones from which all flesh has disappeared)
• كَيۡفَ — Kai-fa — How (= Drawing attention)
• نُـنۡشِزُ — Noon-shay-zo — We revive (= v., Quicken back to life; raise; restore. A/t/a, Adjust or set up)
• هَا — Haa — Them (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid category or collection of crumbled bones)
• ثُمَّ — Thoom-ma — Then (= After that; later on)
• نَكۡسُوۡ — Nuk-soo — We put on (= v., Clothe; cover; clothe; dress up; grow; pad up)
• هَا — Haa — Them (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid category or collection of crumbled bones)
• لَحۡمًا — Luh-mun — Flesh (= Meat; muscle; non-bony part or soft tissue of animals)
• فَ — Fa — Thus (= Consequently; so; then; thereafter; therefore; yet)
•  لَمَّا — Lum-ma — When (= At a time; under a given situation)
• تَبَيَّنَ — Ta-buy-yun-na — Became clear (= Apparent; evident; manifest; obvious; plain; nakedly visible; totally discernible )
• لَ — La — To (= For; owned by; reserved for)
• هٗ — Hoo — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — Said (= Admitted; announced; confessed; declared; informed; stated; told)
• اَعۡلَمُ — Au-la-mo — I admit (= Acknowledge; am aware, informed and know well)
• اَنَّ — Un-na.(ul) — Indeed (= Absolutely; certainly; definitely; positively; surely;    truly; verily)

The Holy Qor-aan has frequently stated the truth in the next five words. See Note 002:021

• ٱللَّهَ — Laa-ha — Allah is (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• عَلَى — Alaa —  Of / on (= Above; for; of; on; over; upon)
• كُلِّ — Kool-lay — Every (= All things without exception; entirely; totally; wholly)
• شَىۡءٍ — Shai-in — Thing (= Article; being; element; item; phenomenon)
• قَدِيۡرٌ  — Qa-dee-r — In full control (= superlative form that includes the meanings of ‘fullness and totality of control.‘  Controller.  Has the absolute power to do what He wills.  Master and possessor of all powers)

* Note 002:260. The word اَ مَا تَ [a derivative from the root    م    و   ت    ] has been translated in many ways.

Literally it means that Allah caused, commanded, induced, ordained or spelled over the questioner his death or destruction. That led some translators to say that it was the physical death which Allah imposed on him and made him to die or caused him to die.

Rationally it means that Allah brought or induced on him the feeling, thought or physical condition of apparition, dream, idea, mental picture, stupor, trance, vision or visualization of Death.  M Zafarullah Khan described it as Allah ’caused him to sleep and to dream that he had died and risen after a hundred years’ during which he had ‘witnessed developments’)

The translator AR Omar quoted his father Allama Nooruddin that the man was ‘Ezekiel’ and the town ‘Jerusalem’ ‘left in desolation by Nebuchadnezzar.’ And most of the verse has been portrayed as a vision in which “We have made you visualize all this.”

            Applying one verse to a prior event is just an illustration of the divine Rule of Universal Application. The rule covers untold number of episodes that have occurred in the past and will keep on recurring — again and again in the future of the mankind. This two-part is as follows.

            Part 1 is that even apostles, sages and saints will face times of pain or doubt and wonder if God Almighty would really reverse what all others construe as the normal course of events.

Part 2 is that He shows a crystal clear reversal of the ordinarily expected course of events by means of extraordinary miraculous happenings. One example is restoring life to the dead.