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  ka  ul-la-ze  maur-ra  aa-laa  qaur-ya-tin                                                                              Wa   hay-ya  khaa-way-ya-toon  ala-aa  o-roo-shay  haa

Qaa-la  aun-naa  yoh-yee  haa-zay-hay                                                                                            Il-laa-ho  bau-da  mao-tay  haa

Fa  aa-maa-ta  ho  ol-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-maun  auo  bau-dza  yao-min                                                               Qaa-la  baul  la-bith-ta  may-aa-ta  aa-min

Fa  un-zoor  aiy-laa  ta-aa-may  ka                                                                                                Wa  sha-raa-bay  ka  laum  ya-ta-saun-nah                                                                                    Wa  un-zoor  aiy-laa  hay-maa-ray  ka                                                                                            Wa  lay  nauj-aa-la  ka  aa-ya-taun  lay  in-naa-say                                                                    Wa  un-zoor  aiy-la  ul-aiy-zaa-may                                                                                                Kai-fa  noon-shay-zo  haa                                                                                                                  Thoom-ma  nauk-soo  haa  lauh-maa

Fa  laum-maa  ta-buy-yaun-na  la  hoo                                                                                              Qaa-la  au-la-mo   aun-na                                                                                                                  Aul-laa-ha  aa-laa  kool-lay  shai-in  qa-dee-r

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

He said, “How can Allah revive                                                                                              This village after its death?”

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

He (Allah) said, “How long did you stay that way?”                                                    He (the man) said, “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 toward your food                                                                                                          And drink. They are not spoiled.                                                                                            And look towards your donkey                                                                                                And We will make you a sign for the people.                                                                    And look towards the bones                                                                                                  How We revive them                                                                                                                  Then We cover them with flesh.” 

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 — Aul-la-ze — 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 — Maur-ra — Passed (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Happened to come across. Traveled, traversed, walked or went by)
• عَلٰى — A-laa — By (= To; in the direction of; on; over; upon; to; towards)
• قَرۡيَةٍ — Qur-ya-tin — Village (= n., 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., It 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 — Khaa-way-ya-toon — Fallen (= n., 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 — Tops (= n., pl., Ceilings. Roofs. Tops. The phrase consisting of this and the two prior words refers to something rendered topsy-turvy as in a state of ‘utter ruin’)
• هَا — Haa — Its (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid village,  قَرۡيَةٍ )
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Openly announced, declared, exclaimed; remarked; said, stated or told. Or Secretly considered, remarked or thought. See Commentary ‘You Say’ means ….”)
• اَنّٰى — Un-naa — How (= How can, could or would; I wish; wonder if. A/t/a when
• يُحۡىِ — Yoh-yee — Revive (= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Brings, creates, gives, ordains, quickens or restores life. Preserve life. Raise again the dead. enlivens 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 — Al-laa-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., pres., s., 3^rd person. 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 — Ho … (ol) — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• اللّٰهُ — Al-laa-ho — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
• مِائَةَ — May-aa-ta — A hundred (= n., Cardinal number equal to the sum of 99 + 1)
• عَامٍ — Aa-min — Years (= n., Periods consisting of twelve months or 365 days)
• ثُمَّ — Thoom-ma — Then (= After that; later on; subsequent to that)
• بَعَث — Ba-aa-tha — Resurrected (= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Appointed; brought back; raised again, restored, reverted, revived, established; set up)
• هٗ — Hoo — Him (= pro., s., m., 3^rd person. Refers to aforesaid passer-by)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — Said (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Asked; interrogated; probed; queried; questioned; sought an answer or information; stated; told. See  قَالَ  above)
• كَمۡ — Cum — How long (= Asking about number of times, events or occurrences)
• لَبِثۡتَ‌ — La-bith-ta — You stayed (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Lingered; stayed in a stupor; remained; tarried. You stayed in the limbo between life and death in which one lives temporarily)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Answered; announced; declared; informed, replied. See  قَالَ  above)
• لَبِثۡتُ — La-bith-to — I stayed (= v., past., s.,  1^st person. Lingered; stayed in a stupor. See لَبِثۡتَ‌  above)
• يَوۡمًا — Yao-mun — A day (= n., s., Time. The twenty-four hours period)
• اَوۡ — Auo — Or (= Alternatively)
• بَعۡضَ — Bau-dza — Part of (= A few; fraction; portion; some)
• يَوۡمٍ‌ — Yao-min — A day (= n., s., Twenty-four hours. See  يَوۡمًا  above)
• قَالَ — Qaa-la — He said (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Informed. See  قَالَ  above)
• بَلۡ — Baul — The fact is (= Instead; nay; really; the fact is truthfully)
• لَبِثۡتَ‌ — La-bith-ta — You stayed (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Lingered.  See لَبِثۡتَ‌  above)
• مِائَةَ — May-aa-ta — One hundred (= Cardinal number equal to the sum of 99 + 1)
• عَامٍ — Aa-min — Year (= n., s., A period of twelve months or 365 days)
• فَ — Fa … (un) — Then (= Consequently; so; thus; thereafter; therefore)
• انْظُرۡ — Aun-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 — Aiy-laa — Towards (= In the direction of; to; towards. Also, at)
• طَعَامِ — Ta-aa-may — Food (= n., Eatables)
• كَ — Ka — Your (= pro., s., m., 2nd person. Refers to the aforesaid person)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., It links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• شَرَابِ — Sha-raa-bay — Drink (= n., Drinkable like the water)
• كَ — Ka — Your (= pro., s., m., 2^nd person. Refers to the aforesaid person)
• لَمۡ — Laum — Not (= Does not, did not or would not)
• يَتَسَنَّهۡ‌ۚ — Ya-ta-saun-nah — Spoiled(= v., pres., s., 3^rd person. Many translations correctly described that the food had escaped and NOT changed for worse, rotted, damaged, deteriorated, spoiled or affected by the passage of time. A/t/a, ‘Years have not       passed over it’ (food)’ contradicted by ‘had not survived in its original eatable state’)
• وَ — Wa … (un) — And (= Conj., It links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• انْظُرۡ — Aaun-zoor — You look (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Check out; find. See انْظُرۡ above)
• إِلَى — Aiy-laa — Towards (= In the direction of; to; towards. Also, at)
• 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., 2^nd person. Refers to the aforesaid person)
• وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., It 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 — Nauj-aul — We make (= v., pres., pl., 1^st person. Appoint; convert; establish; install; make; set up; turn)
• كَ — Ka — You (= pro., s., m., 2^nd person. Refers to the aforesaid person)
• اٰيَةً — Aa-ya-taun … (il) — 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 — Lay … (in) — For (= For the purpose of; with intent to; with the object of)
• ٱلنَّاسِ — Naa-say — People (= Mankind; men and women)
• وَ — Wa … (aun) — And (= Conj., It links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
• انْظُرۡ — Aun-zoor — You look (= v., pres., s., 2^nd person. Check out; find. See انْظُرۡ above)
• إِلَى — Aiy-laa … (ul) — Towards (= In the direction of; to; towards. Also, at)
• الۡعِظَامِ — Aiy-zaa-may — The bones (= Bare bones from which all flesh has disappeared)
• كَيۡفَ — Kai-fa — How (= Drawing attention)
• نُـنۡشِزُ — Noon-shay-zo — We revive (= v., pres., pl., 1^st person. Quicken back to life; raise; resurrect; restore. A/t/a, ‘adjust’ and ‘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 — Nauk-soo — We put on (= v., pres., pl., 1^st person. Clothe; cover; dress up; grow; pad up; put on)
• هَا — Haa — Them (= pro., s., f., 3^rd person., Refers to aforesaid category or collection of crumbled bones)
• لَحۡمًا — Lauh-maun — Flesh (= Meat; muscle; non-bony part or soft tissue of animals)
• فَ — Fa — Thus (= Consequently; so; then; thereafter; therefore; yet)
•  لَمَّا — Laum-maa — 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 (= v., past., s., 3^rd person. Admitted; announced; told;  confessed; declared; informed. See  قَالَ  above)
• اَعۡلَمُ — Au-la-mo — I admit (= v., pres., pl., 1^st person. Acknowledge; agree; know; stand corrected; stand informed)
• اَنَّ — Aun-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 (= adj., superlative form that includes the meanings of ‘fullness and totality of control.‘  Controller.  Has the absolute power to do what He wills.  The 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.

            1. 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 normal course of events.

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