Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:243

"Have you not seen..."

This is an affirmation for those among the People of the Book and those who heard the reports of the ancients, intended to express astonishment at their affair. It is also permissible that it is addressed to one who has neither seen nor heard, as this speech has taken on the status of a proverb in its sense of astonishment.

It is narrated that the people of Dawardan, a village before Wasit, were struck by the plague. They fled, so Allah caused them to die, then brought them back to life so they might take heed and know that there is no escape from the decree and judgment of Allah.

It is said that Ezekiel passed by them after a long time, when their bones had been stripped bare and their limbs scattered. He twisted his jaw and fingers in astonishment at what he saw. Allah then revealed to him: "Call out to them to rise by the permission of Allah." He called out, and he looked at them standing, saying: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise; there is no god but You."

It is also said they were a group from the Children of Israel whose king called them to Jihad, but they fled out of fear of death. Allah caused them to die for eight days, then brought them back to life.

"...and they were thousands..."

This is evidence of a large number. There is disagreement regarding the exact figure: some say ten thousand, some thirty thousand, and some seventy thousand. Among the novel interpretations is that uluf (thousands) means "those who are united" (muta'alifun), the plural of alif, like qa'id (sitting) and qu'ud (those sitting).

If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying: "So Allah said to them, 'Die'"?

I say: Its meaning is that He caused them to die. It was phrased in this manner to indicate that they died as one man by the command and will of Allah. That was a death outside the norm, as if they were commanded to do something and they complied immediately, without refusal or hesitation. This is like His saying: "His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, 'Be,' and it is" (Ya-Sin: 82). This is an encouragement for the Muslims toward Jihad and seeking martyrdom; since death is inevitable and there is no escape from it, it is better that it be in the way of Allah.

"...is full of bounty to the people..."

In that He shows them that by which they may take heed and gain insight, just as He showed those people, and as He has shown you by recounting their story. Or, He is full of bounty to the people in that He revived those people so they might take heed and succeed, whereas had He willed, He could have left them dead until the Day of Resurrection.

The evidence that He related this story to incite Jihad is what follows it: the command to fight in the way of Allah.

"...and know that Allah is Hearing..."

He hears what those who lag behind and those who hasten forward say.

"...Knowing..."

Of what they conceal in their hearts, and He is behind the recompense.

"Who is it that would loan Allah a goodly loan so He may multiply it for him many times over? And it is Allah who withholds and grants abundance, and to Him you will be returned." (245)