سُوْرَةُ البَقَرَةِ

Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 243

The Cow · Medinan · Juz 2 · Page 39

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۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ ﴿243﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Did you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allâh said to them, "Die". And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allâh is full of bounty to mankind, but most men thank not.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

۞ أَلَمْ alam Did not
تَرَ tara you see
إِلَى ilā [to]
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna those who
خَرَجُوا۟ kharajū went out
مِن min from
دِيَـٰرِهِمْ diyārihim their homes
وَهُمْ wahum and they
أُلُوفٌ ulūfun (were in) thousands
حَذَرَ ḥadhara (in) fear
ٱلْمَوْتِ l-mawti (of) [the] death
فَقَالَ faqāla Then said
لَهُمُ lahumu to them
ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
مُوتُوا۟ mūtū Die
ثُمَّ thumma then
أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ aḥyāhum He restored them to life
إِنَّ inna Indeed
ٱللَّهَ l-laha Allah
لَذُو ladhū (is) surely Possessor
فَضْلٍ faḍlin (of) bounty
عَلَى ʿalā for
ٱلنَّاسِ l-nāsi [the] mankind
وَلَـٰكِنَّ walākinna [and] but
أَكْثَرَ akthara most
ٱلنَّاسِ l-nāsi (of) the people
لَا lā (are) not
يَشْكُرُونَ yashkurūna grateful

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah243) ➊ This incident is from a previous nation, the details of which have not been mentioned in any Sahih hadith. These people, despite being in thousands, fled the city instead of confronting the enemy out of fear of being killed during an attack, or, when a plague broke out, instead of remaining patient with destiny, they left their homes to escape death. But they could not escape death by fleeing; rather, Allah imposed death upon all of them, then Allah showed mercy to them and brought them back to life. In the next verse (244), the command to fight in the way of Allah is being given. The wisdom in mentioning this incident before that command is that you should not shirk from jihad; death is in the hands of Allah, and you cannot avert it by avoiding or fleeing from jihad, nor can you escape destiny by going anywhere.
➋ This story is a definitive proof of the resurrection of bodies on the Day of Judgment.
➌ {اَلَمْ تَرَ:} Its literal meaning is "Have you not seen," but Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) interpreted it as: {”اَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ“} "Do you not know" [ بخاری، التفسیر، سورۃ « ألم تر» ، قبل ح : ۴۹۶۴ ] because ru’yah can be visual or of the heart; visual means to see, and of the heart means to know. See also the footnotes of Surah Al-Fil. This shows that at the time this verse was revealed, the story of these people was generally well-known and famous. Sometimes, to arouse interest in hearing something, the conversation is also started with {”اَلَمْ تَرَ“}.
➍ Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "When you hear that a plague has broken out in a land, do not go there, and when a plague breaks out in a land and you are present there, do not leave that place fleeing from it." [ بخاری، الطب، باب ما یذکر فی الطاعون : ۵۷۲۹ ]

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

243. 1. This incident is from a previous nation, the details of which have not been mentioned in any hadith. The exegetical narrations mention it as an event from the time of Bani Israel, and the name of the prophet by whose supplication Allah brought them back to life. They had left their homes either out of fear of being killed in jihad or due to the fear of the epidemic disease, plague, so that they could escape the jaws of death. Allah caused them to die to show, firstly, that you cannot escape Allah’s decree; secondly, that the final refuge for humans is only Allah Himself; and thirdly, that Allah is capable of resurrecting, and He will bring all humans back to life in the same way as He brought them back to life after causing them to die. In the next verse, Muslims are being commanded to perform jihad. The wisdom in mentioning this incident before that command is that you should not shirk from jihad; life and death are in Allah’s control, and the time of death is also fixed, which you cannot delay by avoiding or fleeing from jihad.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

243. Have you not considered those who left their homes in thousands for fear of death? Allah said to them, "Die," (so they died on the way), then Allah revived them (because of the prayer of a prophet) [340]. And surely Allah is most gracious to people, but most people are not grateful.

[340]
The Death and Resurrection of the Israelites Who Fled in Fear of the Plague:

From this verse onward, the subject of jihad begins, and as a prelude, it is explained in this verse that life and death are only in the hands of Allah. The incident was that some people from the Israelites lived in a certain city. When a plague broke out there, due to the fear of dying from the plague, they packed up their belongings and, numbering in the thousands, left the city, thinking that in this way they would escape death. They had not even reached any destination when death overtook them on the way, and all of them died. It is possible that they died from the germs of the plague itself. They did not place their trust in Allah and showed cowardice; therefore, as a punishment, Allah Almighty put all of them to sleep in death, and if they had remained in their city trusting in Allah’s decree, it is possible that most of them would have been saved. Then, after some time, the Prophet Ezekiel, who was the third successor of Prophet Musa ؑ, passed by there, and seeing this situation, he prayed to Allah Almighty. So Allah, out of His mercy, granted them life again, and every person stood up saying
﴿ سُبْحَانَكَ لاَ اِلٰهَ الآَ أنْتَ﴾.
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