Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 260

260. And when Abraham ؑ said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." Allah said, "Do you not believe?" He replied, "Yes, but just to bring satisfaction to my heart." Allah said, "Then take four birds and make them familiar to yourself. Then place a part of them on each mountain [375], then call them; they will come to you swiftly. And know that Allah is Mighty and Wise."

[374] The faith of the Prophets in the unseen is firmer than that of others, but the mission for which they are appointed also requires that they attain the highest degree of certainty, so that they may invite others to faith in the unseen with the force of one who has witnessed the reality with his own eyes. For this reason, most Prophets are made to witness the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to some extent are informed of supernatural matters. In the previous incident, such causes were shown to Hazrat Uzair ؑ. Now here, a similar question is being presented by Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ before his Lord, and he seeks inner satisfaction. And during the Mi'raj, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was shown the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Also, once in a dream and once while leading the prayer of eclipse, he was shown Paradise and Hell.

[375]
The Revival of Four Dead Birds:

There is much difference among the commentators regarding the details of this verse. For example, whether all four birds were of the same species or of different species; whether "in parts" means to slaughter them and mince their meat, mixing the flesh of all four birds together, or whether merely cutting them into pieces is sufficient, or mixing is also necessary; whether there were only four mountains on which a part was placed, or more or less, with each part distributed on them; whether the heads of these birds were mixed in those parts by Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ or kept with himself. All these details are meaningless with respect to the purpose. The only purpose was to show that no matter how complex the state of a dead body becomes after death, Allah Almighty is capable of reviving every kind of dead being. Since this incident is also extraordinary and a miracle, rationalists and deniers of miracles have had to resort to absurd interpretations of it. Thus, Mr. Parwez has presented the translation or meaning of this verse as follows:

Parwez's Unparalleled Interpretation of Allah Reviving the Dead:

Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ said to Allah: Is it possible that such a dead nation can be revived anew? And if it is possible, then tell me what method should be adopted for this? All this is the translation or meaning of ﴿ كَيْفَ تُحْيِي الْمَوْتيٰ﴾. You have translated "mawtaa" as "dead nation," "arini" as "tell me," and "kaifa tuhyii" as "what is the method of reviving a dead nation?" Allah said: First tell me, do you believe that a dead nation can be given new life? Ibrahim ؑ said: I do believe in this, but I seek satisfaction. Allah said: Take four birds. In the beginning, they will run away from you. Train them gradually so that they become familiar with you. Eventually, their state will become such that if you leave them on separate mountains and call them, they will fly to you. This is the method of bringing life to people unfamiliar with the truth. Bring them close to you and acquaint them with the Divine System (this is the translation of «واعلم»). This system possesses such power and wisdom within itself that they will not be able to go anywhere else. This is the translation of ﴿اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيْزٌ حَكِيْمٌ﴾. [مفهوم القرآن ص 103] Now see:

1. Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ is asking Allah about reviving the dead, but Mr. Parwez has started explaining the secrets and mysteries of the revival of "dead nations."
2. The instructions you have attributed to Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ for the revival of dead nations are not specific to him. This is a general method of preaching that all Prophets have adopted. What does this have to do with reviving the dead and, in particular, the inner satisfaction of Hazrat Ibrahim ؑ?
3. What a marvelous method of testing people familiar with the truth: first, the Prophet should leave such people on separate mountains, then call them, and not call them before that; in any case, upon hearing the Prophet's voice, they will run to him. Is this the method for the revival of dead nations?
4. The translation or meaning of «اِعْلَمْ» as "acquaint them with the Divine System" can only be the work of a commentator of the Quran like Mr. Parwez.
5. In this verse, the word "juza'an" means "part" or "piece," and the part or piece of a bird can only be so if it is slaughtered or cut, which ends its life, and this is the meaning of «مَوْتيٰ». But Mr. Parwez has explained it as making dead nations familiar, then separating them. And by interpreting Allah being "Aziz" and "Hakim" as the Divine System being powerful and wise, he has, in any case, managed to escape from the miraculous nature of this incident. And he has proven that Allah does not revive the dead, but revives dead nations. He instructs His Prophets to first make people familiar, then leave them on mountains, then call them; otherwise, these dead nations can never be revived.