PROPHET UZAIR (AS) AND THE EMPTY VILLAGE. by S.M.Masum Or like the one who pass...ed by a town while it had tumbled over its roofs. He said: "Oh! How will Allah ever bring it to life after its death?" So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: "How long did you remain (dead)?" He (the man) said: "(Perhaps) I remained (dead) a day or part of a day". He said: "Nay, you have remained (dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they show no change; and look at your donkey! And thus We have made of you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh". When this was clearly shown to him, he said, "I know (now) that Allah is Able to do all things." (2:259) Prophet Uzair (a.s) was sent to the Bani Isra’el after Prophet Musa (a.s). Like all prophets, he was wise and pious. One day he decided to travel to far-off lands and see the wonders of his lord. He packed some food and water for the road, climbed on his donkey and set off. After riding for a long time, he came across an empty village. When he stopped to have a look, he saw bones of the people who had once lived there, scattered all around! We have been told that this village was Jerusalem and its people were Jews. They had committed great sins and Allah (S.W.T) had punished them by sending a tyrant king, Nebuchadnezzar, over them. It was he who destroyed the village and killed its people. He looked at the broken bones for some time and then found himself wondering, “How will Allah (S.W.T) bring these scattered bones together into bodies on the Day of Qiyamah…?” As soon as the words came to his mind, Allah (S.W.T) caused him to die. When He brought him back to life again, a hundred years had passed! how long did you sleep?” Prophet Uzair (a.s) replied, “I slept for one day…” and then: thinking that was too much, he added, “or maybe half a day.” Allah (S.W.T) told him, “You have slept for one hundred years! Look at your food and your donkey.” Uzair (a.s) looked around and saw that his food was untouched. What a shock he got when he searched for his donkey and only found a pile of old bones! He immediately realized that he had truly slept for a long time. It was a miracle of Allah (S.W.T) while his donkey had become dust and bones, his food was as fresh as the day he had slept! Allah (S.W.T) told Uzair (a.s) to look at the bones and as he watched, his donkey started coming back to life! The bones began join together, then they were covered with flesh and soon the donkey stood, alive and well, where he had tied it! Seeing this Uzair (a.s) cried out in wonder, “Surely, Allah has Power over all things!”. He returned home only to find that his own children were now a hundred years older than him! When he said he was ‘Uzair, no one believed him, so he told them to bring the Tawrat (Old Testament) and began reciting it by heart. The people were amazed because they knew that only Uzair had memorised the book and this finally convinced them. Uzair became a sign of Allah (S.W.T)’s power. He was also proof that resurrection is a true promise and will take place