Almuhtada.org – The story of Prophet Hezqil bringing back to life thousands of the Children of Israel who had died due to an epidemic is informed in the Quran Surah Al-Baqarah verse 243. Allah SWT said:
۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Meaning:
Have you not seen those who went out from their homes by thousands for fear of death? Allah said to them, “Die!” Then, Allah brought them back to life. Indeed, Allah is a giver of bounty to people, but most people are not grateful.” (QS Al-Baqarah: 243)
Ibn Kathir in his book titled “Qishashul Anbiya” narrates from Muhammad bin Ishaq said from Wahb bin Munabbih that after Kalib bin Yufana died (after Yusa’), then Hezqil bin Budziy took care of the Children of Israel. He was the son of Al-‘Ajuz. He was the one who called out to the people mentioned by Allah in the Quran as it has reached us.
As for the thousands of people who were afraid of death mentioned in the verse, Ibn Kathir narrated from Ibn Abbas that their number was 4,000, and it was also narrated from him that their number was 8,000. Abu Saleh said that their number was 9,000 people. It was also narrated from Ibn Abbas that their number was 40,000 thousand people.
They were the inhabitants of a town known as Jawurdan from the direction of Wasit. Waki’ Ibn Jarrah in his book of tafsir said, they left their hometowns to avoid the disease of ta’un that was affecting their country.
They said, “We are going to a place where there is no death.” When they reached a place, Allah said to them: Die! So they all died. Then a prophet passed by them, and the prophet prayed to Allah to bring them back to life, so Allah brought them back to life.
Ibn Kathir said that the Salaf scholars mentioned that they were a people who lived in a country at the time of one of the prophets of the Children of Israel. They lived in tents in the land of their homeland.
They lived in a large valley, and their large number filled the valley. So Allah sent two angels to them; one of them came from below the valley, while the other came from above it.
The two angels screamed at each other, and they all died as one dies. Then they were gathered in pens, and walls were built around them. All of them were destroyed and torn apart and in pieces.
After the period of one year had passed, there came to them a prophet from among the prophets of the Children of Israel known as Hizqil. Then Prophet Hizqil asked Allah to bring them back to life before him, and Allah granted his request.
Allah commanded him to say, “O bones that have been destroyed, surely Allah commands you to come together!” So the bones of each body joined with the others.
Then Allah commanded the prophet to say, “O broken bones, indeed Allah commands you to put on your skin, veins, and meat!” So it happened, and the prophet saw it.
Then Allah SWT commanded the prophet to say. “O spirits, indeed Allah commands you that every spirit return to the body it once entered!” So, they rose to life, looking at Allah as if He had revived them from their long sleep, while they uttered the following words: Glory be to You, there is no God but You.
His bringing them back to life is an important lesson and proof that the bodies will be brought back to life on the Day of Judgment.
Ibn Kathir said that this story contains a lesson and evidence that shows that there is no need to be cautious in the face of fate, and there is no protection from Allah except Him. In fact, they went out to escape the deadly epidemic that was affecting them so that their lives would be longer. However, in the end the fate that came to them was the opposite of what they had hoped for, and death came quickly and destroyed them all. [] Fahdina Dean Yustisia
