almuhtada.org – In the Qur’an, there is a story about a prophet who was put to sleep for 100 years and then awakened again by Allah SWT. That prophet was Prophet Uzair AS.
The story of Prophet Uzair AS is mentioned in the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 259. His story is also included in one of the hadith narrations from the book “The Ages and Lineages of the Prophets” by Jihad Muhammad Hajjah.
As mentioned by Abi Hatim ar-Razi in the commentary of Ibn Hatim, Prophet Uzair AS is one of the prophets who is not included among the 25 prophets and messengers believed in by Muslims. When narrating his story, Abi Hatim, who quoted from the narration of Najiyah bin Ka’ab al-Asadi from Ali bin Abi Thalib, stated that Prophet Uzair AS was referred to as the Prophet of Allah SWT.
Mukhtaṣar Tarîkh Dimasyq in Ibn Kathir, quoting Ibn Abbas RA, wrote, “I do not know whether Uzair bought the land of the grave or not, and I do not know whether Uzair was a prophet or not.” Therefore, some people believe that Prophet Uzair AS was a pious and wise servant of Allah SWT.
The Beginning of Prophet Uzair AS Being Put to Sleep for 100 Years
The story of Prophet Uzair AS began when he was traveling through a village on his donkey. Then Prophet Uzair AS got lost and arrived at a village in ruins.
In that village, he found many dead bodies, bones scattered everywhere, and the ruins of houses that had blended into the ground. He wondered to himself how Allah SWT could bring all the living creatures back to life that had been scattered across the earth, as mentioned in the Quran.
أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا
Meaning:
“Or like a man passing through a land (whose buildings) have collapsed, covering its roofs, he says, ‘How will Allah bring this land back to life after its destruction?’…” (QS Al Baqarah: 259)
The angel Izrail was sent by Allah SWT to answer the curiosity of Prophet Uzair AS. As the angel of death, Izrail immediately took the life of Prophet Uzair AS, and he fell asleep for 100 years.
After 100 years, Allah SWT then revived Prophet Uzair AS. At that time, Prophet Uzair AS was granted a miracle to witness the power of Allah SWT in controlling all death and life in this world. Allah SWT said,
فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَلْ لَبِثْتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ
Meaning:
Then Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then brought him back to life. And (Allah) asked, “How long have you stayed (here)?” He (the man) replied, “I have stayed (here) for a day or half a day.” Allah said, “No! You have stayed for a hundred years. Look at your food and drink, which have not changed, but look at your donkey (which has turned to bones). And so that We may make you a sign of Our power for the people.” (QS Al Baqarah: 259)
After Prophet Uzair AS woke up from his sleep, he realized that his donkey had died and become one with the earth. However, Allah SWT sent angels back to bring it back to life. Allah SWT said,
وَانْظُرْ إِلَى الْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنْشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا
Meaning:
“Look at the bones (of the donkey), how We reassemble them, then We cover them with flesh.” (QS Al Baqarah: 259)
Quoted from the book Encyclopedia of the Quran and Hadith by Alita Aksara Media, Prophet Uzair AS is known as the memorizer of the Torah revealed by Prophet Musa AS during his lifetime. That is why Prophet Uzair was able to reunite with his elderly children after waking from his long sleep.
Prophet Uzair AS was once tested on his knowledge of the Torah by an old woman who knew of his existence. This proved to the old woman that he was indeed Prophet Uzair AS. (Fahdina Dean)
