DAY 491: Baqarah 258-260

•  Are you ˹O Prophet˺ not aware of the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had granted him kingship? ˹Remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord is the One Who has power to give life and cause death.” He argued, “I too have the power to give life and cause death.” Abraham challenged ˹him˺, “Allah causes the sun to rise from the east. So make it rise from the west.” And so the disbeliever was dumbstruck. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. Or ˹are you not aware of˺ the one who passed by a city which was in ruins. He wondered, “How could Allah bring this back to life after its destruction?” So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years then brought him back to life. Allah asked, “How long have you remained ˹in this state˺?” He replied, “Perhaps a day or part of a day.” Allah said, “No! You have remained here for a hundred years! Just look at your food and drink—they have not spoiled. ˹But now˺ look at ˹the remains of˺ your donkey! And ˹so˺ We have made you into a sign for humanity. And look at the bones ˹of the donkey˺, how We bring them together then clothe them with flesh!”¹ When this was made clear to him, he declared, “˹Now˺ I know that Allah is Most Capable of everything.” And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord! Show me how you give life to the dead.” Allah responded, “Do you not believe?” Abraham replied, “Yes I do, but just so my heart can be reassured.” Allah said, “Then bring four birds, train them to come to you, ˹then cut them into pieces,˺ and scatter them on different hilltops. Then call them back, they will fly to you in haste. And ˹so you will˺ know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.” 
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  After Ayat al-Kursi (255) — the magnificent declaration of Allah's sovereignty, knowledge, and power — and the declaration that there is no compulsion in religion (256) and that Allah is the ally of believers (257), Allah now gives three powerful stories:
      --Abraham's debate with a tyrannical king who claimed to give life and death.
      --The parable of the man who passed by a ruined city and wondered how Allah could bring it back to life — so Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and then raised him.
      --The story of Abraham asking to see how Allah brings the dead to life — not out of doubt, but to satisfy his heart — and Allah shows him through four birds.
      The man did not disbelieve — he wondered. And Allah showed him. Death is not the end. Time is relative — a hundred years felt like a day. Food and drink preserved — because Allah's power over creation is absolute. The donkey was bones; Allah showed him how bones are raised and covered with flesh. This is not magic — it is a sign. The man became certain: Allah is over all things competent. Doubt is not a sin — wondering is human. But certainty comes when Allah shows you.
         A tyrant king claimed to give life and death, but was confounded when Abraham challenged him to change the sunrise; a man wondered how Allah could revive a ruined city, so Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, preserved his food, and raised his donkey's bones; and Abraham asked to see resurrection not out of doubt but for heart ease — and Allah showed him through four birds scattered on hills that came when called.
      
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