Al-Baqara 2:259
The Cow · ayah 259 of 286
Aw kallathee marra AAalaqaryatin wahiya khawiyatun AAala AAurooshihaqala anna yuhyee hathihi AllahubaAAda mawtiha faamatahu Allahu mi-ata AAaminthumma baAAathahu qala kam labithta qala labithtuyawman aw baAAda yawmin qala bal labithta mi-ata AAaminfanthur ila taAAamikawasharabika lam yatasannah wanthurila himarika walinajAAalaka ayatan linnasiwanthur ila alAAithamikayfa nunshizuha thumma naksooha lahmanfalamma tabayyana lahu qala aAAlamu anna AllahaAAala kulli shay-in qadeer
Saheeh International translation
Other English translations
Abdel Haleem (Oxford)+
"Or take the one who passed by a ruined town. He said, ‘How will God give this life when it has died?’ So God made him die for a hundred years, and then raised him up, saying, ‘How long did you stay like that?’ He answered, ‘A day, or part of a day.’ God said, ‘No, you stayed like that for a hundred years. Look at your food and drink: they have not gone bad. Look at your donkey- We will make you a sign for the people- look at the bones: see how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh!’ When all became clear to him, he said, ‘Now I know that God has power over everything.’"
Pickthall (classic)+
"Or (bethink thee of) the like of him who, passing by a township which had fallen into utter ruin, exclaimed: How shall Allah give this township life after its death? And Allah made him die a hundred years, then brought him back to life. He said: How long hast thou tarried? (The man) said: I have tarried a day or part of a day. (He) said: Nay, but thou hast tarried for a hundred years. Just look at thy food and drink which have not rotted! Look at thine ass! And, that We may make thee a token unto mankind, look at the bones, how We adjust them and then cover them with flesh! And when (the matter) became clear unto him, he said: I know now that Allah is Able to do all things."
Yusuf Ali (classic)+
"Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said: "Oh! how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?" but Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said: "How long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said: (Perhaps) a day or part of a day." He said: "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age; and look at thy donkey: And that We may make of thee a sign unto the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said: "I know that Allah hath power over all things.""