Who was Sayyiduna Hizqeel
He was the third successor of Sayyiduna Musa ‘ and was bestowed with the dignified rank of the Prophethood. After the (apparent) demise of Sayyiduna Musa , Sayyiduna Yoosha’ Bin Noon 9″ became his first successor and Allah blessed him with the Prophethood. After him, Sayyiduna Kaalib Bin Yuhanna was the second successor and he was also blessed with the rank of Prophethood. After him, Sayyiduna Hizqeel became the successor as well as a Nabi! Sayyiduna Hizqeel ‘ was also known as ‘Ibn-ul-‘ Ajooz’, meaning ‘the son of an old woman’ and was also known as Zul-Kifl.
The reason behind being called Ibn-ul-‘ Ajooz (the son of an old woman) was that he was born at the time when his mother was very old. And the reason behind being called Zul-Kifl is that he took seventy such Ambiya under his protection and saved them from being killed when the Jews were going to commit a massacre. Later on, he too was saved from the attack of Jews by the mercy of Allah and remained alive for years and continued guiding his people.
(I’afseer As-Saawi, vol. 1, pp. 206; part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 243)
The event of the resurrection of the dead
arrangements for their burial could be made. Their dead bodies remained lying in the open field for eight days due to which, their bodies started to rot and a terrible smell spread not only within the jungle but in the surroundings as well. Some people felt pity for the dead corpses and erected a wall around them to protect the bodies from wild beasts.
After a few days, Sayyiduna Hizqeel passed by the jungle and saw the dead bodies. Upon seeing the sudden death of seventy thousand people and seeing them without any burial he felt a lot of sorrow. He became tearful and supplicated to Allah with a sorrowful heart: ‘O Allah These were my people who made the mistake to flee from the city to the jungle due to the fear of death. These were all inhabitants of my city whom I have deep love for. They were with me in my good and bad times. Alas, all my people destroyed and I am left all alone. 0 Allah ( ! These were the people who used to proclaim Your praise and would testify Your oneness.’
Whilst making this supplication with full of humbleness, it was revealed upon him: ‘O Hizqeel, say to these scattered bones that: 0 bones! Undoubtedly, Allah commands that you be assembled.’ When Sayyiduna Hizqeel said this, a movement took place amongst the bones and every person’s bones gathered and formed skeletons. Then it was revealed that: ‘O Hizqeel, say that O bones! It is an order of Allah for you to wear flesh.’ As soon as they heard this, flesh developed on their skeletons. Then the third time, it was revealed that: ‘O Hizqeel, now say that: 0 the dead ones! All of you stand up by the command of Allah .’ As soon as Sayyiduna Hizqeel said these words, seventy thousand dead bodies stood up in an instant, reciting
‘سُبْحَانَکَ اللّٰھُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِکَ لاَ اِلٰہَ اِلاَّ اَنْتَThen all of them went back to their city leaving the jungle and lived their lives for the duration destined for them. However, there were still significant signs of death apparent that their children would smell of rotten corpses and any clothes they would wear turned into shroud. Their clothes would get dirty the way the shrouds get dirty in the grave. These signs are still apparent today in the Jews belonging to that lineage.
(Tafseer Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, pp. 378; part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 243)
Allah has mentioned this miraculous and marvellous event in Surah Al-Baqarah in the following words:
O Beloved Rasool, did you not see those (i.e. Children of Israel) who left their homes in their thousands; fearing death ( due to plague)? So Allah said to them, ‘Die,’ He then brought them back to life. Indeed Allah is Most Bountiful upon people, but most people are ungrateful.
[Kanz-ul-Iman (Translation of Quran)] (Part 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 243)
Moral: We learn the following Madani pearls of wisdom from this wonderful event of Bani Israel:
1. A man cannot get rid of death by running away. So any attempt to escape from death is futile. The death that Allah has destined for someone will surely strike him at its appointed time. It will not come a second sooner or later. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the bondmen of Allah to remain patient and grateful to Allah . No matter how many diseases break out or even if one is confronting severe fighting in the battle, he should not become impatient and restless. One should bear the firm belief that nobody can kill him and he cannot die prior to the destined time. And when the instant of death arrives, no matter what efforts he make, whether he escapes somewhere or run away somewhere, he cannot prevent the oncoming death in any way.
2. In this Ayah of the Holy Quran, there is a special message for the Mujahidin (Islamic soldiers) that either avoiding Jihad or attempting to escape from the battlefield, will not let them rid of death. Therefore, a soldier should remain steadfast with patience and determination in the battlefield and should have stern belief that neither he can die before the appointed hour, nor anyone can kill him before that. Soldiers bearing such belief become so brave that they can never be scared. They will never shake in their steadfastness. It is due to this passion and belief fortified by Islam that the Islamic soldiers fought furiously and stood like mountains against thousands of unbelievers!
They were blessed with victory, great reward, dignity and the spoils of war at the end of their efforts. They would return home without even having a scratch on their bodies and would wipe off the signs of the unbelievers. Or. Iqbal, the Poet of East, has described the valour of an Islamic soldier in his poetry as:
Taina saktay thay ager jang mayn ar jatay thay
Paoon shayron Say bhi maydan say ukhar jatay thay
