فَقُلْنَا ٱضْرِبُوهُ بِبَعْضِهَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُحْىِ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَيُرِيكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ 73
Translations
So We said, "Strike him [i.e., the slain man] with part of it." Thus does Allāh bring the dead to life, and He shows you His signs that you might reason.
Transliteration
Faqulna idriboohu bibardi min al-baqari anta kathaalika yuhyi Allahu al-mawta wa yuri'kum ayatihi la'allakum ta'qiloon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the miracle of the slain person in Bani Israel, where Allah commanded them to strike the corpse with part of a cow, and through this miraculous act, Allah revealed the killer's identity—demonstrating Allah's power to resurrect the dead. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this sign was meant to convince the Children of Israel of divine truth and encourage rational reflection on Allah's omnipotence, serving as evidence for resurrection (al-ba'th) on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of the murdered person (al-qatil al-majhul) in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:72-73), where Bani Israel killed someone and disputed among themselves. The incident occurred during the time of Musa (Moses), and Allah revealed the solution through a miraculous sign. The narrative was revealed in Madinah to teach the Muslim community about divine justice and the consequences of withholding truth.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this incident, Sahih Bukhari (6:60:260) contains related discussions on the resurrection and Allah's power over all things. The incident itself is referenced in Quranic exegesis traditions (tafsir) as a historical account from the Bani Israel.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah possesses complete power over life and death, and that apparent impossibilities become possible through divine will. For believers today, it encourages us to recognize Allah's signs in creation and to use reason ('aql) to reflect upon divine truth, strengthening our certainty in the afterlife and divine justice.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَكَفُورٌ
And He is the one who gave you life; then He causes you to die and then will [again] give you life. Indeed, mankind is ungrateful.
فَوَرَبِّكَ لَنَحْشُرَنَّهُمْ وَٱلشَّيَـٰطِينَ ثُمَّ لَنُحْضِرَنَّهُمْ حَوْلَ جَهَنَّمَ جِثِيًّا
So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees.
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ ۙ دَعَوُا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from every place and they expect to be engulfed, they supplicate Allāh, sincere to Him in religion, "If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful."
إِلَى ٱللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
To Allāh is your return, and He is over all things competent."