It is well known that this sign was unique to him alone and that it surpasses even the revival of the dead. A human being already possessed life once; when he is brought back, he merely returns to the state he had before. Allah—exalted is He—will revive the dead when He raises them from their graves, and in this world He has restored more than one person to life. Yet for a lifeless piece of wood to turn into a living creature, then revert to wood again and again while swallowing ropes and staffs—this is more astonishing than bringing a corpse back to life.

Moreover, Allah has told us that through Moses and other prophets of the Children of Israel He revived people whose cases were greater than those raised through the Messiah. The Most High said:

“And when you said, ‘O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah openly,’ the thunderbolt struck you while you were looking on. Then We resurrected you after your death so that you might give thanks.” ⦗2:55–56⦘

He also said:

“So We said, ‘Strike him with part of it.’ Thus does Allah bring the dead to life.” ⦗2:73⦘

And He said:

“Have you not considered those who left their homes in their thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, ‘Die,’ then He brought them back to life.” ⦗2:243⦘