Asbāṭ narrated, on the authority of al-Suddi, from Abū Mālik and Abū Ṣāliḥ, from Ibn ʿAbbās, and from Murrah, from Ibn Masʿūd, and from a number of the Companions, with regard to the Almighty’s words: “Have you not considered those who left their homes in their thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, ‘Die!’; then He revived them” (al-Baqarah 2:243). They said: There was a village called Dāwarn (1) near Wāsiṭ where the plague broke out. Most of its inhabitants fled and encamped on the outskirts. Those who remained in the village perished, whereas the fugitives were spared—only a few of them died. When the plague subsided, the refugees returned in good health.

Those who had stayed behind said, “Our companions were wiser than we were; had we acted as they did, we too would have lived. If the plague strikes again, we shall leave with them.” The next year the plague did return, and they fled—something over thirty-thousand in all—until they reached a broad valley (2).

An angel called to them from the lower end of the valley, and another from its upper end, saying, “Die!” and they all died. Their bodies remained where they fell until a prophet named Ḥizqīl passed by. When he saw them he halted, pondering their condition, twisting his lips and fingers in thought.

Allah revealed to him, “Would you like Me to show you how I shall bring them to life?” He replied, “Yes,” for he had been reflecting on Allah’s power over them.

He was told, “Call out!” So he proclaimed, “O bones! Allah commands you to gather together.” The bones flew to one another until they formed complete skeletons.

Then Allah revealed to him, “Call out: O bones! Allah commands you to be clothed with flesh.” Instantly they were covered with flesh and blood, and with the very garments in which they had died.

He was then told, “Call out!” and he cried, “O bodies! Allah commands you to rise!” and they stood up.

Asbāṭ added: Manṣūr reported from Mujāhid that, when they were resurrected, they exclaimed, “Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise; there is no deity but You!” They returned to their people alive—everyone recognized that they had once been dead, the pallor (3) of death still upon their faces. Whatever garment they put on immediately turned into a worn funeral shroud (4), and they continued thus until they finally died at the appointed terms written for them (5).

A report from Ibn ʿAbbās puts their number at four thousand; another says eight thousand. Abū Ṣāliḥ said they were nine thousand. Yet another narration from Ibn ʿAbbās states they were forty thousand.

Saʿīd ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz said they were people from Adhruʿāt (6).

Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of ʿAṭāʾ, said: “This is a parable, cited to make clear that ‘precaution cannot avert what has been decreed’” (7). The majority, however, hold that the event actually occurred (8).