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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Al-mizan an Exegesis of the Qur'an (volume Four) Volume 4: Surah Baqarah, Verse 243 Did you not see those who went forth from their homes, and they were (in) thousands, for fear of death; then Allah said to them "Die "; (and) afterwards He gave them life; most surely Allah is Gracious to people, but most people thank (Him) not (243).

**COMMENTARY ** QUR'AN: Did you not see those who went forth from their homes, and they were (in) thousands, for fear of death: "To see", in this verse means "to know". It implies that the thing described here is so obvious that to know it is to see it. Other examples of this expression are: Did you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth.' (14:19); Did you not see how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another? (71:15).

az-Zamakhshari has said that the phrase "Did you not see" is an idiom used to express wonder and astonishment. It implies, "Are you not surprised that ..." "hadhara 'l-mawt" may mean 'for fear of death' (as translated here); or it may mean, 'they were afraid of death, a great fearing'. QUR'AN: Then Allah said to them "Die "; (and) afterwards He gave them life: The order was 'creative', not 'legislative'.

It does not mean that they did not die of a 'natural' cause, as the traditions say that they died of the plague. Instead of saying, 'Then Allah gave them death and afterwards gave them life', Allah used this expression, because it more forcefully shows the effectiveness of His order and supreme domination of His power.

The use of the imperative mood in matters of creation is a more forceful style; likewise, it is more eloquent and emphatic to use a news style while ordaining a legislation ("you shall not take other's property unjustly"). "Afterwards He gave them life" implies that they were raised from death to life, and that they remained alive for some time.

Had they been resurrected just as an example and warning for others, or to complete the proof, or to explain some other reality, Allah would have pointed it out, as is customary in the Qur'an. (See, for example, the story of the people of the Cave.) Moreover, the next sentence, "most surely Allah is Gracious to people", also shows that they were not raised for only a short time.

QUR'AN: But most people thank (Him) not: The repetition of the word "people" here (instead of pronoun) reflects on the low level of their thinking.