The Man Who Passed By A Ruined Town
-
Salaam,
Or (take) the similitude of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said "Oh! how shall Allah bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?" but Allah caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said "How long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said (Perhaps) a day or part of a day." He said "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age; and look at thy donkey And that We may make of thee a sign unto the people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said "I know that Allah hath power over all things."
2259 | - Or| - like the one who| - passed| - by| - a township,| - and it| - (had) overturned| - on| - its roofs.| - He said,| - "How| - (will) bring to life| - this (town)| - Allah| - after| - its death?"| - Then he was made to die| - (by) Allah| - (for) a hundred| - year(s),| - then| - He raised him.| - He said,| - "How long| - (have) you remained?"| - He said,| - "I remained| - (for) a day| - or| - a part| - (of) a day."| - He said,| - "Nay,| - you (have) remained| - one hundred| - year(s).| - Then look| - at| - your food| - and your drink,| - (they did) not| - change with time,| - and look| - at| - your donkey,| - and We will make you| - a sign| - for the people.| - And look| - at| - the bones| - how| - We raise them,| - then| - We cover them| - (with) flesh."| - Then when| - became clear| - to him,| - he said,| - "I know| - that| - Allah| - (is) on| - every| - thing| - All-Powerful."|This ayat is telling us about a man who passed by an abandoned and ruined town and wondered how Allah would be able to bring it back to life. Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and then brought him back to life. He is asked how long had he remained in this state and he responds with, "A day or part of a day." He is told that he had remained in that state for a hundred years and to look at his food and drink which have not become rotten, and to look at his donkey. He is then informed that he has been made into visible evidence/sign for mankind. He is told to look at how the skeleton bones are set, then clothed with flesh.
The obvious problem with the logic of this account is the uncorrupted food and drink which have remained so for a hundred years. The word "taa'am" has been translated as "food' but it can also mean grain (wheat, rice, oats, barley, corn, quinoa, chickpeas,...).
( ? ? at-tuaam) when it is said by itself then it means wheat or dates, otherwise it means everything
that is eaten and which provide nourishment to human body.as a subst.see -
Also Grain that is thrown to birds.See also . Food, (S, Nh, Mgh, Msb, K,) of any kind; (Nh, TA like as signifies beverage (Mgh, Msb and especially wheat, (S, Nh, Mgh, Msb, K,) to which it is applied by the people of El Hij?z; (Msb, TA and barley; (Nh, TA and dates, (Nh, Mgh, TA,)
Wheat/rice can last for a very long time.
http//readynutrition.com/resources/11-emergency-food-items-that-can-last-a-lifetime_20082013/
http//www.offthegridnews.com/extreme-survival/10-foods-you-can-store-for-100-years/
The word "sharaab" is translated as "drink" but it appears to describe alcohol as well.
the pl. of is ; (Mgh,TA or it has no pl., as is said in the k in art. . (TA.) The lawyers mean thereby such beverage as is forbidden.
?arb pl. a?riba beverage, drink; wine; fruit juice, fruit syrup, sherbet
?arrb drunkard, heavy drinker
Alcohol is another long lasting product.
https//books.google.com.pk/books?id=LwPmkjQ3jb0C&pg=PA41&lpg=PA41&dq=alcohol+that+doesn%27t+spoil+over+a+century&source=bl&ots=ZNZ90W2bdy&sig=U2mrkg5MJ9zoVTPmQCfLJ85bWVU&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=alcohol%20that%20doesn't%20spoil%20over%20a%20century&f=false
http//drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/09/cocktail-101-how-long-do-spirits-liqueurs-vermouth-last.html
https//www.quora.com/What-does-wine-aged-over-100-years-taste-like
The visible evidence provided by Allah for mankind in this ayat is the skeletal remains of the man and donkey and also the grain and alcohol left behind. Radiocarbon dating is used to ascertain the age of an object containing organic material and it is the method used on such objects after they are discovered. This is the visible proof and information obtained from our prehistoric past due to ancient remains.
https//www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/documents/misc/yoa1961_quick001.pdf
https//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_viable_seed
http//news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/02/120221-oldest-seeds-regenerated-plants-science/
Regards,
Janet -
Salaam Reel,
Reading your response made me laugh. The translation is pretty hilarious and confusing. It makes me think that this must be occurring again and again in the Quran.
Regards,
JanetYes, indeed, the selecting of one meaning of the several that might be possible, and not precisely the most ocmprehensive. Also the assigning of a later meaning taken by the word and applied retroactively to the Qur'an, in spite of the Qur'an itself. The most striking (no un intended) sample of that is the famous daraba thing.
Salaam
-
Salaam Reel,
Reading your response made me laugh. The translation is pretty hilarious and confusing. It makes me think that this must be occurring again and again in the Quran.
Regards,
JanetSalaam
rotfl You are right.
They have been always struggling with numbers.