Fatwa ID: 03587

Answered by: Maulana Irfan Ali

Question

When Isa السلام عليه brought the dead back to life, did they live temporarily then pass away, or they lived normal lives after that?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Imam Qurtubi has named those who were brought back to life by Jesus and the manner in which they became alive again, they were:

· Al-A’thir

· Ibn Al-Ajooz

· Bintul-A’shir

· Sa’m Ibn Nuh

Al-A’thir was a friend of Jesus who had died just a few days before when Jesus prayed on his behalf and brought him back to life. He then lived for a long period and also had a son.

Ibn Al-Ajooz was being carried upon his deathbed, after having passed away, when Jesus saw him, prayed for him and thus brought him back to life once more. Jesus, then carried Ibn Al-Ajooz’s deathbed back to the previously deceased’s family himself, thus amazing them.

Bintul-A’shir was the third person brought back to life by Jesus. Her family was crying over her dead body when Jesus was informed and requested to come to pray for her, so as to relieve the family of their grief and agony. Therefore, Jesus came and prayed for her. She then stood up and showed her family that she was alive making her family joyful and happy.

Sa’m Ibn Nuh was brought back to the living state in the following manner. The disbelievers said to Jesus, "You can only bring back to life, those who have just recently passed away and it is possible that they were not dead, but were temporarily unconscious. Therefore, why don’t you bring back to life Sa’m Ibn Nuh, the son of Nuh, who passed away four thousand years ago?" Jesus replied, "Show me his grave." So, they took Jesus to S’am’s grave and Jesus prayed to his Lord. Sa’m Ibn Nuh came out of his grave and spoke to Jesus.

From the above Tafsir of Imam Qurtubi, it is understood that Al A’thir, who was bought back to life, lived to have a child but for the others, nothing further is mentioned. Some have mentioned that the birds that were created and bought to life would die once flown out of sight.[1]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Irfan Ali

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Tafsir Qurtubi vol 4 page 95