The Man of a Hundred Years

This man, passing near a ruined city, doubted that God could give it life again. God then made him die for a hundred years, then resurrected him — offering him a living demonstration of His power over death and life.

A man crossed a devastated city, reduced to ruins. Before this spectacle of death, he wondered: how could God give life back to all this?

God then made him die, and left him thus for a hundred years. Then He resurrected him and asked him: 'How long have you remained?' The man, thinking he had slept only a moment, replied: 'A day, or less.'

God revealed the truth: a hundred years had passed. As proof, his food and drink had remained intact, escaping time — while his donkey was nothing but bones. And before his eyes, God gathered these bones, clothed them in flesh, and restored the donkey to life.

Before this wonder, the man acknowledged: 'I know now that God has power over all things.' His doubt had turned to certainty.

This story answers one of humanity's greatest questions: can God truly resurrect the dead? Rather than an argument, God offers a lived experience. And it teaches that sincere doubt, when one seeks the truth, can be the path to a stronger faith.

أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ

Ou l’histoire tout aussi étonnante de cet homme qui, traversant une cité en ruine, se demanda : « Comment Allah pourrait-Il redonner vie à cette ville morte ? » Allah le fit alors mourir, puis le ressuscita après une période de cent ans et l’interrogea : « Combien de temps es-tu demeuré dans cet état ? » Il répondit : « Une journée ou moins que cela. » Allah dit : « Non ! Tu es resté ainsi cent ans. Remarque que ta nourriture et ta boisson sont demeurées intactes. Nous ferons ainsi de toi un signe pour les hommes. Regarde ton âne sans vie. Regarde comment Nous redressons ses os et les assemblons avant de les recouvrir de chair. » Se rendant à l’évidence, l’homme dit : « Je reconnais à présent qu’Allah a pouvoir sur toute chose. »

2:259