The third story is a story full of lessons. Awaken us that someone will not escape the provisions of Allah's destiny ﷻ no matter how strong his efforts. Allah ﷻ ordered humans to try, but the results remained in His hands. This situation makes oneself humble and not high. The heart will always depend on Him ash-Shamad.

Allah ﷻ says,

ألم تر إلى الذين خرجوا من ديارهم وهم ألوف حذر الموت فقال لهم الله موتوا ثم أحياهم إن الله لذو فضل على الناس ولكن أكثر الناس لا يشكرون

"Do you not pay attention to those who come out of their hometowns, while they are thousands (in number) for fear of death; then God said to them: "Death to you", then God brought them to life. Surely Allah has a gift to humans, but most people are not grateful. "(QS: Al-Baqarah | Verse: 243).

Ibn Kathir in his interpretation explained that this story happened during the time of the children of Israel. Regarding the exodus of the residents of Dawirdan Village (Arabic: داوردان), there are those who call the Village Adzriat (Arabic: أذرعات), which ran away from the outbreak of Thaunun disease that hit their country. Their numbers are very large; 4000 or 8000 people. Some even estimate 30,000 or 40,000 people.

They fled to avoid the deadly Thaun epidemic. Looking for a safe place to double your age. Finally they arrived at a lowland that was clean of the plague. The new land became crowded with their arrival.

Then Allah ﷻ sent two angels. One is above the valley where they live. One more at the bottom. Then the two angels shouted once in a scream. Until all these refugees died.

"Do you not pay attention to those who come out of their hometowns, while they are thousands (in number) for fear of death; then God said to them: "You die"

Some time has passed. The bodies of thousands of people buried have become skulls and bones. God makes one bone out of one body scattered. The top is embedded somewhere, while the other part is far away in another place. Such is the situation. Even humans have difficulty collecting and re-assembling their frames. Then one of the prophets of the prophets of God passed by. He begged Allah ﷻ to bring them back to life. God also answered his prayer.

At God's command, the scattered bones returned to the other members. Gather, re-occupy its position until human skeletons are formed. Allah intahkan command the bones to be wrapped with flesh, veins and skin. Imam Ibn Kathir quoted a story from one of the salaf that the prophet witnessed this amazing event. Then Allah intahkan command their souls to return to their bodies. They also come back to life. The people felt that they had been awakened from a very long sleep. Then they said, "Glory to You (O Allah our Rabb and all praise be to You), there is no God who has the right to be worshiped except Thy self".



This is the meaning of the verse:

"Then God brought them to life."

There is an atsar shahih narrated by Imam Ahmad from Abdullah bin Abbas radhiallahu ‘anhuma: Once upon a time Umar bin al-Khattab came out praying towards Sham. On the way he met Abu Ubaidah Ibnul Jarah and his friends who reported that Sham was suffering from an epidemic.

Then Abdurrahman bin Auf said, "Really I have knowledge about this problem". Abdurrahman has a solution, what steps should Umar take. Do you continue your trip to Sham or return to Medina. Said Abdurrahman bin Auf, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

"If an epidemic is in your place, do not run away from the plague. And if you hear an area is attacked by a disease outbreak, don't you enter it. ”(Narrated by Ahmad).

Umar also praised God, then returned to Medina.

In another narration, Abdurrahman told Umar that the Messenger of Allah, said,

"Epidemics have condemned people before you. If you hear that a place has been plagued by an outbreak, don't enter that place. But if your place is ordered, don't run away from it. "Umar returned to Medina. (History of al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Lesson:

First: The story contained in this verse teaches us that there is no place to depend except to God. Nothing can escape and free itself from His destiny. People fled their villages, avoiding the plague, so that they could live long. But who would have thought, the road they took instead brought them closer to death.

Second: Sometimes the business does not have to bear fruit. If so why must take an illegitimate effort. Corruption someone wants to accumulate wealth to become rich. It could be that he is rich, not a few who go to jail. A young man goes out to marry his dream girl. It could be that he got it, maybe he was abandoned. Likewise a large group of people from the children of Israel. They run away from death. They may be safe and they may die. But Allah apkan set them dead as a lesson for them and all of us. Because of that Allah ﷻ says,

"Surely Allah has a gift to humans, but most people are not grateful."

Third: As God is able to revive humans for the second time in the world, their souls and bodies, as well as in the resurrection day. Allah ﷻ is capable of everything.

Fourth: Therefore, one should not run away from jihad for fear of death. As running from a deadly outbreak is not necessarily saving. Likewise, coming to something that threatens life does not necessarily bring death. Therefore in the next verse Allah says,

وَقَاتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

"And fight ye in the way of Allah, and know that Allah is Hearing, Knower." (QS: Al-Baqarah | Verse: 244).

Fifth: This story also teaches that spending wealth in the way of Allah does not end in poverty or lack. In the next verse Allah irman says,

مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يُقْرِضُ اللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًا فَيُضَاعِفَهُ لَهُ أَضْعَافًا كَثِيرَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَقْبِضُ وَيَبْسُطُ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

"Who wants to lend to God, a good loan (spend his wealth in the way of Allah), then Allah will double the payment to him with multiple multiples. And Allah narrows and makes it easier for Him to return. "(QS: Al-Baqarah | Verse: 245).

Hopefully this story will captivate our hearts to study the verses of the Koran. Make it love and enjoy reading it.