The Holy Quran 2:260 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن ۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى ۖ قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةً مِّنَ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًا ثُمَّ ٱدْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًا ۚ وَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ

Translation

(Remember the time) When Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام said, "My Rabb show me how you give life to the dead." He (Allaah) asked, "Do you not believe (that I have the power to do this)?" (Although Allaah knew that the belief of Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام was very strong, Allaah asked this question so that people may know the reason for his request.) He (Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام) replied, "I certainly do, but (I am asking) to satisfy my heart (so that I may have first-hand knowledge, so that my Imaan remains strong and so that there remains no room for doubt in my heart)." Allaah said, "Take four birds, draw them to you (domesticate them and then cut each of them into many portions, mix their flesh, bones and feathers) and then place portions (of their bodies) on each of these mountains. Then call them and they will come running to you. Know that Allaah is Mighty (Able to do anything), Wise." (So Hadhrat Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام did as Allaah told him. He cut the bodies of a pigeon, a crow, a peacock and a fowl and placed different parts of each bird on different mountains. When he called for them, the parts of each bird rejoined with the other parts of its body and formed a complete bird which flew to Ibraheem عليه الصلاة والسلام.)

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The gist is that his certainty [that of Ibrahim ﵇] was complete; he only sought 'ayn al-yaqin (certainty by sight), which depends on witnessing. The bringing to life of dead birds for Ibrahim ﵇: Ibrahim ﵇, in accordance with the divine command, brought four creatures, a peacock, a cock, a crow and a pigeon, and made all four familiar with himself, so that…

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