Allah Resurrects the Dead
Allah says in the Qur'an: "Did you (O Muhammad) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, 'Die.' And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men think not." (Ch 2:243)
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq related, on the authority of Wahb Ibn Munbah, that after Allah took Kalih Ibn Yofra, also known as Jephtha, who had succeeded Joshua, Ezekiel Ibn Buzi became the prophet sent to the Israelites. Before this, a group of Israelites had fled their homes in Palestine out of fear of a plague and had settled on a plateau. Allah commanded them, "Die, all of you," and they all perished there. Centuries later, Ezekiel happened to pass by the place and stood over the remains, filled with wonder. A voice asked him, "Do you want Allah to resurrect them while you watch?" He answered, "Yes." He was then commanded to call the bones to join together and become covered with flesh once more. When he did so by the power of Allah, the people rose up and glorified Allah together, speaking as though with a single voice.
Allah Resurrects the Dead Through Ezekiel
Ibn Abbas gave a fuller account of this event, saying the place was known as Damardan. Its people had been struck by plague, and while some fled, a group who remained in the village perished. The Angel of Death commanded the survivors, "Die, all of you," and they too perished. A long time afterward, Ezekiel passed by them and stood in amazement, twisting his jaw and fingers in wonder at what he saw. Allah revealed to him, "Do you want Me to show you how I bring them back to life?" Ezekiel answered yes, wishing to witness the greatness of Allah's power with his own eyes.
A voice instructed him to call out, "O you bones, Allah commands you to gather up." The bones began flying together, joining one to another, until they had formed complete skeletons. Then Allah revealed to him to call out again, "O you bones, Allah commands you to put on flesh and blood and the clothes in which you died." Following this, a voice commanded him to call the bodies to rise, and they did. Once restored to life, the people cried out, "Blessed are You, O Lord, and all praise is Yours." Ibn Abbas reported that four thousand people were resurrected that day, while Ibn Salih stated the number was nine thousand.
Hadith About the Plagues
This story connects to a hadith concerning how Muslims should respond to plague. Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al Jarrah related that Umar Ibn Al Khattab was traveling to Syria and had reached a place called Sarg when Abu Ubaidah, the leader of the Muslim army, and his companions met him and told him that a plague had broken out in Syria. Umar then recalled the saying of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): "If it, the plague, is in a country where you are staying, do not leave fleeing from it, and if you hear it is in a country, do not enter it." Upon remembering this, Umar praised Allah and turned back from his journey.
After Ezekiel
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq noted that it is not known exactly how long Ezekiel remained among the Israelites before Allah took his soul. After his death, the Israelites once again strayed from the right path, as they had done many times before, abandoning the covenant they had made with Allah. They turned to worshipping idols, among them one called Ba'al, and because of this, Allah sent them the Prophet Elijah.