And when Abraham said: “My Lord, show Thou me how Thou wilt give life to the dead,” He said: “Dost thou not believe?” Said he: “Verily, but that my heart should be at rest.” He said: “Take thou four birds, and cause thou them to incline to thee; then place thou a part of them upon each hill; then call thou to them — they will come to thee in haste. And know thou that God is exalted in might and wise.”
| # | word | meaning | root |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | wa-idh | And when | |
| 2 | qāla | said | قول |
| 3 | ib'rāhīmu | Ibrahim | |
| 4 | rabbi | My Lord | ربب |
| 5 | arinī | show me | راي |
| 6 | kayfa | how | كيف |
| 7 | tuḥ'yī | You give life | حيي |
| 8 | l-mawtā | (to) the dead | موت |
| 9 | qāla | He said | قول |
| 10 | awalam | Have not | |
| 11 | tu'min | you believed | امن |
| 12 | qāla | He said | قول |
| 13 | balā | Yes | |
| 14 | walākin | [and] but | |
| 15 | liyaṭma-inna | to satisfy | طمن |
| 16 | qalbī | my heart | قلب |
| 17 | qāla | He said | قول |
| 18 | fakhudh | Then take | اخذ |
| 19 | arbaʿatan | four | ربع |
| 20 | mina | of | |
| 21 | l-ṭayri | the birds | طير |
| 22 | faṣur'hunna | and incline them | صور |
| 23 | ilayka | towards you | |
| 24 | thumma | then | |
| 25 | ij'ʿal | put | جعل |
| 26 | ʿalā | on | |
| 27 | kulli | each | كلل |
| 28 | jabalin | hill | جبل |
| 29 | min'hunna | of them | |
| 30 | juz'an | a portion | جزا |
| 31 | thumma | then | |
| 32 | ud'ʿuhunna | call them | دعو |
| 33 | yatīnaka | they will come to you | اتي |
| 34 | saʿyan | (in) haste | سعي |
| 35 | wa-iʿ'lam | And know | علم |
| 36 | anna | that | |
| 37 | l-laha | Allah | |
| 38 | ʿazīzun | (is) All-Mighty | عزز |
| 39 | ḥakīmun | All-Wise | حكم |
When Ibrahim said, ‘My Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life. ’ He asked, ‘Do you not then have iman?’ He replied, ‘Indeed I do! But so that my heart may be at peace.’ He said, ‘Take four birds and train them to yourself. Then put a part of them on each mountain and call to them; they will come rushing to you. Know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.’
And Abraham said: "My Lord, show me how you resurrect the dead. " He said: "Do you not already believe" He said: "I do, but it is so my heart can be relieved." He said: "Choose four birds, then cut them, then place parts of the birds on each mountain, then call them to you; they will come racing towards you. And know that God is Noble, Wise".
Abraham wanted to understand the Law of Revival of nations. Allah asked him if he believed that it were possible. Abraham said he believed but that he wanted a practical example to educate his heart and mind. Allah told him to take four birds and train them in a kind manner, and then to leave them far apart on each hilltop. And then call them; they will come in haste. (At one call of Abraham, those birds came flying back to him. This is how mankind can be brought to the Word of Allah with decent training, giving them a new life). Know that this Wisdom comes to you from Allah, the Almighty, the Wise.
And when Abraham said: “My Lord, show Thou me how Thou wilt give life to the dead,” He said: “Dost thou not believe?” Said he: “Verily, but that my heart should be at rest.” He said: “Take thou four birds, and cause thou them to incline to thee; then place thou a part of them upon each hill; then call thou to them — they will come to thee in haste. And know thou that God is exalted in might and wise.”
And Abraham said: "My Lord, show me how you resurrect the dead." He said: "Do you not already believe?" He said: "I do, but it is so my heart can be relieved." He said: "Choose four birds, then cut them, then place parts of the birds on each mountain, then call them to you; they will come racing towards you. And know that God is Noble, Wise."
Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how you resurrect the dead." He said, "Do you not already acknowledge?" He said, "I do, but to assure my heart." He said, "Choose four birds, then cut them, then place parts of the birds on each mountain, then call them to you; they will come racing towards you. Know that God is Noble, Wise."
Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You revive the dead." He said, "Do you not believe?" He said, "Yes, but I wish to reassure my heart." He said, "Take four birds, study their marks, place a piece of each bird on top of a hill, then call them to you. They will come to you in a hurry. You should know that GOD is Almighty, Most Wise."
Remember, when Abraham said: "O Lord, show me how you raise the dead," He said: "What! Do you not believe?" "I do," answered Abraham. "I only ask for my heart's assurance." (The Lord) said: "Trap four birds and tame them, then put each of them on a (separate) hill, and call them, and they will come flying to you. Know that God is all-powerful and all-wise."
And when Abraham said, "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead. " said, "Have you not believed?" He said, "Yes, but only that my heart may be satisfied." said, "Take four birds and commit them to yourself. Then put on each hill a portion of them; then call them - they will come to you in haste. And know that Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise."
And, lo, Abraham said: "O my Sustainer! Show me how Thou givest life unto the dead!" Said He: "Hast thou, then, no faith?" (Abraham) answered: "Yea, but so that my heart may be set fully at rest. " Said He: "Take, then, four birds and teach them to obey thee; then place them separately on every hill ; then summon them: they will come flying to thee. And know that God is almighty, wise."
And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste, and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.
And recall when Abraham said: "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead," Allah said: “Why! Do you have no faith?” Abraham replied: “Yes, but in order that my heart be at rest.”* He said: “Then take four birds, and tame them to yourself, then put a part of them on every hill, and summon them; they will come to you flying. Know well that Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”*
And Ibrahim spoke to Allah and said: "O Allah, my Creator, show me how you bring the dead back to life!" Allah said: "Do you not assent to the truth of Resurrection?" "Indeed I do," said Ibrahim, "this is not to satisfy doubts but to satisfy my reason and heart and become a better man. " "Then," said Allah, "take four birds and train them to get accustomed to you. Then, "Tie them, kill them, cut them into pieces, then place each piece on a different hill, and call them to you and they shall swiftly take wing, and this should cause you to realise that Allah is indeed Azizun and Hakimun".
Abraham, too, asked such a question from his Lord. God said to him "Do you doubt me?" He replied: “Not at all; I simply want to see it with my own eyes.” God said: “Take four birds and tame them with yourself. Then cut them into pieces and place a piece on each hill. Then call them and they will come running to you in one piece. Then know for sure that God is Almighty, All-Wise.”
And (remember) when Ibrâhîm (Abraham) said, "My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead." He (Allâh) said: "Do you not believe?" He said: "Yes (I believe), but to be stronger in Faith." He said: "Take four birds, then cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter them, cut them into pieces), and then put a portion of them on every hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste. And know that Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise."
When Abraham said: "Show me, Lord, how You will raise the dead, " He replied: "Have you no faith?" He said "Yes, but just to reassure my heart." Allah said, "Take four birds, draw them to you, and cut their bodies to pieces. Scatter them over the mountain-tops, then call them back. They will come swiftly to you. Know that Allah is Mighty, Wise."
And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said, "My Lord! Show me how you give life to the dead." Allah responded, “Do you not believe?” Abraham replied, “Yes I do, but just so my heart can be reassured.” Allah said, “Then bring four birds, train them to come to you, ˹then cut them into pieces,˺ and scatter them on different hilltops. Then call them back, they will fly to you in haste. And ˹so you will˺ know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”
(Remember) when Ibrāhīm said: "My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead." He said: “Is it that you do not believe?’’ He said: “Of course, I do, but it is just to make my heart at peace.’’ He said: “Then take four birds and tame them to your call, then put on every mountain a part from them, then give them a call, and they shall come to you rushing, and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise.’’
And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead,’ He said, ‘Do you not believe, then?’ ‘Yes,’ said Abraham, ‘but just to put my heart at rest.’ So God said, ‘Take four birds and train them to come back to you. Then place them on separate hilltops, call them back, and they will come flying to you: know that God is all powerful and wise.’
And when Abraham said, 'My Lord, show me how Thou wilt give life to the dead,' He said, 'Why, dost thou not believe?' 'Yes,' he said, 'but that my heart may be at rest. ' Said He, 'Take four birds, and twist them to thee, then set a part of them on every hill, then summon them, and they will come to thee running. And do thou know that God is All-mighty, All-wise.'
And when Abraham said, 'Lord, show me how thou wilt revive the dead,' He said, 'What, dost thou not yet believe?' Said he, 'Yea, but that my heart may be quieted. ' He said, 'Then take four birds, and take them close to thyself; then put a part of them on every mountain; then call them, and they will come to thee in haste; and know that God is mighty, wise.'
And when Abraham said, "Lord, show me how you will revive the dead," He said, "What, do you not yet believe?" Said he, "Yea, but that my heart may be quieted. " He said, "Then take four birds, and take them close to yourself (tame them or make them love you); then put some of them on every hill; then call them, and they will come to you in haste; and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise."
And as Ibrahîm (Abraham) said, "Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead. " He Allah) said, "And have you not believed?" He (Ibrahîm) said, "Yes indeed, but that my heart be composed." Said He, "So take four of the birds, then wring them to you (and divide them); thereafter set a portion of them on every mountain; thereafter call them; they will come up to you with hasty diligence (and) know that Allah is Ever-Mighty, Ever-Wise."
And when Abraham said, O Lord, shew me how thou wilt raise the dead; God said, dost thou not yet believe? He answered, yea; but I ask this that my heart may rest at ease. God said, take therefore four birds, and divide them; then lay a part of them on every mountain; then call them, and they shall come swiftly unto thee: And know that God is mighty and wise.
And (remember) when Ibrahim (Abraham) said: "My Lord! Show me how You give life to the dead:" He (Allah) said: "Do you not believe then?" He (Ibrahim) said: "Yes! But to satisfy my own understanding. " He (Allah) said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn (fly) to you; (Slaughter them into pieces and) put a portion of them (the birds) on every hill, and (then) call to them they will come to you (flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Highest in Power, Wise."
And (recall the time) when Abraham said, `My Lord! show me how You give life to the dead. ' (The Lord) said, `Do you not believe (that I can)?' He said, `Yes I do, but (I ask this) that my mind may be at peace.' (The Lord) said, `Take four birds and make them attached to you, then put them each on a separate hill, then call them, they will come to you swiftly. And know that Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise.'
And when Abraham said, ‘My Lord! Show me how You revive the dead,’ He said, ‘Do you not believe?’ He said, ‘Yes indeed, but in order that my heart may be at rest. ’ He said, ‘Take four of the birds. Then cut them into pieces, and place a part of them on every mountain, then call them; they will come to you hastening. And know that Allah is all-mighty and all-wise.’