Did you not see a report for those who heard their story from the People of the Book and the news of the ancients, and amazement at their affair? It is permissible to address those who have not seen or heard, because this speech is in the manner of a proverb in the sense of amazement. It is narrated that the people of Dawardan, a village before Wasit, were struck by a plague, so they fled in fear. Allah caused them to die, then He brought them back to life so that they might reflect and know that there is no escape from the decree and judgment of Allah. It is said that Hizqil passed by them after a long time, and their bones were bare and their limbs were scattered. He gaped in astonishment at what he saw, and it was revealed to him: Call out to them to rise by the permission of Allah. So he called out, and he saw them standing, saying: 'Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You; there is no deity except You.' It is said that they were a people from the Children of Israel whom their king called to jihad, but they fled in fear of death. Allah caused them to die for eight days, then He brought them back to life, and they were thousands, which indicates the great multitude. There is disagreement about this; some say ten, some say thirty, and some say seventy. Among the unique interpretations is that 'thousands' refers to those who are united, a plural of 'alif' like 'qa'id' and 'qu'ud.' If you say: What is the meaning of His saying: 'So Allah said to them: Die'? I say: Its meaning is that He caused them to die, and it was phrased this way to indicate that they died as one man by the command and will of Allah. That death is beyond the norm, as if they were commanded to do something and they complied without refusal or hesitation, as His saying: 'Indeed, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it: Be, and it is.' This is encouragement for the Muslims to strive in jihad and seek martyrdom, and that if death cannot be avoided and there is no escape from it, it is better to be in the way of Allah. This is a favor upon the people, as He shows them what they can reflect upon and gain insight from, just as He made those aware, and as He made you aware by recounting their story. Or it is a favor upon the people as He brought those back to life so that they might reflect and succeed, and if He had willed, He could have left them dead until the Day of Resurrection. The evidence that He narrated this story to encourage jihad is what He followed with the command to fight in the way of Allah: 'And know that Allah is Hearing, hearing what the laggards and the early ones say, and Knowing what they conceal, and He is beyond recompense.'