What is the status of the following Hadith?
عن علي رضي الله عنه، قال: خرج عزير نبي الله من مدينته، وهو رجل شاب، فمر على قرية وهي خاوية على عروشها، قال: أنى يحيي هذه الله بعد موتها، فأماته الله مائة عام، ثم بعثه فأول ما خلق عيناه، فجعل ينظر إلى عظامه، ينظم بعضها إلى بعض، ثم كسيت لحما، ونفخ فيه الروح، وهو رجل شاب، فقيل له: كم لبثت؟ قال: يوما أو بعض يوم، قال: بل لبثت مائة عام، قال: فأتى المدينة وقد ترك جارا له إسكافا شابا، فجاء وهو شيخ كبير
Answer
Imam Hakim (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration and has declared it authentic. ‘Allamah Dhahabi (rahimahullah) concurs.
(Mustadrak Hakim, vol. 2 pg. 282. Also see: Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Surah: Baqarah, Verse: 259)
The nature of this narration is not such that Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) could have made using logic. It will therefore be understood that Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) heard this from Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Translation
Sayyiduna ‘Ali (radiyallahu ‘anhu) says, “Nabi ‘Uzayr (‘alayhis salam) left his city as a youngster. He passed by a city passed by a town which had fallen into ruin. He asked, ‘How can Allah restore this to life when it has died?’ Allah caused him to die for a hundred years and then brought him back to life. Allah first created his eyes. He looked at his bones, being put together in order. Then they were covered with flesh and his soul blown into him. He was then asked, ‘How long have you been here?’ ‘Uzayr (‘alayhis salam) replied, ‘A day or part of a day.’ He said, ‘Not so! You have been here a hundred years.’ Upon returning to his town, he found his neighbour to be an elderly man, whereas when he left, he was a youngster who was a shoemaker.’
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar