Intermediate
Fiqh Variants
Surah: Al-Baqarah (259)
"Nanshuruha / Nanshuzuha" in Al-Baqarah 259 — Resurrection and Revival in Both Readings
ثُمَّ انظُرۡ إِلَى ٱلۡعِظَامِ كَيۡفَ نُنشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكۡسُوهَا لَحۡمٗا
— البقرة الآية 259
The verse:
"Then look at the bones, how We raise them [nanshuruha/nanshuzuha] then clothe them with flesh." (Al-Baqarah: 259)
The two readings:
The two readings are complementary: Allah raises and assembles the bones (nanshuzuha), then revives them with the spirit (nanshuruha) — both describe stages of resurrection. Ibn Ashur: "Both readings describe two aspects of re-creation."
Legal implication:
The verse is proof of the possibility of resurrection — a rebuttal to those who denied it in the Prophet's era.
"Then look at the bones, how We raise them [nanshuruha/nanshuzuha] then clothe them with flesh." (Al-Baqarah: 259)
The two readings:
- "Nanshuruha" (with ra): read by Ibn Amir, Abu Jafar, and others. Meaning: from inshaar — reviving and bringing back to life.
- "Nanshuzuha" (with zay): read by Nafi, Asim, Hamza, Al-Kisa'i, Abu Amr, and Khalaf. Meaning: from inshaaz — lifting and moving — raising the bones back to their positions.
The two readings are complementary: Allah raises and assembles the bones (nanshuzuha), then revives them with the spirit (nanshuruha) — both describe stages of resurrection. Ibn Ashur: "Both readings describe two aspects of re-creation."
Legal implication:
The verse is proof of the possibility of resurrection — a rebuttal to those who denied it in the Prophet's era.
Source: Al-Nashr (2/228); Al-Itihaf (p.170); Ibn Ashur Tafseer (3/67); Ibn Mujahid, Al-Sab'a (p.192)
Test Yourself
What is the difference between "nanshuruha" (with ra) and "nanshuzuha" (with zay) in Al-Baqarah 259?
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