Those Who Fled Death — Flight from Fate Avails Nothing

Verse: "Have you not seen those who came out of their homes in thousands, fleeing death? Allah said to them: Die! Then He revived them." (Al-Baqarah 243)

The scene: A large people came out of their homes in thousands fleeing death — said to be fleeing plague, or fleeing obligatory combat. The flight was collective, the number huge, and the intention was to flee fate. Allah said: "Die!" — and they all died where they stood. Then He revived them.

The immediate comparison:
The very next verse (244): "And fight in the cause of Allah and know that Allah is Hearing and Knowing" — fleeing combat was placed directly beside the story of those who fled death. The juxtaposition is intentional.

The narrative effect:
Hizkeel ibn Budha (mentioned in commentary traditions), who witnessed their revival, was himself a sign — just as Uzayr (Al-Baqarah 259) was answered by witnessing. The two verses are adjacent in context, complementing each other.

Lesson:
Running from fate does not escape it — the thousands who fled found death in the very place they fled to. But the revival after death made them witnesses to Allah's power for those who came after them.