Translation:
Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how You givest life to the dead 306." He said: "Do you not then believe?" He said: "Even! but to satisfy My own understanding 307." He said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to you; put a portion 308 of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to you (Flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise."
Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how You givest life to the dead 306." He said: "Do you not then believe?" He said: "Even! but to satisfy My own understanding 307." He said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to you; put a portion 308 of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to you (Flying) with speed. Then know that Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise."
Translation:
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 [let me see it] so that my heart may be set fully at rest." Said He: "Take, then, four birds and teach them to obey thee; 256 . then place them separately on every hill [around thee]; then summon them: they will come flying to thee. And know that God is almighty, wise." 257
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 [let me see it] so that my heart may be set fully at rest." Said He: "Take, then, four birds and teach them to obey thee; 256 . then place them separately on every hill [around thee]; then summon them: they will come flying to thee. And know that God is almighty, wise." 257
Commentary:
256 Lit., "make them incline towards thee" (Zamakhshari ; see also Lane IV, 1744).
257 My rendering of the above parable is based on the primary meaning of the imperative surhunna ilayka ("make them incline towards thee", i.e., "teach them to obey thee"). The moral of this story has been pointed out convincingly by the famous commentator Abu Muslim (as quoted by Razi): "If man is able - as he undoubtedly is - to train birds in such a way as to make them obey his call, then it is obvious that God, whose will all things obey, can call life into being by simply decreeing, .Be!"'
256 Lit., "make them incline towards thee" (Zamakhshari ; see also Lane IV, 1744).
257 My rendering of the above parable is based on the primary meaning of the imperative surhunna ilayka ("make them incline towards thee", i.e., "teach them to obey thee"). The moral of this story has been pointed out convincingly by the famous commentator Abu Muslim (as quoted by Razi): "If man is able - as he undoubtedly is - to train birds in such a way as to make them obey his call, then it is obvious that God, whose will all things obey, can call life into being by simply decreeing, .Be!"'
306 Verse 258, we saw, illustrated Allah's power over Life and Death, contrasted with man's vain boasts or imaginings. Verse 259 illustrated how Time is immaterial to Allah's workings; things; individuals and nations are subject to laws of life and death, which are under Allah's complete control, however much we may be misled by appearances. (R).
307 Abraham had complete faith in Allah's power, but he wanted, with Allah's permission, to give an explanation of that faith to his own heart and mind. Where I have translated "satisfy my own understanding," the literal translation would be "satisfy my own heart."
308 A portion of them: Juz'an. The Commentators understand this to mean that the birds were to be cut up and pieces of them were to be put on the hills. The cutting up or killing is not mentioned, but they say that it is implied by an ellipsis, as the question is how Allah gives life to the dead. (R).