Who is 'Uzair (Ezra) in the Quran?

'Uzair, often identified as the biblical Ezra, is a figure mentioned in the Quran whom classical scholars like Ibn Kathir consider a righteous servant or prophet. He is central to two key passages: one refuting the claim by a specific group of Jews that he was the 'son of God' (9:30), and another detailing his miraculous death and resurrection after 100 years as a sign of Allah's power (2:259).

What is the story of 'Uzair dying for 100 years?

According to the majority of classical commentators, Qur'an 2:259 refers to 'Uzair. He passed a ruined town and wondered how Allah could resurrect it. Allah then caused him to die for a century. Upon being resurrected, he witnessed his food and drink unspoiled while his donkey had decomposed and was then brought back to life before his eyes, serving as a powerful, personal proof of Allah's absolute power over resurrection.

Why does the Quran say some Jews called Ezra the 'son of God'?

Qur'an 9:30 states, "The Jews say, 'Ezra is the son of God.'" Islamic scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this was not a belief of all Jews, but a claim made by a specific, small group. This was possibly due to their immense reverence for him after he was said to have restored the Torah for them from memory, leading them to misguidedly exalt him to a divine status.

Ezra (Uzair) in Islam: Prophetic Figure and Divine Sign

Ezra

عزير

Explore Verses Related to Ezra

🕌At-Tawbah9:30 🕌Al-Baqarah2:259

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, 'Uzair (often identified with the biblical Ezra) is a significant figure in the Quran revered as a prophet or righteous servant of Allah. His importance is uniquely demonstrated through two distinct but complementary Quranic passages. In Surah At-Tawbah (9:30), the Quran addresses and firmly refutes a misguided claim made by a specific group among the Jews who exalted him as the 'son of God,' thereby reinforcing the absolute principle of Tawheed (God's Oneness). Concurrently, classical commentators like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari predominantly identify 'Uzair as the central figure in the powerful narrative of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:259). In this passage, Allah causes him to die for one hundred years and then resurrects him, providing an undeniable sign of the divine power of resurrection. The synthesis of these accounts presents 'Uzair as a pivotal figure whose story serves as both a stern warning against shirk (polytheism) and a profound demonstration of Allah's omnipotence to give life after death.

📖 Quranic Context

Serves as a focal point for two critical theological lessons: the absolute prohibition of shirk (attributing partners to God) and the certainty of resurrection.

A righteous servant of Allah, and according to many scholars, a prophet sent to the Children of Israel.

References: Two key verses: 9:30 addresses a theological claim, while 2:259 is widely interpreted by classical scholars as narrating his story.

💭 Theological Perspective

A sign (ayah) of Allah's absolute power to give life after death.

His story in 2:259 is a lesson in moving from wonder to certainty (yaqin) in faith through direct experience of divine power.

His life's mission, according to tradition, involved restoring the forgotten Torah for the Children of Israel, demonstrating Allah's preservation of guidance.

The narrative highlights the importance of contemplating Allah's creation and power as a means to strengthen faith.

📜 Hadith Perspective

While not frequently mentioned in major hadith collections, narrations from the companions (Sahaba), like Ibn Abbas, provide context for the Quranic verses.

Identification as the man in Qur'an 2:259.
Clarification that the claim in 9:30 was made by a specific group of Jews.

The majority of classical commentators identify Uzair with the biblical Ezra and as the subject of the story in Qur'an 2:259.

💎 Deeper Insights

Search-grounded synthesis reveals that 'Uzair's story in 2:259 is a perfect 'divine rebuttal' to the error in 9:30. The group that exalted him did so because of his extraordinary life. The Quran narrates that very life, but frames it not as a reason to deify the man, but as a sign to worship the God who holds power over the man. It turns a potential source of shirk into a source of Tawheed.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari

In the narrative of 2:259, Allah provides 'Uzair with two types of proof: one of preservation (food and drink unchanged) and one of transformation (the donkey's resurrection). According to scholarly analysis, this demonstrates Allah's complete mastery over time and matter. He can suspend decay for 100 years and can also reverse it instantly, a subtle yet profound display of His omnipotence that goes beyond just resurrection.

— Al-Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir