Discovery of grave of boy from story of boy and monk (Soorah Al-Burooj)

5-3-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. I would like to know the authenticity of what many Quran exegesists mention in their exegesis of Soorah Al-Burooj. Many of them say that the boy in the story of the monk and the king was found and dug up during the rule of ʻUmar (may Allaah be pleased with him) and that his hand was still holding the arrow, as mentioned in the hadith. What is the authenticity of this statement? May Allaah bless you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger. 

This account is part of a report that was narrated on the authority of Suhayb Ar-Roomi and it reads, "It was mentioned that he was dug out during the time of ʻUmar ibn Al-Khattaab and that his finger was on his temple, just as he had placed it when he was killed." [At-Tirmithi] Al-Albaani declared the report saheeh (sound).

The statement about which you are asking was cited by Al-Mubaarakfoori and he commented on it saying:

"Ibn Is-haaq said, 'I was told by ʻAbdullaah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Muhammad ibn ʻAmr ibn Hazm that he was told that in the days of ʻUmar ibn Al-Khattaab, a man from Najraan dug up one of the ruins of Najraan intending to make use of the land when he came upon ʻAbdullaah ibn At-Taamir buried therein; he was in a sitting posture with his hand covering a wound in his head and holding firmly to it. When his hand was removed, the blood began to flow; when they let go of his hand, it returned to its place and the flow of blood ceased. On his finger was a ring with the inscription 'Allaah is my Lord'. A message was sent to ʻUmar about it, and he replied, ‘Leave him as he is and bury him as he was buried,’ and his orders were carried out.'” [Sharh Tuhfat Al-Ahwathi]

Allaah knows best.