How is it possible that a man lives for such a long time? Since the normal age of human being is 80 to 100 – although a few people live for more than a century – it is almost unlikely to believe such a long life. One sees normal ages hardly believes this or at least considers it as improbable. Long life is scientifically probable and scientists have concluded that human being is able to live for a long time without his cells being corrupted or getting old. This conclusion is reached after careful studies on human body.
George Bernard Shaw claims:
“All Biologists believe that the age of human being can be unlimited and long life is possible and borderless.”
Professor Stinger believes:
“I believe the human of twenty first century can live for more than thousands of years, for we have stepped into a path to success and development.”
Therefore, scientist try to find a way to overcome the short life of human being and make his life as long as possible. This proves the possibility of this phenomenon and some successes in the researches opens new horizons to the scientists. In some places we see some people who live around 150 years because of the climate, exercise and nutrition. Living for a long time is repeatedly happened in the history, and it is mentioned in many historical and holy books. Here are some examples:
1. In Koran, sura 37, verse 144, we see the story of Jonah:
“He would have in its belly [the fish] tarried, till the day when the dead are raised.”
According to this verse a long life (from the time of Jonah until the Resurrection Day) which is referred to as Eternal life by scientists and biologists is possible both for human being and fish.
2. In sura 26. verse 14, prophet hood of Noah is mentioned as:
“We sent Noah to his people and be stayed among them for 950 years.”
However, it refers to his prophet hood and according to some Hadiths he lived for 2450 years.
Imam Tradition which is both common in the life of Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) and Noah is the length of their life time.
3. About Jesus , Koran says (4/157):
“Most certainly they did not kill him [=Jesus] …, only some likeness them to baffle…”
According to Koran and many Hadiths, Muslims believe Jesus is alive and lives in heavens. He will come back and help Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) at time of his reappearance.
Imam Baqer (p.b.u.h.) says:
“Mahdi (p.b.u.h.) holds four traditions of previous prophets… and his tradition similar to Jesus is that, they claim that he has died but he is alive.”
In the Old Testament it is also mentioned that some prophets lived for long times:
“… And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died… and all the days of E-nos were nine hundred and five years: and he died … and all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died… and all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died…”
In the New Testament we find some verses indicating that Jesus was resurrected after he had been crucified and “he was taken up, and a cloud received him.” And he went up toward heaven, which show us he should be more than two thousand years old. These verses which directly refer to long ages of some people show that Jews and Christians should accept this possibility.
All these proofs are logically acceptable, and besides, since God Almighty is omnipotent and followers of all religions believe in his omnipotence and his ruling over all the particles and things in the universe, we can count it as probable. He creates everything and without his will nothing keeps its order. He had taken out of a mountain a she camel and he made the fire cool for Abraham. When Moses and his people were escaping from Egypt and Pharaoh was following them, He ordered Moses to “strike the sea with (his own) staff, thereby she was asunder cloven, and each disjointed part came off like a gigantic cliff” Now is it really improbable for such a God to make his last proof on earth live longer and therefore fulfill his promises and make his true servants and the faithful pleased?
Imam Hassan (p.b.u.h.) says:
“God make his (Imam Mahdi (p.b.u.h.)) life longer while he is hidden. Then bring him back again and with his omnipotence makes him look like a man in his 30s so that every one understands He is the Almighty God.”
This is logically, historically and scientifically acceptable and more over, is just the tip of iceberg as we consider the Omnipotence of Allah.