Ilyās () in Islam was a prophet of God who was sent to guide the Israelites. He was given the prophetic mission to prevent people from worshipping idols. Ilyas is the prophetic predecessor to Alyasa.Ibn Kathir, Stories of the Prophets, p. 474 Some Islamic scholars believe, that Ilyas is from the progeny of Harun (Aaron).Ṣadīq Ḥasan Khān, Fatḥ al-bayān, vol. 5, p. 594.

Early life In Islamic sources, Ilyas' full name is Ilyas ibn Yasin.Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 1, p. 273.

According to many Islamic sources and the Bible, Ilyas ascended to the heavens.Kings 2, Chapter 2; Quṭb al-Dīn al-Rāwandī, Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, vol. 2, p. 119; Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-umam wa l-mulūk, vol. 1, p. 274. However, Ibn Kathir did not accept these hadiths and considered them among Isra'iliyat.Ibn Kathīr, Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, vol. 2, p. 243. In Mu'jam al-buldan, Yaqut al-Hamawi mentioned a grave for Ilyas in Baalbek.Yāqūt al-Ḥamawī, Muʿjam al-buldān, vol. 1, p. 454. A shrine was later built over this grave, but it was dedicated to a "Prophet Aila" even though locals believed it was the tomb of Elias.

Prophethood

Ilyas is first mentioned as a prophet in Al-An'am 6:85. He invited his people who lived in Baalbek to monotheism, obeying Allah and abandoning sins.Ashʿarī, al-Maqālāt wa l-firaq, p. 173. His main task was to prevent the idol-worshipping.Maqdisī, al-Bidaʾ wa l-tārīkh, vol. 3, p. 99; Ṭabrisī, Majmaʿ al-bayān, vol. 8, p. 713. After he faced persistence of his people for many years, cursed them with drought and people were inflicted with starvation.Ṭabarī, Jāmiʿ al-bayān, vol. 23, p. 59-60; Thaʿlabī, Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, p. 223. Ilyas' narrative in the Quran and later Muslim tradition resembles closely that in the Hebrew Bible and Muslim literature records Elijah's primary prophesying as taking place during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel as well as Ahaziah. Ilyas' figure has been identified with a number of other prophets and saints, including Idris, which is believed by some scholars to have been another name for Ilyas,Message of the Qur'an, M. Asad, Commentary on 19: 56–57 and Khidr.Dimensions of Islam, F. Schuon, index. Sayyidna Khizr Islamic legend later developed the figure of Ilyas, greatly embellishing upon his attributes, and some apocryphal literature gave Ilyas the status of a half-human, half-angel.Encyclopedia of Islam, Vol. III, H-Iram Ilyas also appears in later works of literature, including the Hamzanama.Adventures of Amir Hamza, J. Seyller, p. 240

Quran Elijah is mentioned in the Quran, where his preaching is recounted in a concise manner. The Quran narrates that Elijah told his people to come to the worship of Allah and to leave the worship of Baal, the primary idol of the area. The Quran states:

The Quran makes it clear that the majority of Elijah's people denied the prophet and continued to follow idolatry. However, it mentions that a small number of devoted servants of God among them followed Elijah and believed in and worshiped Allah. The Quran states, "They denied him (Elijah), and will surely be brought to punishment, Except the sincere and devoted Servants of Allah (among them). And We left his (memory) for posterity."Quran 37:127–128

In the Quran, Allah praises Elijah in two places:

Numerous commentators, including Abdullah Yusuf Ali, have offered commentary on verse 85 saying that Elijah, Zakariya, Yahya and Isa were all spiritually connected. Abdullah Yusuf Ali says, "The third group consists not of men of action, but Preachers of Truth, who led solitary lives. Their epithet is: "the Righteous." They form a connected group round Jesus. Zachariah was the father of John the Baptist, who is referenced as "Elijah, which was for to come" (Matt 11:14); and Elias is said to have been present and talked to Jesus at the Transfiguration on the Mount (Matt. 17:3)."Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary, Note. 905"

Although most Muslim scholars believed that Elijah preached in Israel, some early commentators on the Quran stated that Ilyas was sent to Baalbek, in Lebanon.Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, Story of Elias and Elisha Modern scholars have rejected this claim, stating that the connection of the city with Elijah would have been made because of the first half of the city's name, that of Baal, which was the deity that Elijah exhorted his people to stop worshiping. Scholars who reject identification of Elijah's town with Baalbek further argue that the town of Baalbek is not mentioned with the narrative of Elijah in either the Quran or the Hebrew Bible.Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam, B. M. Wheeler, Baalbek

Death By the passage of time, drought spread and many died. When they saw themselves inflicted, regretted their past deeds, turned to Elyas, and accepted his invitation.Ṭabarī, Jāmiʿ al-bayān, vol. 23, p. 59-60. Thaʿlabī, Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, p. 223. Then, due to the Dua of Ilias a heavy rain came and the land was satiated; however, after a while, people forgot their covenant with Allah and returned to idol worshipping. When Ilias saw this, he asked God for his own death; but, Allah sent him a chariot of fire and he ascended to the skies and chose Alyasa who was his pupil as his vicegerent. Ilyas is rarely associated with Islamic eschatology.C. Glasse. "Elijah". Concise Encyclopedia of Islam However, some Muslims believe that Ilyas is expected to come back along with the mysterious figure Khidr during the end of times.

Legacy

Muslim literature and tradition recounts that Ilyas preached to the Kingdom of Israel, ruled over by Ahab and later his son Ahaziah. He is called a "prophet of the desert—like Yahya".Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation, Commentary, Note on Elijah Ilyas is believed to have preached with zeal to Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who according to Muslim tradition was partly responsible for the worship of false idols in this area. Muslims believe that it was because the majority of people refused to listen to Elijah that Elisha had to continue preaching the message of Allah to Israel after him.Stories of the Prophets, Ibn Kathir, Stories of Elias and Elisha

Ilyas has been the subject of legends and folktales in Muslim culture, usually involving his meeting with Khidr. According to a Muslim exegete report, Muhammad met Ilyas in Makkah.Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, B. M. Wheeler, Elijah: "Muslim exegetes report that the Prophet Muhammed and a group of followers once met Elijah on a journey outside Makkah. In Islamic mysticism, Ilyas is associated closely with the sage Khidr. One hadith reported that Ilyas and Khidr met together every year in Jerusalem to go on the pilgrimage to Makkah.Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, B. M. Wheeler, Elijah: "It is reported by Ibn Kathir that every year during the month of Ramadan in Jerusalem, the prophets Elijah and Khidr meet..." Ilyas appears also in the Hamzanama numerous times, where he is spoken of as being the brother of Khidr as well as one who drank from the Fountain of Youth.The Adventures of Amir Hamza, trans. M. A. Farooqi, cf. List of Characters: Ilyas or Prophet Elias Further, It is narrated in Kitab al-Kafi that Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq was reciting the prostration of Ilyas in the Syrian language and began to weep. He then translated the supplication in Arabic to a group of visiting scholars:"O Lord, will I find that you punish me although you know of my thirst in the heat of midday? Will I find that you punish me although you know that I rub my face on Earth to worship you? Will I find that you punish me although you know that I give up sins for you? Will I find that you punish me although you know that I stay awake all night just for you?" To which Allah then inspired to Ilyas, "Raise your head from the Earth for I will not punish you".

Notes

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