Description

LINEAGE

Prophet Ilyas (AS) was a prophet and messenger of Allah who was sent to guide the Children of Israel. He was given the prophetic mission to prevent people from worshipping idols. Ilyas (AS) is the prophetic predecessor to Al-Yasa (AS). Some Islamic scholars believe, that Ilyas (AS) is from the progeny of Harun (AS).

Some Muslims believe that Ilyas (AS) is still alive and attends Hajj every year, along with Khidr. Some Muslims also believe that Ilyas (AS) will return at the end of times.

LIFE

He was sent to the people of Bal back to the west of Damascus. He called them to worship Allah, the Majestic, the Glorious, and he stressed upon them that they should give up their idol worship whom they had named Ba’al.

His people did not listen to him. They not only refused to believe in him but also opposed him tooth and nail, so he had to flee from them. He returned only after their king died and another had taken over. He presented his religion to the new king too. A large number of his subjects became believers, but the king had them all killed. For 22 years Ilyas (AS) invited people towards Tawheed and religious laws.

Makhul has reported from Ka’ab that four of the Prophets are alive. Two of them are living on earth, Ilyas (AS), and Al-Khidr (AS), and two live in the heavens, Idris (AS) and Isa (AS).

MIRACLES

He performed several miracles, including the following: Resurrecting several dead. He also commanded the fire not to burn the king’s wife who was thrown into the fire by the king because of her faith.

LEGACY

Muslim literature and tradition recount that Ilyas (AS) preached to the Kingdom of Israel, ruled over by Ahab and later his son Ahaziah. He is called a “prophet of the desert”. Ilyas (AS) is believed to have preached with zeal to Ahab and his wife Jezebel, who was partly responsible for the worship of false idols in this area.

Ilyas (AS) has been the subject of legends and folktales in Muslim culture, usually involving his meeting with Khidr. In Islamic mysticism, Ilyas (AS) is associated closely with the sage Khidr. One hadith reported that Ilyas (AS) and Khidr met together every year in Jerusalem to go on the pilgrimage to Mecca.