Elijah

== In Islam ==
[[File:Khidr and elijah.jpg|thumb|''[[Khidr|Khizr]] and Elijah Praying in [[Mecca]]''; [[Persian miniature]] from an [[illuminated manuscript]] of ''[[Stories of the Prophets]]'' (c. 427 [[Hijri year|AH]]/ 1036 [[AD]])]]{{Main|Elijah in Islam}}
{{Islamic prophets|Prophets in the Quran}}

Elijah ({{lang-ar|إلياس|translit=Ilyās}}) is mentioned as a [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|prophet]] in {{qref|6|85|b=y}}. Elijah's 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 of Israel|Ahaziah]].{{efn|"Elias is the same as Elijah, whose story will be found in the Old Testament in 1 Kings 17–19 and 2 Kings 1–2. Elijah lived in the reign of Ahab (896–874&nbsp;BC) and Ahaziah (874–872&nbsp;BC), kings of the (northern) kingdom of Israel or Samaria. He was a prophet of the desert, like John the Baptist, unlike our holy Prophet, who took part in, controlled, and guided all the affairs of his people. Both Ahab and Azariah were prone to lapse into the worship of Baal, the sun-god worshipped in Syria. That worship also included the worship of nature-powers and procreative powers, as in the Hindu worship of the Lingam, and led to many abuses. King Ahab had married a princess of Sidon, Jezebel, a wicked woman who led her husband to forsake Allah and adopt Baal-worship." ... "Elijah denounced all Ahab's sins as well as the sins of Ahaziah and had to flee for his life. Eventually, according to the Old Testament,<ref>4 Kings, 2:11</ref> he was taken up in a whirlwind to heaven in a chariot of fire after he had left his mantle with Elisha the prophet."<ref>[[Abdullah Yusuf Ali]], ''[[The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary]]'', Note&nbsp;'''4112'''</ref>}} He is seen by [[Muslim]]s to be the prophetic predecessor to [[Elisha in Islam|Elisha]]. While neither the Bible nor the Quran mentions the genealogy of Elijah, some scholars of Islam believe he may have come from the priestly family of the prophet [[Aaron in Islam|Aaron]].<ref>Ibn Kathir, ''[[Stories of the Prophets (Ibn Kathir)|Stories of the Prophets]]'', p. 474</ref> While Elijah is associated with [[Islamic eschatology]], [[Islam]] views [[Jesus in Islam|Jesus]] as the [[Messiah]].<ref>C. Glasse. "Elijah". ''Concise Encyclopedia of Islam''</ref> However, Elijah is expected to come back along with the mysterious figure known as [[Khidr]] during the [[Last Judgment]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Islamic View of the Coming/Return of Jesus |website=islamicperspectives.com |url=http://www.islamicperspectives.com/returnofjesus.htm |access-date=14 September 2015  |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923170110/http://www.islamicperspectives.com/returnofjesus.htm |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> Elijah's figure has been identified with a number of other [[prophet]]s and [[saint]]s, including [[Idris (prophet)|Idris]], which is believed by some [[scholar]]s to have been another name for Elijah,<ref>''Message of the Qur'an'', M. Asad, Commentary on 19: 56–57</ref> and Khidr.<ref>''Dimensions of Islam'', F. Schuon, index. ''Sayyidna Khizr''</ref> [[Islamic]] [[legend]] later developed the figure of Elijah, greatly embellishing upon his attributes, and some apocryphal literature gave Elijah the status of a half-human, half-angel.<ref>''Encyclopedia of Islam'', Vol. III, H-Iram</ref> Elijah also appears in later works of literature, including the ''[[Hamzanama]]''.<ref>''Adventures of Amir Hamza'', J. Seyller, p. 240</ref>

=== 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 God and to leave the worship of [[Baal]], the primary [[Idolatry|idol]] of the area. The Quran states, "And Elias was indeed one of the messengers. ˹Remember˺ when he said to his people, “Will you not fear ˹Allah˺? Do you call upon ˹the idol of˺ Ba’l and abandon the Best of Creators— Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?” " <ref>{{qref|37|123-126|c=y}}</ref>

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 God. The Quran states, "But they rejected him, so they will certainly be brought ˹for punishment˺. But not the chosen servants of Allah. We blessed him ˹with honourable mention˺ among later generations: "<ref>{{qref|37|127-129|c=y}}</ref>

In the Quran, God praises Elijah in two places:
{{Blockquote|“Peace be upon Elias.” Indeed, this is how We reward the good-doers. He was truly one of Our faithful servants.|{{qref|37|130-132|c=y}} }}
{{Blockquote|Likewise, ˹We guided˺ Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias, who were all of the righteous.|{{qref|6|85|c=y}} }}

Numerous commentators, including [[Abdullah Yusuf Ali]], have offered commentary on VI: 85 saying that Elijah, [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]] 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 "Elias, 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)."<ref>[[Abdullah Yusuf Ali]], ''[[The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation and Commentary]]'', Note. '''905'''"</ref>

=== Literature and tradition ===
Muslim [[literature]] and [[tradition]] recounts that Elijah preached to the [[Kingdom of Israel (Samaria)|Kingdom of Israel]], ruled over by [[Ahab]] and later his son [[Ahaziah of Israel|Ahaziah]]. He is believed to have been a "prophet of the desert—like [[John the Baptist]]".<ref>Abdullah Yusuf Ali, ''Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation, Commentary'', ''Note on Elijah''</ref> Elijah 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 god|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 [[God]] to Israel after him.<ref>''[[Stories of the Prophets (Ibn Kathir)|Stories of the Prophets]]'', Ibn Kathir, ''Stories of Elias and Elisha''</ref>

Elijah has been the subject of legends and folktales in Muslim culture, usually involving his meeting with Khidr, and in one legend, with [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]] himself.<ref>''Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism'', B. M. Wheeler, ''Elijah'': "Muslim exegetes report that the prophet Muhammad and a band of followers once met Elijah on a journey outside Mecca. Elijah served the prophet with food from heaven and then left on a cloud heading for the heavens"</ref> In [[Islamic]] [[mysticism]], Elijah is associated closely with the sage [[Khidr]]. One hadith reported that Elijah and [[Khidr]] met together every year in [[Jerusalem]] to go on the [[pilgrimage]] to [[Mecca]].<ref>''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..."</ref> Elijah 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]].<ref>''The Adventures of Amir Hamza'', trans. M. A. Farooqi, cf. List of Characters: ''Ilyas'' or ''Prophet Elias''</ref>

Further, It is narrated in [[Kitab al-Kafi]] that Imam [[Ja'far al-Sadiq]] was reciting the prostration of Ilyas (Elijah) in the Syrian language and began to weep. He then translated the supplication in Arabic to a group of visiting scholars: 
<blockquote><poem>
"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".<ref name="Kulayni">{{cite book |last1=Al-Kulayni |first1=Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Ya’qub |title=Kitab al-Kafi |date=2015 |publisher=The Islamic Seminary Inc. |location=South Huntington, NY |isbn=9780991430864 }}</ref>
</poem></blockquote>

Although most [[Muslim]] scholars believed that Elijah preached in [[Israel]], some early commentators on the Quran stated that Elijah was sent to [[Baalbek]], in [[Lebanon]].<ref>''[[Stories of the Prophets (Ibn Kathir)|Stories of the Prophets]]'', Ibn Kathir, ''Story of Elias and Elisha''</ref> 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]].<ref>''Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam'', B. M. Wheeler, ''Baalbek''</ref>