Brief Biography of Prophet Ilyas عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Part 2)

Stories of the Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ السَّلَام

Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم (Part 2)

Maulana Abu Ubayd Attari Madani

The previous edition of the Faizan-e-Madinah Magazine included brief mention of Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. Here, more details on his blessed life are presented below.

Birth

On the night that Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was born, light appeared, which caused the palaces of Banī Isrāˈīl to be illuminated. When the kings of Banī Isrāˈīl saw this, they knew that something significant had happened. Upon enquiring, they were told that a boy was born in the house of Prophet Hārūn عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم.[1] Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم received an excellent upbringing. Banī Isrāˈīl would say about him, “Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is that very fortunate individual about whom Prophet Hārūn’s عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم son Sayyidunā ꜤĪzār gave us glad tidings, that at the hands of one person, Allah Almighty will eradicate the obstinate kings and disobedient leaders of Banī Isrāˈīl.”[2]

Threat to his life in childhood

When he was seven years old, he began memorising the Torah. Once, he said to Banī Isrāˈīl, “O Banī Isrāˈīl, I will show you something wonderous from myself.” Then, he called out to his people, and his voice reached distant places, striking fear in the hearts of people. Once their fear dissipated and their hearts became at ease, they made a firm intention to kill him. Someone even claimed, “This child is a sorcerer.”[3]

(Sensing danger) Prophet Ilyas عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم left that place and went to the mountains, but they followed him. When they neared him, a mountain split open, and he entered it (with the mountain then returning to its normal state). Seeing this, they returned. When the king received news of this, he punished those who had followed him.[4]

The mountain spoke

The mountain spoke to him and said, “O Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, I am your place of stay.” Thus, he took up residence there. The mountain split open again. (Whenever he wanted, he would come out of the mountain,) And he would walk around (the mountain) with the wild animals.[5]

Announcement of prophethood

Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم would pick up permissible things that had fallen and eat them, (living in this simple manner) until the age of 40. Allah Almighty commanded him to announce his prophethood, and so Sayyidunā Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم came to him with revelation. Jibrīl عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم relayed to Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم the divine command to go to Banī Isrāˈīl—who worshipped false gods—and to their kings and unruly leaders, and invite them towards worshipping and obeying Allah Almighty alone. Then, Allah Almighty granted him power and placed wild animals, mountains and fire under his control.

Banī Isrāˈīl lived in 70 different settlements at that time, and each settlement was like a city in its own right. Each settlement had its own leader and king, who would manage the affairs of that area. They all worshipped a false god known as “BaꜤl”.[6]

The fire gave testimony to his messengership

Acting upon this divine command, Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم went to a community whose king was known as Ājāb. Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was wearing a woollen jubbah at the time, and he stood near the king’s palace and began to offer salah, reciting the Torah in a most beautiful manner. When the king heard his voice, he said to his queen, “Can you not hear that? How beautiful is that voice!”

The queen stood and looked out from the top of the palace. She asked, “O man, who are you, and where are you from?”

After finishing salah, he mentioned his name and that of his father’s, and then said, “I am the messenger of Allah.”[7]

 “What proof do you have to substantiate this claim?”, she asked.

“Bring fire!” responded Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم. “With the command of Allah Almighty, it will mention who I am.”

When the queen brought the fire, Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم addressed it saying, “With the command of Allah Almighty, mention who I am.”

The flames of the fire rose, and it was given the ability to speak. It said, “There is none worthy of worship except Allah Almighty, and Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم is the messenger of Allah Almighty.”

Seeing this, the queen was stunned.[8] She went to the king and told him about everything that happened. Thus, the king came to him, and both husband and wife accepted faith. He advised the king regarding patience and striving in the way of Allah Almighty, and then returned.

The fire was extinguished

The days went on like this until a festival of Banī Isrāˈīl arrived. The people came out adorned and dressed up, and they put their false god BaꜤl in a certain spot. Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم arrived and invited them to believe in the one true God: Allah Almighty. He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said, “Do you have no fear? Do you worship BaꜤl and leave the greatest creator—Allah—who is your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?”[9]

“Who are you?”, the people asked.

He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم replied, “Have you forgotten me? I am from among you, and I used to live among you. I am Ilyās.”

Hearing this, they began throwing dirt at his face, and stones were being thrown from every direction. [O Allah Almighty, save us from disrespecting those beloved to You]. The ‘greatest’ king from them was known as ꜤĀmīl. He ordered for oil to be heated up in a large copper cauldron. [When the oil began to boil,] He said to Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم, “If you return, (your life will be spared,) otherwise I will throw you into this boiling oil.”

Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم exclaimed, “I am alone in this land, and I stand against all of you alone. However, I can show you a sign which proves the truthfulness of my claim that I have been sent to you as a messenger of Allah Almighty.”

Hearing this, the king said, “Go ahead.”

Prophet Ilyās عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said, “O fire, by virtue of Allah Almighty’s command, go out!”

No sooner had he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم said these words than the fire went out, and the oil cooled down. Seeing this, the people were amazed.

(To be continued in the next edition)