Ethics of The Prophets

16. The Ethos Of Prophet Ilyas (Elijah) =======================================

Introduction

Nasekh At-Tawareekh has recorded the birth of Elijah as 4506 after the fall of Adam. According to Ibn -Katheer and his Qessas Al-Anbeeya (the stories of the Prophets) Elijah was the son of Azer son of Eizar son of Aaaron son of Imran. In Dehkhoda Lexicon, Elijah is said to be brother of khidr who has also drunk from the water of life hence he is still living and in the same way that serving on the earth has been assigned to khidr, serving in the seas has been assigned to Elijah.

It is also said: That he travels in deserts guiding those who get lost. Khidr and Elijah are said to meet in Qoba Mosque on Edil-Azha (the Feast of Sacrifice) every year. According to Qessas Al-Anbeeya (the stories of the Prophets) by Ibn -Katheer, khidr and Elijah meet each other in Baytul-Muqaddas during the month of Ramadan every year; they perform Hajj rituals, drink from Zamzam water and meet in Arafat. The same book writes that Elijah was the messenger of Ba’albak in east Damascus; people denied him, intended to kill him but he escaped from them taking refuge in a cave.

Calling People To Monotheism

"And Ilyas was most surely of the apostles. When he said to his people: Do you not guard (against evil)? What! Do you call upon Bal and forsake the best of the creators, Allah, Your Lord and the Lord of your fathers of yore?" (37:123-126)

At A Host’s Table

Ibn-Abbas has reported that there was a famine among the children of Israel lasting for three successive years. One day Elijah passed by and old woman saying: Do you have any food? She said: Yes, I have a little flour and oil. She went and brought them. Elijah drawing his hands on them prayed and asked for their blessing. God blessed them so much that her bag was filled with flour and her Jar filled with oil.

Praying For An Ailing Person

Elijah went to the house of a woman from the children of Israel who had a son by the name of Jesse son of Akhtoob always being sick. That woman gave refuge to Elijah who in turn prayed for that ailing person and he was healed. Hence, he believed in Elijah and became his follower and companion in a way that wherever Elijah went, he would follow him.

His Invocation

The holy Prophet said to Zeid Ibn -Arqam: Whenever you wish to be safeguarded from drowning, fire and other evils, recite the following: In the name of Allah, what Allah pleases, no one but Allah can remove evil. In the name of Allah, what Allah pleases, no one but Allah can bring us good. In the name of Allah, what Allah pleases, there is no blessing but from Allah. In the name of Allah, what Allah pleases, there is no help or power save with Allah. The Most High, the Great. In the name of Allah, what Allah pleases, the Blessing of Allah be upon Muhammad and his pure Progeny. And whoever recites it three times in the morning will be safeguarded from drowning, fire and evils till night and whoever recites it in the evening will be safeguarded till morning. Khidr and Elijah meet each other in Hajj rituals every year and recite this Doa when they part.

His Meal

The holy Prophet said: Eat celery, for it was the food of Elijah, Jesse and Joshua son of Nun.