PROPHET ELIJAH (ILYAS) AND PROPHET ELISHA (IL-YASA^) (BLESSINGS AND PEACE BE UPON THEM)

Prophet Elijah is Ilyas the son of Yasin. It is said that he was from the children of Prophet Aaron (Harun). God sent him as a Prophet to the Children of Israel after the death of Hizqil. Some salaf said that Hizqil was a Prophet of the Children of Israel. Also Ash^iya and Armiya are said to be Prophets.

After Hizqil’s death, the Children of Israel contradicted the Torah. God sent Prophet Ilyas to them. Between the rules of Moses and Jesus there was no new book of rules. Prophet David was a Prophet between Moses and Jesus, and he did receive a book called the Zabur. The Zabur, however, was a book of wisdoms, not a book of new rules. Hence, the Prophets after Moses (before Jesus received his new book of rules called the Injil) were to teach and implement the rules of the Torah, given to Prophet Moses.

Elijah told the people to worship God and be obedient to Him. He forbade them from worshipping an idol. It was cited that they were the people of Ba^labakk (Baalbek), in Lebanon, and the name of the idol was “Ba^l.”

Most of the people rejected Elijah and only a few believed in him. Among his followers was Elisha (Il-Yasa^). After the death of Prophet Elijah, God made Elisha a Prophet.

Prophet Elisha stayed with the people, ordering them to be obedient to and worship only God, and to leave blasphemy. Then Prophet Elisha died.