Ilyas; A Prophet Who Is Alive in Heavens
Ilyas (AS) is among the prophets of Bani Isra’il. He was a descendant of Harun (AS), brother of Moses (AS). He was appointed as a messenger of God during the reign of Ahab, a king of Bani Isra’il, in the city of Baalbek, now in Lebanon.
Ilyas (AS) was tasked with inviting his people to Tawheed (monotheism), obeying God, and abandoning sins. His main mission was confronting idolatry that had spread and was supported by Bani Isra’il kings.
Despite years of calling his people to return to God and abandon idolatry, they refused to accept his call. He then asked God to punish the people and they were plunged into a famine.
After the famine took the lives of many, the people started to regret their conduct and accepted Ilyas’ (AS) invitation to worshipping God. Then the prophet prayed for rain and it came, ending years of famine.
However, the people forgot their pledge to Ilyas (AS) and returned to idolatry. Faced with this, Ilyas (AS) prayed for his death, but God kept him alive and took him to heavens.
It is said that Ilays (AS) could cure sick people and return the dead to life.
His name is mentioned in the Quran twice. Once in Surah Al-Maryam and another time in Surah As-Saffat. In the first, he is mentioned as a good man beside Zakariya (AS) and Jesus (AS) and in the other as a prophet of God.
He is also named as Al-e Yasin in Surah As-Saffat. Some Quran interpreters, though, believe that Ilyas (AS) and Prophet Idris (AS) are one and the same because some of their characteristics and stories about them are similar. Some others believe that Ilyas (AS) and Khizr (AS) have many similarities, such as the fact that both have gone to heavens and are alive.
In the Bible, Ilyas (AS) is referred to as Iliya. Most of the stories about Ilyas (AS) in the Bible are also mentioned in Islamic sources with some differences.
Although many Quran interpreters say Ilyas (AS) is alive in heavens, a few believe that has died and was buried in a place likely to be in Iran or Iraq.
