(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious,
the Most Merciful)
Prophet Ilyas (Alaihim assalaam)
After the death of Prophet Sulaiman (peace be upon him) his kingdom
was dismembered. There was virtually the rule of Satan all around.
The religious people were mocked at. The ruler of Somaria killed
a large number of learned people. When the evil reached the saturation
point, God sent the Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him) to reform
mankind during the reign of the king Ahab of Israel. He tried his
best to save the people from polytheism. He forbade them to worship
the Tyrian Bal. He advised the people to ward off evil and worship
One God. When his efforts bore no fruit he suddenly appeared before
the king and foretold him that severe draught and famine would overtake
his kingdom. He added that the Tyrian Bal would be powerless to
avert it. The people paid no heed to his warnings and did not mend
their ways. The prophecy of the Prophet Ilyas (peace de upon him)
turned out to be true and whole of the kingdom came under the sway
of famine. The people began to starve. After three years the Prophet
Ilyas (peace be upon him) supplicated to show mercy to the famine
stricken people. They acknowledged the authority of God and felt
penitence. Soon after the rain ended the draught and God lifted
his curses After this he was directed by God to call upon al-Yasa
to be his successor. The Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him) did so
in obedience to His command and disappeared mysteriously. The Holy
Qur'an makes mention of Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him) in the
following Verses:
"And commemorate Ismail, Ilyas and Dhul Kifl. Each of them
was the companion of the good." (38:48)
