وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ 123
Translations
And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers,
Transliteration
Wa-inna Ilyas lamina al-mursalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Elijah (Ilyas) was indeed among the messengers sent by Allah to guide humanity. According to classical tafsir scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this verse establishes Elijah's prophetic status and sets the stage for the subsequent account of his preaching to the people of Baal worship. The affirmation 'indeed' (inna) emphasizes the certainty of his mission and his honored position among the prophets.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat's section detailing various prophets and their struggles against idolatry. The surah was revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad faced opposition from polytheists, and the accounts of previous prophets served to provide comfort and precedent. Elijah's story is presented as a parallel to the Prophet's own mission of calling people away from false worship.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad mentioned Elijah among the honored prophets. In Sahih Bukhari and other collections, there are references to the Prophet's night journey (Isra and Mi'raj) where he encountered various prophets including Elijah. Additionally, Muslim traditions emphasize that Elijah was taken to heaven without experiencing death, as referenced in the Qur'an (19:57).
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as Elijah was appointed as a messenger to call his people away from idolatry toward the worship of the One God, every believer shares in the responsibility to convey divine truth and stand firmly against falsehood, regardless of opposition. This ayah reminds us that the mission of prophethood—calling humanity to pure monotheism—is a noble and honored position in the sight of Allah.