PROPHET DHUL-KIFL (ISAIAH) (peace be upon him)
Dhul-Kifl (peace be upon him) was the Prophet of Allah. The Holy Qur'an has made
mention of him in the following two Verses:
And Isma'il and Idris and Dhul-kifl; all were men of constancy and patience.
We admitted them into out mercy because they were of the righteous ones.
(21:85. 86)
And remember Isma'il, Elisha and Dhul-kifl. Each of them was of the company
of the good. (38:48)
Al-Baizawi says that he was so called because he had to do double the work of the
Prophets of his time.
He is identified with Ezekiel of the Bible who was carried away to Babylon after the
destruction of Jerusalem. He was chained and imprisoned. He bore all hardships
with patience and continued reproving the evil sin of the Bani Israel. Ibn Jarir, an
interpreter has narrated an event which throws some light on his life. When Al-Yasa
(peace be upon him) grew old, he wished to appoint a suitable person as his
successor to guide the Israelites. He declared: Only that person will be considered
competent to become his successor who observes fast during the day remembers Allah
throughout the night and refrains from flying into a rage. One among the crowd stood
up and said: (I will adhere to all these conditions. The Prophet Al-Yasa
(peace be upon him) repeated these conditions thrice and the same person promised solemnly
to fulfil the conditions. Thereupon he was appointed as a vicegerent.
After some time he was subjected to a trial. One day the Satan in the disguise of
an old man knocked at his door. He was allowed to get in. The visitor lodged a
complaint against the cruel treatment of the people towards him. The vicegerent
directed him to come in the evening. He assured the visitor that all his grievances
shall be redressed. He promised but did not turn up at the appointed time.
Next day he came again and complained as usual. The vicegerent commanded him
to come in the evening. He made a solemn promise to come but did not abide by it.
On the third day he came again and knocked at the door but it was not opened.
The Satan in the disguise of an old man managed to slip into the room and presented
himself before the vicegerent. He was wonder-struck at the sudden appearance of the
old man. The vicegerent interrogated the visitor. He admitted that he was
Iblis who assumed the likeness of an old man and was trying to enrage him. He
endeavoured to make him back out of his promise but failed in his mission. Thereupon
the vicegerent became known as Dhul-kifl because he maintained his solemn promise with the
Prophet Al-Yasa (peace be upon him). He refrained from losing temper though the
Satan left no stone unturned to annoy him. Soon after Allah chose him as His
Prophet.
He commanded the Israelites to wage holy war against those who made mischief on the
earth and opposed the religion of Allah. His followers, the Israelites refused to
carry out his orders because they were afraid of death. As a retaliation for
the utter disobedience of the Commandment of Allah and His Prophet, most of the people
were overtaken by calamity. Plague broke out and numerous people died miserably.
They deserted their houses in terror and ran away to save their lives. When
they covered some distance, they heard a dreadful sound and the death prevailed over them.
None remained alive to bury them. The corpses were putrefied in the scorching
heat of the sun. The Prophet Dhul-kifl (peace be upon him) came out of the seclusion
after seven days. He was overwhelmed with grief to see the predicament of his
followers and supplicated: O' Allah! You have perished my followers. Take pity on
them and give them a new life. Allah granted the prayer of His Prophet, the dead
persons regained their lives. The Holy Qur'an Affirms:
Have you not thought on those who quitted their dwellings--and they were
thousands for fear of death. Allah said to them: Die! Then He restored them to life,
for full of bounty towards man is Allah. But most men give not thanks. (2:
280)
Afterwards the Prophet Dhul-kifl (peace be upon him) left his followers
and migrated to Babylon. He died there.
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