Tazkirul Quran, Qur’an 37:123–132
The Ranks (Al-Saffat)
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
English text; the translator is not named in the archive’s data.
Translation
(123) Elijah too was one of the messengers. (124) He said to his people, ‘Have you no fear [of God?] (125) Do you call on Baal and abandon the Best of Creators, (126) God your Lord and Lord of your forefathers?’ (127) but they rejected him, and thus will certainly be called to account; (128) except the chosen servants of God. (129) We left him thus to be succeeded by a group [of followers] among the following generations— (130) ‘Peace be on Elijah and his people!’ (131) It is thus indeed that We reward those who do good: (132) surely he was one of Our believing servants.
Commentary
(a) Elijah (Elias or Ilyas) was probably a descendant of Aaron (Harun). He lived in the ninth century B.C. at a time when Israel (Palestine) was governed by the Jewish King, Ahab, while Lebanon, was ruled by Phoenicians, polytheists who worshipped Baal (ba‘l). Ahab married the daughter of the King of Lebanon. Under the influence of their Queen, the Jews began worshipping Baal. Then, Elijah calling upon the Jews to worship One God, which was their original (ancestral) religion. A detailed account of Elijah is given in the Bible.
Only a few Jews supported Elijah in his mission. Many of them opposed him to the extent of hatching plots to murder him. But Elijah subsequently attained a high status among the Jews. Now, in Jewish history, he is treated as a great prophet.