Al-Yasaʿ (a) (Arabic: الیسع) or Elisha was among the prophets of Israelites who was chosen for prophethood after Prophet Ilyas (a) (Elijah). His name is mentioned in the Qur'an twice, and the Bible has introduced him in more details comparing to the Qur'an. Some exegetes of the Qur'an considered al-Yasa' (a) a name for some other figures such as Khidr (a) and Yusha' (a) (Joshua). In Shi'a hadiths, some miracles such as curing the ill and walking on water are narrated about him.
| Name inthe Qur'an: | al-Yasa' |
|---|---|
| Name in the Bible: | Elisha |
| Name of People: | Israelites |
| After: | Ilyas (Elijah) |
| Miracle(s): | Revival of the dead, Curing the ill, Walking on water |
| Religion: | Monotheism |
| Repeat in the Qur'an: | Twice |
Personality
The name of al-Yasa' (a) is mentioned twice in Qur'an 6 and Qur'an 38.[1] In those verses, without mentioning anything about the personality or prophethood of al-Yasa' (a), he is mentioned as "graced"[2] and "among the elect".[3]
The briefness of the indication of the Qur'an to al-Yasa' (a) and the little information in interpretation and hadiths sources about him has caused many scholars to identify al-Yasa' (a) with some other prophets.[4] Some exegetes considered al-Yasa' (a) the same the Prophet Yusha' (a) (Joshua), and considered the name al-Yasa' (a) adopted from it.[5] Some considered him to be actually Khidr (a).[6] On the opposite, some others considered him a prophet having this name from the progeny of Abraham (a)[7] and one of the prophets of Israelites.[8]
The name of "al-Yasa'" is mentioned "Elisha" in the Bible.[9] It has spoken about him in more details comparing to the Qur'an. There, the story of his separation from Ilyas (a),[10] his miracles[11] and his conversations with different people are narrated.[12]
Prophethood
In his youth, when al-Yasa' (a) had become ill, regained his health through the prayer of Ilyas (a) and afterwards became his disciple and accompanied him everywhere. After Ilyas (a) ascended to the skies, al-Yasa' (a) was chosen for prophethood.[13] Based on hadiths, the conditions of observing religion changed in his time. Ahab, the king of Israelites and his wife who led people toward idol-worshipping perished at the time of al-Yasa' (a). Also during his prophethood, many of Israelites accepted his invitation.[14]
Miracles
In a hadith from Imam al-Rida (a), it is mentioned that al-Yasa' (a), the same as Jesus (a), had some miracles including the revival of the dead, curing the ill, and walking on water.[15]
Notes
- ↑ Qur'an 6:86; Qur'an 38:48.
- ↑ and Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot —each We graced over all the nations— (Qur'an 6:86)
- ↑ And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhu l-Kifl —each [of whom was] among the elect. (Qur'an 38:48)
- ↑ Ḥāj Manūchihrī, al-Yasaʿ, vol. 10, p. 121.
- ↑ Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 5, p. 326.
- ↑ Bayḍāwī, Anwār al-tanzīl wa asrār al-taʾwīl, vol. 3, p. 287.
- ↑ Makārim Shīrāzī, Tafsīr-i nimūna, vol. 5, p. 326.
- ↑ Ṭabāṭabāʾī, al-Mīzān, vol. 7, p. 243.
- ↑ Kings 2, 4:1.
- ↑ Kings 2, 2:1-18.
- ↑ Kings 2, 2:19-25.
- ↑ Kings 2, 4:1-7.
- ↑ Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, vol. 1, p. 462-464.
- ↑ Thaʿlabī, Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ, p. 259-260.
- ↑ Ṭabrisī, al-Iḥtijāj, vol. 2, p. 418.
References
- The Qurʾān.
- THE BIBLE.New Revised Standard Version.
- Bayḍāwī, ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿUmar. Anwār al-tanzīl wa asrār al-taʾwīl. Edited by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Marʿashlī. 1st edition. Beirut: Dār Iḥyāʾ al-Turāth al-ʿArabī, 1418 AH.
- Ḥāj Manūchihrī, Farāmaz. "Al-Yasaʿ", Dāʾirat al-maʿārif buzurg-i Islāmī. under supervision of Kāzimī Burūjirdī. 1st edition. Tehran: Markaz-i Dāʾirat al-Maʿārif Buzurg-i Islāmī, 1380 Sh.
- Makārim Shīrāzī, Nāṣir. Tafsīr-i nimūna. Edition 41. Tehran: Dār al-Kutub al-Islāmiyya, 1380 Sh.
- Thaʿlabī, Aḥmad b. Muḥammad al-. Qiṣaṣ al-anbīyāʾ al-musammā bi-ʿarāʾis al-majālis. Beirut: Dār al-Rāʾid al-ʿArabī, [n.d].
- Ṭabrisī, Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-. Al-Iḥtijāj. Mashhad: Nashr al-Murtaḍā, 1403 AH.
- Ṭabarī, Muḥammad b. Jarīr al-. Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī. 2nd edition. Beirut: Dar al-Turāth, 1387 AH.
- Ṭabāṭabāʾī, Mūhammad Ḥusayn al-. Al-Mīzān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān. 3rd edition. Beirut: Muʾassisat al-Aʿlamī li-l-Maṭbūʿāt, 1393 AH.