Al-Yasa' (a)

Al-Yasa' (a)

Name in the Qur'an:	Alyasa'
Name in the Bible:	Elisha
Name of People:	Israelites
After:	Elyas [Elijah]
Miracle(s):	revival of the dead, Curing the ill, Walking on water
Repeat in the Qur'an:	twice

Alyasaʿ (Arabic: الیسع) or Elisha was among the prophets of Israelites who was chosen for prophethood after prophet Elyas [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 Alyasa' a name for some other figures such as Khidr and Yusha' [Joshua]. In Shi'a hadiths, some miracles such as curing the ill and walking on water are narrated about him.

Personality

The name of Alyasa' is mentioned twice in the Qur'an in suras al-An'am and Sad. In those verses, without mentioning anything about the personality or prophethood of Alyasa', he is mentioned as "exalted" and "among the excellent". Briefness of the indication of the Qur'an to Alyasa' and the little information in interpretation and hadiths sources about him has caused many scholars to consider him a name for some other prophets.

Some exegetes considered Alyasa' the same the prophet Yusha' [Joshua], and considered the name Alyasa' adopted from it. Some considered him to be actually Prophet Khidr. On the opposite, some others considered him a prophet having this name from the progeny of Abraham (a) and one of the prophets of Israelites.

The name of "Alyasa'" is mentioned "Elisha" in the Bible. It has spoken about him in more details comparing to the Qur'an. There, the story of his separation from Elyas, his miracles and his conversations with different people are narrated.

Prophethood

In his youth, when Alyasa' had become ill, regained his health through the prayer of Elyas and afterwards became his disciple and accompanied him everywhere. After Elyas ascended to the skies, Alyasa' was chosen for prophethood. 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 Alyasa'. Also during his prophethood, many of Israelites accepted his invitation.

Miracles

In a hadith from Imam al-Rida (a), it is mentioned that Alyasa', the same as Jesus (a), had some miracles including revival of the dead, curing the ill and walking on water.