Al-Yasa' (a)

Al-Yasa' (a)

Name in the 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

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.

Personality

The name of al-Yasa' (a) is mentioned twice in Qur'an 6 and Qur'an 38. In those verses, without mentioning anything about the personality or prophethood of al-Yasa' (a), he is mentioned as "graced" and "among the elect".

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

The name of "al-Yasa'" 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 Ilyas (a), his miracles and his conversations with different people are narrated.

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. 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.

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.