Who Is the Prophet Mentioned in Surah As-Saffat With Two Different Names?
من هو النبي الذي ذُكر في سورة الصافات باسمين مختلفين؟
He is Prophet Elias, peace be upon him. Once his name was mentioned as Ilias and in another Ayah it was Il-Yassin. "And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers. When he said to his people, 'Will you not fear Allah? Do you call upon Ba'l and leave the best of creators, Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?' And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought for punishment, except the chosen servants of Allah. And We left for him favorable mention among later generations. Peace upon Il-Yassin" (Surah As-Saffat 37:123-130).
إلياس عليه السلام ورد اسمه أول مرة إلياس، ومرة أخرى باسم إلياسين، وذلك على عادة العرب من إلحاق النون في أسماء كثيرة. وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿١٢٣﴾ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٢٤﴾ أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ الْخَالِقِينَ ﴿١٢٥﴾ اللَّـهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ آبَائِكُمُ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٢٦﴾ فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ ﴿١٢٧﴾ إِلَّا عِبَادَ اللَّـهِ الْمُخْلَصِينَ ﴿١٢٨﴾ وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِي الْآخِرِينَ ﴿١٢٩﴾ سَلَامٌ عَلَىٰ إِلْ يَاسِينَ ﴿١٣٠﴾ (الصافات: 123-130).
1. Two Names, One Prophet | اسمان لنبي واحد
The form "Il-Yasin" appearing at the close of the passage is understood by exegetes as a variant rendering of "Ilyas," following an Arabic naming pattern common among the Arabs of adding letters to a name. Both instances in Surah As-Saffat 37:123 and 37:130 refer to the same prophet, not two separate individuals.
يُفهم صيغة "إل ياسين" الواردة في ختام المقطع عند المفسرين على أنها صيغة أخرى لاسم "إلياس"، جريا على عادة العرب في إلحاق حروف بالاسم. وكلا الموضعين في سورة الصافات 37:123 و37:130 يشيران إلى النبي نفسه، لا إلى شخصين مختلفين.
2. Not the Only Prophet Known by More Than One Name | ليس النبي الوحيد الذي عُرف بأكثر من اسم
Ilyas is not unique in this respect. Prophet Ya'qub, covered in How Many Prophets and Messengers Were Mentioned in the Quran?, is likewise known in the Quran by a second name, Israel, from whom the Children of Israel take their name. Instances like these show that a prophet carrying more than one name in the Quran's text is not unusual.
لا ينفرد إلياس بهذه الخاصية. فالنبي يعقوب، كما تناولنا في مقال كم عدد الأنبياء والرسل المذكورين في القرآن؟، معروف كذلك في القرآن باسم آخر هو إسرائيل، الذي تنسب إليه بنو إسرائيل. وتبين أمثلة كهذه أن حمل النبي أكثر من اسم في نص القرآن ليس أمرا نادرا.
3. Why Elias Is Remembered | لماذا يُذكر إلياس
The passage records Ilyas calling his people away from worshipping an idol named Ba'l and back to worshipping Allah alone, echoing the call of every Messenger before him. Though his people denied him, Allah tells us He preserved honorable mention of him among later generations, "Peace upon Il-Yasin," a distinction the Quran also gives to other Messengers as a mark of Allah's honor for their perseverance.
يسجل المقطع دعوة إلياس قومه إلى ترك عبادة صنم يسمى بعلا والعودة إلى عبادة الله وحده، مرددا دعوة كل رسول من قبله. ورغم تكذيب قومه له، يخبرنا الله أنه أبقى له ذكرا حسنا بين الأجيال اللاحقة، "سلام على إل ياسين"، وهو تكريم يمنحه القرآن أيضا لرسل آخرين تقديرا لصبرهم.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Are Ilyas and Il-Yasin two different prophets?
No. Both names in Surah As-Saffat 37:123-130 refer to the same prophet, Ilyas (Elijah), peace be upon him.
What did Prophet Ilyas call his people to do?
He called them to stop worshipping the idol Ba'l and to worship Allah alone, the Lord of their forefathers.
Is Ilyas the only prophet known by two names in the Quran?
No. Prophet Ya'qub is also known in the Quran by a second name, Israel.