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Al-Yasa (Elisha), the successor of the Prophet Ilyas
Al-Yasa (Elisha)
Mention in the Quran
His Excellence
His Mission
His Link with Ilyas
His Qualities
His Legacy
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Al-Yasa (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Discover the story of Al-Yasa and the prophets of Islam
Al-Yasa is among the prophets of Islam mentioned in the Quran. He is named there only twice, alongside Ismail, Dhul-Kifl, Jonah and Lot. Jews and Christians know him under the name Elisha.
Alyassa was sent to the Children of Israel after the prophet Ilyas (Elijah), whose companion and then successorhe was. He took up the mission where Ilyas had left it: calling his people back to the worship of Allah alone and turning them away from the worship of idols.
The Quran does not tell his life in detail. It names him among the best (al-akhyar) in Surah Sad, and among those whom Allah favoured above the rest of the world in Surah Al-An'am. That brevity is itself a teaching: what counts is one's rank with Allah, not the length of the account.
The commentators filled out this portrait from the older traditions. They report signs granted to Alyassa: a spring made drinkable, a widow's oil multiplied, a child brought back to life. These accounts are not in the Quran, and the scholars pass them on with caution, without making articles of faith of them.
What tradition remembers of him above all is continuity. Alyassa brought no new law: he carried on another man's mission, among a people who had already refused to listen. Like the other accounts of the prophets of Islam, his story shows that staying faithful to a message is worth as much as being the first to bring it.
His example calls for steadiness rather than brilliance. Reading the Quran and making many supplications helps one hold on over time, when nothing spectacular comes to support one's faith. The legacy of Alyassa lies in that quiet perseverance which Allah judged worthy of being named among the best.
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You may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Al-Yasa in Islam?
Al-Yasa is a prophet sent to the Children of Israel. According to the commentators, he was the successor of the prophet Ilyas (Elijah) and carried on his mission: calling his people to worship Allah alone and to leave idolatry behind. The Quran names him among the best servants of Allah, without telling his life story.
Where is Al-Yasa mentioned in the Quran?
Al-Yasa is named twice in the Quran: in Surah Al-An'am (verse 86), alongside Ismail, Yunus and Lut, among those Allah favoured, and in Surah Sad (verse 48), with Ismail and Dhul-Kifl, where he is counted among the best (al-akhyar). No detailed account of his life appears there.
Is Al-Yasa the prophet Elisha of the Bible?
Most scholars say yes: Al-Yasa corresponds to Elisha, the disciple and successor of Elijah in the biblical tradition. Muslims, however, rely only on the Quran and the authentic traditions to know him, and hold that details related elsewhere should be taken with caution.
What is the link between Al-Yasa and Ilyas?
According to the commentaries of the scholars, Al-Yasa was the companion and then the successor of Ilyas. After Ilyas, he went on calling the Children of Israel to monotheism and to the reform of their ways. The two prophets are named together in the chronology of the 25 prophets of the Quran.
What is known of the life of the Prophet Al-Yasa?
Very little is established with certainty. The Quran does no more than name him among the chosen and righteous prophets. Scholars note that he had noble qualities, piety and excellent character, as his place among the best in Surah Sad indicates. Beyond that, it is best to stay cautious and keep to the authentic sources.
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