The Story of Dhul-Kifl (peace be upon him)
Ever heard of the story of Prophet Job (alayhi salam)??? It is a truly inspiring story of patience and perseverance, a true example of tawakkul ul-Allaah (reliance in Allaah subhannu wa ta’ala). Prophet Job (alayhi salam) was put through many trials.
In a Sahih Hadith the Prophet (sall Allaahu alayhi wa-sallam) said: “The More severe of people to be put to trial are Prophets, then the righteous, and then the likes of them.” He said: “A man is put to trial according to the strength of his religion. If he was strong in his religion, his trial is increased.” 1
If you haven’t, look it up when you have some time InshaAllaah.
Now the question is why mention Prophet Job (alayhi salam) when the story is about Dhul-Kifl. The reason that Prophet Job (alayhi salam) was mentioned is because many people consider Dhul-Kifl to be one of Prophet Job’s (alayhi salam) sons (whose name was Bishr). I just wanted to point out the connection because I like little details like that (I know weirdo! Right Lol).
Right so lets move on to the story of Dhul-Kifl.
Dhul-Kifl is mentioned by Allaah in the Qur’aan after the story of Job :
“And Ishmael, and Idris, and Dhul-Kifl, all of them were from among the patient ones. And we admitted them to Our Mercy. Indeed they were of the righteous.” 2
“And mention Our slaves Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they were the owners of strength (in worship and doing righteous deeds), and were men of insight. Surely, We conferred upon them a special distinction, that they remember the Hereafter. And they are with Us, verily, of the chosen and the best. And mention Ishmael, and Elisha, and Dhul-Kifl, and they were of the best.” 3
It seems obvious that as he was mentioned in the Qur’aan alongside these Prophets, that he was also a Prophet. May Allaah send His peace upon all of them. This is the popular opinion. However others said that he was not a Prophet. He was only a pious, just and wise man. Ibn Jarir did not take any position in this matter.
Ibn Jarir and Abu Najih have narrated from Mujahid:
He was not a Prophet, but was a pious man, who took responsibility to guide his people to the way of Allaah, and judge between them with justice, and so he was called Dhul-Kifl, the one who is responsible.
Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abu Hatim have narrated from Mujahid saying:
When Elisha grew up, he said: “ I wish I could appoint someone for people who could look after them in my life, so I could watch how he fulfils his duty.” So he called people to him and said to them: “Whoever could fulfill 3 conditions for me, I would appoint him on behalf of me. These are the three conditions: He should fast during daytime, he should pray in the night, and should never get angry.”
So a man stood up and said : “I do.” He said: “ Do you fast all day, and pray all night, and do not get angry?” He answered: “Yes.” However, he turned him back on that day. The same he repeated on the second day, and all others kept quiet, except that man, who again said: “I do.” So Elisha appointed him as his successor.
SubhanAllaah, look at how eager this man was to take on a role of responsibility. Nowadays many of us shy away from accepting roles because we think oh no way can I do that!! And unfortunately it is this kind of defeatist attitude that will get us nowhere. You will never know how much capability Allaah (subhannu wa ta’ala) has blessed you with until you try! So remember with Allaah(subhannu wa ta’ala) by our side, the very least we can do is try, InshaAllaah!
Continuing on with the story:) :
Now because of this man being appointed successor, Iblis instructed satans: “Go after that man.” However, those satans could not mislead him or deviate him from justice. So Iblis said to them: “Leave him to me.” And so he came to him in the guise of a poor old man, and he came to him at the time of siesta when he has gone for it. He did not sleep in day or night except for this siesta. So Iblis knocked the door. He asked: “Who is at the door?” Iblis said: “A poor old man who has been wronged!” So he got up an opened the door, and Iblis started talling him a story, saying : “There is enmity between me and my people, and they have wronged me, and did every injustice to me.” He prolonged his story so long that the time for siesta passed and afternoon approached. The man said: “In the evening I will take your rights from them.”
Then he went to his court, and looked around for that old man, but he could not find him. The next day in the morning when he was judging between people’s matters, he also waited for him, but he did not turn up. However, when it was time for siesta, and he went home and was about to sleep, the man turned up and knocked the door. When he asked: “Who is at the door?” The man replied: “The old man who has been wronged.” He opened the door for him, and said: “Did I not tell you that when I sit in my court, you should come to me?” The old man replied: “My people are the worst of people. When they knew that you are sitting in the court, they said to me: We will give you your right. But when you left your court, they started again resisting to give me my right.” He said: “You go now, and when I am in my court, you come to me.”
So that day he was also unable to have his siesta. He went to his court, and waited for that old man, but he did not turn up again. He felt drowsy and slumberous, so he said to one of his household: “Do not let anyone come to this door, so I could have some sleep, because my eyes are heavy with sleep.” However the old man appeared again at his usual time. The one, who was watching the door, said to him: “Go back, go back.” The old man said: “I had come to him yesterday, and mentioned to him my need.” But the man at the door replied that he has commanded us not to let anyone enter the door, so we are not going to let you in. When he felt disappointed, he climbed up the wall and got inside the house. Then he knocked at the door from the inside, and the man woke up. He said to the man at the door: “O guard! Did I not tell you not to let anyone in the house?” The man replied: “He did not enter the house from my side. Ask him from where did he enter?” The man stood up to check the door, which he found closed. The old man was inside, so he knew who he was. He asked him: “Are you the enemy of Allaah?” The old man replied: “Yes, You failed me in every thing, so I did what I did to make you angry.” And so Allaah called him Dhul-Kifl, because he took the responsibility of doing something and he fulfilled it.
So Although Iblis tried to deter him from adhering to the responsibilities he had taken on. Alhamdulillah Dhul-Kifl did not become deterred and from this we should take heed.
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari, while standing on the pulpit, said: Dhul-Kifl was not a Prophet, but he was a pious man, who prayed every day one hundred prayers. Then, after that pious man died, he (Dhul-Kifl) took it up as his duty to pray one hundred prayers every day. Hence, he was called Dhul-Kifl.
Anything good and beneficial is from Allaah(subhannu wa ta’ala) and anything bad is from me and the shaytaan. I pray that Allaah(subhannu wa ta’ala) forgives me for any mistakes.
May Allaah(subhannu wa ta’ala) grant us all the courage to take up responsibilities in all aspects of the Deen Aameen.
Taken from Stories of the Prophets (peace be upon them) by Ibn Kathir
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