Elijah (peace be upon him) between the Talmud and the Qur’an: A Comparative Study

Abstract

This study aims to explore the image of the Prophet Elijah (Ilyās) peace be upon him and his Prophetic message in both the Talmud and the Holy Qur’an, highlighting the essential differences in the portrayal of his character, peace be upon him. It also seeks to examine the image of the prophet from the perspective of Muslim exegetical works and to determine the extent to which these works may have been influenced by Talmudic texts, if any.

The study employed the inductive method, by examining the relevant texts in the Talmud and the Qur’an; the analytical method, through analyzing the texts that mention the Prophet Elijah in both scriptures alongside the Muslim exegetical tradition; and the comparative method, by comparing the accounts of Elijah in the Talmud and the Qur’an.

The research was divided into an introduction, two chapters, and a conclusion. The first chapter discussed Elijah in the Talmud, while the second chapter focused on Elijah in Islam, followed by the conclusion with the main findings and recommendation

portrays Elijah in an imaginative, quasi-mythical manner, almost angelic in nature, performing divine functions—such as controlling rain, knowing the secrets of souls, and living eternally without death. At times, he appears in his human form, and at other times he takes on the guise of different figures. He is also expected to return at the end of times to hold sages and rabbis accountable for their deeds, to judge the Jews for certain sins—particularly for desecrating Israel through intermarriage with non-Jewish women—, to resolve many disputed issues, to herald the coming of the Messiah, and to punish the erring and curse the impure.

In contrast, the study revealed that the image and biography of the Prophet Elijah in the Qur’an are vastly different from that of the Talmud. In the Qur’an, he is presented as a noble prophet who follows the path of the earlier prophets and messengers; he is a natural human being, not associated with angelic qualities, and the verses depict his Prophetic message as founded upon reasoned arguments and proofs.

However, some exegetical works presented him in a mythical and legendary form, describing him as immortal, semi-angelic with wings of feathers, responsible for rain, dew, deserts, and wilderness, while still engaging in prayer, pilgrimage, fasting, and retreat. Heavenly provisions (ma'idah) were said to descend upon him. This reflects the extent to which these interpretations were influenced by Isrā’īliyyāt (narratives of Judeo-Christian origin) and by the Talmudic portrayal of Elijah.

Keywords:

Talmud, Prophecy, Messianism