THE PROPHET AL-YASA (ELISHA) (peace be upon him):
Ahmad Israr Kamal

Al-Yasa has been mentioned twice in the Holy Quran:

And commemorate Ismail, Elisha and Dhul-kifl; each of them was of the company of! the good. (58:48)

And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Ilyas all in the ranks of the righteous; and Ismail and Elisha (Al-Yasa) and Jonas and Lot; each have We preferred above the nations. (To them) and their fathers and progeny and brethren, We chose them and We guided them to a straight way. (6: 85-87)

The commentators give no account of him except that he was the son of Ukhtub. The Bible says that his father was Shaphat.

Al-Yasa was the cousin and spiritual successor of the Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him).

One day Ilyas (peace be upon him) passed through the fields while the owner (Al-Yasa) was busy in ploughing. No sooner had the owner seen the Prophet than he abdicated his own work and approached Ilyas (peace be upon him) in hot haste. Al-Yasa began to follow him. The Prophet was much surprised and remarked: Why do you accompany me after leaving your own work? Al-Yasa retraced his steps and fetched his ox. He slaughtered it, lit the fire and cooked the beef. He fed Ilyas, his companions and many other guests to seek the pleasure of Allah. The Prophet was much pleased with the host for his sincerity, hospitality and righteousness. When Ilyas (peace be upon him) was about to depart, Al-Yasa expressed his keen desire to live in the company of his honorable guest during the rest of his life and serve him whole heartedly as a humble servant. As the noble attitude of Al-Yasa had enamored Ilyas (peace be upon him), the latter accorded him permission without hesitation. When the Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him) was on his death-bed, he wished to bid him farewell. AL-Yasa was not prepared to leave him. Then Ilyas (peace be-upon him) asked him to express any of his desires to be fulfilled. Al-Yasa said: I wish that Allah may bestow blessings upon me in the same way as He has blessed you. The Prophet Ilyas (peace be upon him) supplicated and invoked blessings of Allah upon his successor. His prayer was granted. Allah chose Al-Yasa as His Prophet after the death of Ilyas (peace be upon him). He derived spiritual magnificence from the company of his guide and became the favorite of Allah.

After some time he proceeded to Yariha to preach the religion of Allah. The inhabitants of that locality gave him a warm reception. At that time they were under the spell of starvation. The land was barren and water was not available. Al-Yasa (peace be upon him) supplicated to Allah to show mercy to the famine-stricken people. His prayer was granted and Allah showered his bounties upon them.