Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) is one of the noble prophets and messengers whom Allah mentioned in the Noble Qur’an. Allah, the Exalted, described him with prophethood and truthfulness in the Holy Quran, Surah Maryam, Ayah 56 and 57
And he ordered his people to pray and to give charity and his Lord was pleased with him.
وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِدْرِيسَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَبِيًّا
We raised him to a high place.
وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا
There is a difference of opinion regarding his lineage, and the most well-known view is that he is Idris son of Yard, son of Mahlail. He is also called Enoch, and his lineage goes back to the Prophet of Allah Seth, son of Adam, peace be upon them all. The Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) was the first prophet after Adam and Seth (peace be upon them), and he is in the lineage of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Scholars differed regarding his birthplace and upbringing. Some said that Idris was born in Babylon, a city in Iraq, while others said he was born in Egypt. The correct opinion is that he was born in Iraq, in the city of Babylon.
The Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) learned in the early part of his life from the knowledge of Seth, son of Adam (peace be upon them). When he grew older, Allah granted him prophethood and messengership, and revealed to him thirty scrolls. He then began calling people to implement the Law of Allah, founded upon the religion of Islam, whose core is the worship of Allah alone. Ibn Kathir describes him as follows:
“He was tall in stature, handsome in face, thick-bearded, broad-shouldered, large-boned, with little flesh, his eyes bright and naturally lined, deliberate in his speech, often silent, calm in his movements—serene—when he walked he mostly looked toward the ground, much given to reflection, with a slight sternness in his expression. When angered, he would become intense, and he would move his forefinger when he spoke.”
The Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) was the first to teach people writing. It is mentioned in Sahih ibn Ḥibban that the Prophet (ﷺ) said about Idris (peace be upon him): “He was the first to write with a pen.” When the corruption of Qabil’s descendants spread and they oppressed the believers, he legislated Jihad. He was the first to fight in the way of Allah and the first to take captives for the sake of Allah. He assembled an army of horses and men, fought the corrupters, defeated them, and took captives from among them. It is narrated in Sahihayn and other sources that the Prophet (ﷺ) saw Idris (peace be upon him) on the night of the Miraj (The Night Journey and Ascension) in the fourth heaven. It was narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said;
”Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, ‘Who is it?’ Gabriel replied, ‘Gabriel’ It was asked, ‘Who is accompanying you?’ Gabriel replied, ‘Muhammad.’ It was asked, ‘Has he been called?’ Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, ‘He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!’ The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (to me), ‘This is Idris; pay him your greetings.’ So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, ‘You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.”
Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) was a noble prophet and teacher of humanity. His life and mission remind us of the importance of learning, patience, obedience to Allah, and spreading goodness among people. He is as Allah described him in in Surah Al-Anbyia:85; ”And [mention] Ismael and Idris and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.” We ask Allah to gather us with His righteous messengers and grant us the ability to follow their example in our daily lives.
