Episode 3
Episode 3: Peace Be upon Ilyas
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The Qur'an closes the story of Ilyas with the highest honor: a greeting of peace immortalized through the ages. Allah said, "And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations: 'Peace upon Ilyas.' Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good. Indeed, he was of Our believing servants" (Qur'an 37:129-132). This peace that Allah immortalized made the name of Ilyas remembered with honor by the nations after him. Allah describes him with three praises: "of the doers of good" (al-muhsinin) and "of Our believing servants" (al-mu'minin), after affirming that he was truly a messenger. Elsewhere, Allah names Ilyas in the ranks of the righteous prophets: "And Zakariya and Yahya and Isa and Ilyas โ all were of the righteous" (Qur'an 6:85). Reflection: the reward of the doers of good is an honored name and an everlasting greeting of peace. Ilyas teaches that steadfastness in upholding tawhid โ even when rejected by one's people โ is in the end immortalized by Allah as an honor untouched by time. Source & Note: evidence from the Qur'an, 37:129-132 and 6:85. A note on recitation: in verse 130 some recitations read "salamun 'ala Il-Yasin"; commentators differ over whether "Ilyasin" means Ilyas himself or Ilyas together with his followers โ this difference of recitation/interpretation is offered as a note and does not change the core praise of Ilyas. Some scholars also mention reports identifying Ilyas with another figure; such reports are uncertain and unnecessary for understanding the ayat.