Who was Prophet Hazrat Dhul-Kifl – story?

Allah has sent 124,000 Prophets out of which one was Hazrat Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام sent to Bani Israel. Ezekiel is mentioned twice in the Holy Quran.

• Biblical Name: 
• List of Prophets in Islam/Quran

Birth of Prophet Dhul Kifl

Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام is possibly born in 840 BC in present-day Palestine and died in 765 BC at the age of 75 years. The exact year of his birth is not known as some people claim that Prophet Hizqeel عليه السلام was actually Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام.

However, many other scholars think that both of them were different prophets.

Prophet Dhul Kifl in Quran

Hazrat Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام is mentioned twice in the Holy Quran, once in Surah Ambiya and once in Surah Saad. Allah Almighty mentions him as a patient person. As mentioned in the Holy Quran:

• Remember Ismail and Idris and Dhul Kifl, all were from among those who observe patience. – Al-Anbya 21:85-86
• Remember Ismail and Al-Yasa and Dhul-Kifl, all are among the best. – Sad 38:48.

After reading his story you would realize why Allah calls him patient and among the best.

Story of Prophet Dhul Kifl

Prophet Al-Yasa عليه السلام (Elisha) wanted a successor for Bani Israel with a calm personality. Thus one day, Prophet Al-Yasa عليه السلام requested his companions to get assembled.

Prophet Al-Yasa 3 conditions

Prophet Al-Yasa عليه السلام then told that he was looking for a successor who would preach the message of Allah and fulfills the following 3 conditions;

1. He would fast in the daytime.
2. Pass the night in prayers.
3. Not be angry with anyone.

Prophet Dhul Kifl acceptance

Upon hearing this, Prophet Dhul Kifl عليه السلام volunteered that he could be the next successor and would follow the conditions.

Prophet Al-Yasa عليه السلام asked thrice and repeated the condition of calmness and not getting angry.

He accepted the conditions and thus after the death of Prophet Al-Yasa عليه السلام, he was appointed.

He would preach the message of Allah to the people. He was a pious man who would fast in the daytime and pray at night. He was a very calm man who would not get angry.

Iblis challenged his companions

This was something worrisome for the Devil. So, one day Iblis (the devil) asked his companions which one would go and make Ezekiel break his promise by making him angry. His companion named Abyaiz took the challenge of making Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام angry.

Abyaiz 1st visit

Abyaiz went to Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام during his nap time to make him angry. He knocked a the door disguised as an old man. He told that he was tortured and needed help.

He welcomed him in and asked about his sufferings. Abyaiz stretched the story, on purpose so that his nap time would pass and he succeeded.

Prophet Ezekiel عليه السلام patiently listened and asked him to visit him in the court in the evening so that justice can be done for him.

Sleepless Dhul Kifl waited for the old in the court in the evening, but he did not come.

Abyaiz 2nd visit

Abyaiz again came when Dhul Kifl was preparing to take a nap. Hazrat Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام allowed him to enter and inquired why he had not come to the court. He lied that he was forced not to go to court by torture. Abyaiz kept him busy until his sleep time was over.

He did not get a chance to sleep. He waited for  Abyaiz in the court but he did not appear.

Iblis 3rd visit

Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام was very sleepy and thus asked that he should not be disturbed during his nap time. Abyaiz knocked on the door again and tried to disturb his sleep so he would not be able to fast, pray, and thought to make him angry.

When the family members did not let him enter, he appeared inside the house next to Dhul-Kifl’s room and started knocking at the door of his room.

Prophet Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام was able to realize that the man who entered the house without opening the door is actually Iblis. 

Iblis admitted that he was Iblis and said, “You have thwarted all my plans and frustrated all my efforts to entice you in my design. I intended to make you angry somehow so that one of your claims before Yasa could be proven false.”

Tomb of Prophet Dhul-Kifl

Hazrat Dhul-Kifl عليه السلام died in 765 BC at the age of 75 years and his grave and tomb are located in the Kifl area in Iraq. After the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the authorities redeveloped the tomb complex and converted the old synagogue courtyard into a Muslim prayer area.

• Prophet Ezekiel’s tomb location.