Tafseer of Mary · Maryam · 19:56
And mention in the Book, Idrees. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah, exalted be His remembrance, says: Remember, O Muhammad, in this Book of Ours, Idrīs. إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا (Indeed, he was a truthful man): he never spoke a lie. نَبِيًّا (a prophet): We sent down to him revelation of Our command as We willed. وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا (and We raised him to a lofty station): by this He means: to a station of high rank and exaltation. Some said: he was raised to the sixth heaven. Others said: the fourth.
Mention of the report concerning that:
Yūnus ibn ʿAbd al-Aʿlā related to me, saying: Ibn Wahb informed us, saying: Jarīr ibn Ḥāzim informed me, on the authority of Sulaymān al-Aʿmash, on the authority of Shimr ibn ʿAṭiyya, on the authority of Hilāl ibn Yasāf: he said: Ibn ʿAbbās asked Kaʿb — and I was present at that — saying to him: What (is meant by) the word of Allah, the Exalted, concerning Idrīs: وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا? Kaʿb said: As for Idrīs — Allah revealed to him: Indeed, I shall record for you each day a reward equal to the combined deeds of all the sons of Adam. He wished to increase his deeds, and an angel who was his friend came to him, and he said: Indeed, Allah has revealed to me such and such; speak on my behalf to the angel of death, that he may grant me respite so that I may increase my deeds. The angel carried him upon his wings and ascended with him to heaven. When they were in the fourth heaven, they met the angel of death descending. The angel spoke with the angel of death about what Idrīs had requested of him, and the angel of death said: But where is Idrīs? He answered: He is here with me upon my back. The angel of death said: How wondrous — I was sent to seize the soul of Idrīs in the fourth heaven, and I kept wondering: how shall I seize his soul in the fourth heaven while he is on earth? And he seized his soul there. And that is the word of Allah, blessed and exalted be He: وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا.
