Duhl Kifl / Who is he?

_Lahore_Ka_Cheetah · March 17, 2006, 5:28am

“And (remember) Ismail (Ishmael) and Idris (Enoch) and Dhul-Kifl, all were from among those who observe patience.” (Surah 21: 85-86)

Is he a Prophet?

itsme01 · March 17, 2006, 5:38am

Correction: Prophet Yunus [PBUH] is also known as Dhul-Nun.

** Information Regarding Dhul-Kifl [PBUH]**

Etymology

The name Dhul-Kifl probably means “the man from Kifl”, where Kifl is the Arabic pronunciation of Kapilavastu, the place where Gautama Buddha spent thirty years of his life, but it could mean many things, among which: that he protected a prophet from his people; or that he guaranteed himself to be a just qadi (judge).

Qur’anic reference

Dhul-Kifl is mentioned in the following Qur’anic ayat:
“And (remember) Ismail (Ishmael) and Idris (Enoch) and Dhul-Kifl, all were from among those who observe patience.” (Surah 21: 85-86)

Dhul-Kifl in other religions

The most common view is that the man referred to as Dhul-Kifl was a righteous and just man, and not a prophet. Some instead believe him to be the same person as Gautama Buddha, taking ‘Kifl’ to be the Arabic pronunciation of Kapilvastu, a place where he spent 30 years of his life. They use this as evidence to describe Buddha as a prophet. Most muslims do not accept that point of view.

External links

Were Luqman and Dhul Kifl prophets?

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhul-Kifl]

_Lahore_Ka_Cheetah · March 17, 2006, 6:29am

Re: Duhl Kifl / Who is he?

I read somewhere that some scholars say that Dhul Kifl refers to Ezekiel, a Prophet mentioned in the Jewish scriptures.

itsme01 · March 17, 2006, 6:44am

Re: Duhl Kifl / Who is he?

^ There are only 2 places in the Quran where the name Dhul-Kifl [PBUH] appears. Saying that its Prophet Ezekiel, i believe is somewhat inaccurate since no such thing is revealed. Buddha, possibly – but then again, no concrete evidence - except the fact the names are same.

Prophet: Ezikiel

Almighty Allah said:* Did you (O Muhammad) not think of those who went forth from their homes in thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, “Die.” And then He restored them to life. Truly, Allah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most men think not. (Ch 2:243 Quran).*
Mohammad Ibn Ishaaq stated of Wahb Ibn Munbah said that when Allah took Kalih Ibn Yofra (Jephtha) after Joshua, Ezekiel Ibn Buzi succeeded him as the prophet to the Israelites. The people had fled from Palestine for fear of the plague and settled on a plateau. Allah said to them: “Die you all,” and they all perished. A few centuries passed, and then Ezekiel, passing by, stopped over them, wondering. There came a voice: “Do you want Allah to resurrect them while you watch?” He said: “Yes.” Then he was commanded to call those bones to join one to the other and to be covered with flesh. So he called them by the power of Allah, and the people arose and glorified Allah in the voice of one man.
According to Ibn Abbas, this place was called “Damardan.” Its people were inflicted with plague, so they fled, while a group of them who remained in the village perished. The Angel of Death called to the survivors: “Die you all,” and they perished. After a long time a prophet called Ezekiel passed by them and stood wondering over them, twisting his jaws and fingers. Allah revealed to him: "Do you want Me to show you how I bring them back to life? He said: “Yes.” His idea was to marvel at the power of Allah over them. A voice said to him: “Call: ‘O you bones, Allah commands you to gather up.’” The bones began to fly one to the other until they became skeletons. Then Allah revealed to him to say; “Call: ‘O you bones, Allah commands you to put on flesh and blood and the clothes in which they had died.’” And a voice said: “Allah commands you to call the bodies to rise.” And they rose. When they returned to life they said: “Blessed are You, O Lord, and all praises is Yours.” Ibn 'Abbas reported that the dead who were resurrected were four thousand, while Ibn Salih said they were nine thousand.
Regarding plague, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah related that 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was on his way to Syria and had reached Sarg when the leader of the Muslim army, Abu Ubaidah Ibn Al-Jarrah, and his companions met him and told him of a pestilence that had broken out in Syria. 'Umar remember the Prophet’s (pbuh) saying: “If it (plague) be in a country where you are staying, do not go out fleeing it, and if you hear it is in a country, do not enter it.” Umar praised Allah and then went off.
Muhammad Ibn Ishaaq stated that we do not know how long Ezekiel (pbuh) stayed among the Israelites before Allah took him away. After him, the Israelites deviated from the right way of life, as they usually did, and deserted Allah’s covenant with them. They worshipped many idols, among them Ba’al, so Allah sent to them the Prophet Elijah (pbuh).

source: http://www.benadir-islam.com/ezek.htm]

** Here is a source that says otherwise (scroll down to the table)**
http://islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa061399.htm