In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

The Idol Ba’l and Shaytan, The State of The Children of Israel After The Demise of Prophet Hizqeel and The Advent of Prophet Ilyas

Allah, The Most High, said:

وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ

إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

أَتَدْعُونَ بَعْلًا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحْسَنَ ٱلْخَٰلِقِينَ

ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمْ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَمُحْضَرُونَ

إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمُخْلَصِينَ

وَتَرَكْنَا عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلْءَاخِرِينَ

سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِلْ يَاسِينَ

إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ

إِنَّهُۥ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And verily, Iliyas (Elias) was one of the Messengers. When he said to his people: “Will you not fear Allah? Will you call upon Ba’l (a well- known idol of his nation whom they used to worship) and forsake the Best of creators- Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?” But they denied him [Iliyas (Elias)], so they will certainly be brought forth (to the punishment), except the chosen slaves of Allah. And We left for him (a good remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times; Salamun (peace) be upon Ilyasin (Elias)! Verily, thus do We reward the good-doers; Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. [[Surah As-Saffaat 123-132] 

Ba’l (the Idol): It was said that it was made of gold, measuring twenty cubits in length, and had four faces. They were beguiled and misled through it, They exalted it to the extent that they appointed four hundred custodians to serve it, and made them prophets. Shaytan used to enter Ba’l’s interior and uttered misguided legislation, then the custodians would memorise and teach it to the people. They are the people of Ba’labek within the lands of Greater Syria and their city was named after it. [1] 

After the death of Prophet Hizqeel, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, major (troubling) events took place among the Children of Israel and they forgot what Allah had obligated to them, until they adopted idols and worshipped them besides Allah. So, Allah sent to them Ilyas, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as a prophet. The prophets, peace be upon them, sent to the Children of Israel after Musa, peace be upon him, revived what had been forgotten from the Torah. [2] 

The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

“Bani Isra’eel used to be ruled and guided by prophets. Whenever a prophet died, another would take over his place. There will be no prophet after me, but there will be Caliphs who will increase in number.” The people asked, “O Allah’s Messenger! What do you order us (to do)?” He said, “Obey the one who will be given the pledge of allegiance first. Fulfil their (i.e. the Caliphs) rights, for Allah will ask them about (any shortcoming) in ruling those Allah has put under their guardianship.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari 3455]

Imam Ibn Hajr, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Whenever corruption appeared amongst them, Allah sent a Prophet to rectify their affairs and put an end to that which they changed in the rulings of the Torah”. [3]

Prophet Ilyas, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was associated with a king of the Children of Israel named Ahab, whose wife’s name was Arbel. He used to give an attentive ear to Ilyas and believed him, and Ilyas used to look after his affairs. However, the rest of the Children of Israel had adopted an idol named Ba’l which they worshipped besides Allah. 

The kings were scattered throughout Greater Syria, and every king ruled over a part of it. One day, the king who was associated with Prophet Ilyas, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to him: “O Ilyas! I swear by Allah that I see nothing regarding what you call to but falsehood. I do not see so-and-so and so-and-so – naming kings from the kings of Israel who worshipped idols – except that they are like us, partaking in food and drink, and enjoying their ruler-ships. Their affairs, which you claim are false, have not lessened their worldly possessions and we do not consider ourselves superior over them”. It is said- and Allah knows best – that Ilyas said: “Innaa Lil-laahi Wa Innaa Ilayhi Raji’un” and his hair and skin bristled; then he rejected what the king said and left him. The king then did what the other kings did by worshipping idols and acted how they acted. Ilyas then said: “O Allah! Indeed, the children of Israel have refused (to follow Tawhid), instead they disbelieve in You, worship  other than You and being ungrateful for the blessings bestowed upon them. [4]

The scholars of Tafseer and history mentioned that when many (troubling) events occurred after the death of Prophet Ḥizqeel, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and idols were worshipped, so, Allah sent Ilyas, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. He began calling them to the path of Allah, but they did not listen to him. He supplicated to Allah against them that rain be withheld, thus, they suffered greatly. He hid himself out of fear for his own life. One day, he reminded them that what has afflicted them, their livestock and plants is due to their sins, and that if they think that what they are upon is true, invoking their idols would not bring them relief. They invoked their idols but received no relief. They realised their error and asked him to supplicate to Allah for them. He supplicated for them, thus, Allah sent rain and their lands prospered. However, they did not abandon the path they were upon. [5]

Who is Bani Israel?  https://salafidawahmanchester.com/2024/12/09/a-brief-discussion-on-the-attribution-to-the-offspring-of-prophet-yaqub-in-our-era/

Visit: https://www.islammoses.com/im/

[1] An Excerpt from Tafsir Al-Qurtubi

[2] An Excerpt from Tafsir at-Tabari

[3] An Excerpt From ‘Fat’hul Baaree Sharh Saheeh Al-Bukhaari’. Vol 6. page 607. Publisher: Daarus Salaam. 1st Edition 1421AH (Year 2000)

[4] An Excerpt from at-Tabari

[5] An Excerpt from Zad Al-Masir Fee Ilm at-Tafsir by Imam Ibn Al-Jawzi