Who was Prophet Idris? His life and story

Full story

1. 1

   A truthful Prophet

   Allah praises Idris (peace be upon him) in the Quran as a truthful (siddiq) Prophet and states that he was raised to a high station: "And mention in the Book Idris. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a Prophet. And We raised him to a high station" (Maryam, 56-57).

   These verses show his worth and his sincerity before Allah.

2. 2

   Among the patient and the righteous

   The Quran counts Idris (peace be upon him) among those who were patient, together with Ismail and Dhul-Kifl, and states that Allah admitted them into His mercy (Al-Anbya, 85-86).

   The Quran gives no further detail about him. For that reason nothing definite can be said about the other events of his life; according to some narrations he was one of the earliest Prophets.

3. 3

   On the Night Journey

   Although the Quran does not open up the details of the life of Idris (peace be upon him), an authentic hadith points to his rank. When our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was raised through the heavens on the night of the Miraj, he saw Idris (peace be upon him) in the fourth heaven, and Idris greeted him with the words "Welcome, O righteous brother and righteous Prophet" (Sahih Bukhari).

   This is a sign confirming his high station before Allah, the very thing the Quran expresses with the words "And We raised him to a high station" (Maryam, 57).

Idris (peace be upon him) is mentioned briefly in only two places in the Quran: Surah Maryam (19) and Surah Al-Anbya (21). In both places Allah praises him as a truthful Prophet and as a patient and righteous servant. The Quran does not narrate his story in detail.

• Truthfulness and sincerity raise a person in the sight of Allah.
• Patience is one of the defining qualities of the righteous.
• Where the Quran is silent, the right response is caution rather than invented detail.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

• QuranSurah Maryam, 56-57

  These verses state that Idris (peace be upon him) was a truthful Prophet and that he was raised to a high station.

• QuranSurah Al-Anbya, 85

  This verse mentions Idris among those who were patient and righteous.

• HadithSahih Bukhari, 3207

  This hadith narrates our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) seeing Idris (peace be upon him) in the fourth heaven on the night of the Miraj.

• Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "İdrîs"

  Referenced for academic information about Prophet Idris.

Other Prophets connected with this story.

• Prophet Adam

  The first human being and the first Prophet

• Prophet Nuh

  The Prophet who built the ark, one of the Ulul-Azm

Common questions about this Prophet.

• Who was Prophet Idris?

  Idris (peace be upon him) is a chosen servant whom the Quran praises as a truthful Prophet. Allah states that He raised him to a high station (Maryam, 56-57).

• What does the Quran say about Prophet Idris?

  The Quran calls him a truthful Prophet, states that he was raised to a high station, and counts him among those who were patient and righteous (Maryam, 56-57; Al-Anbya, 85).

• In which surahs does the name of Prophet Idris appear?

  His name appears briefly in only two surahs of the Quran: Maryam (19) and Al-Anbya (21).

• Where was Prophet Idris seen on the night of the Miraj?

  When our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was raised through the heavens on the night of the Miraj, he saw Idris (peace be upon him) in the fourth heaven, and Idris greeted him as a brother and a Prophet (Sahih Bukhari).