Background
The prophet Ilyas [peace be upon him] lived in the region of present-day Syria, in a place called Ba’labak. He, too, was born into a society in which idolatry was widespread. Ilyas is descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. So he is also a descendant of Abraham [peace be upon him]. He has invited his people to Islam. Allah says about him: Also Ilyas was among those sent. When he said to his people, “Will you not become godly? Do you invoke Ba’l and forsake the best of creators, God your Lord and the Lord of your fathers who were before?” But they accused him of lying, and so they will certainly be brought before him. But [that] does not apply to the devoted servants of God. And We left for him a good name among posterity. Peace be upon Ilyas! Thus do We reward those who do good. He belongs to Our believing servants.”1
Challenges
The verse says Ba’l. That was the image worshiped by the idolaters. According to other scholars, Ba’l is the name of a woman who was considered a god at the time. In the war against Jalot, he chose Talot as commander. People initially did not agree with this, because Talot was a tanner (a person who makes leather from the skin of animals). When they were on their way, Talot indicated that people should not drink from a certain river. This was a test from Allah. Only four thousand people out of eighty thousand obeyed him, and drank no water. The rest indicated that they had no strength to fight against Jalot.
In the Quran
Allah says about this: “Then their prophet said to them, ‘Allah has sent Talot to you as a king.’ But they said, “How can he exercise kingship over us, when we are more entitled to kingship than he is, and he has not been given an abundance of wealth?”
He said: “Allah has chosen him above you and He has greatly increased his knowledge and his body. And Allah gives His kingship to whom He wills. Allah is all-encompassing and knowing.” Their prophet said to them: “The sign of his kingship is that the wooden box [Tabut] comes to you in which is a divine rest from your Lord and a remnant of what the people of Musa and the people of Harun left behind, and which carry the angels. In this is a sign for you, if you believe.”
Then when Talot went out with his troops, he said, “Allah will test you with a river. Whoever drinks from it is not mine, and whoever does not taste it is mine, unless someone scoops up a handful.” Then they drank out of it except for a few. Then when he and those who believed with him crossed the river, they said, “Today we have no strength against Jalot and his troops.”
Those who thought they would meet Allah said: “Often a small force has overcome a large force by God’s permission! Allah is with those who persevere patiently.” And when they came up against Jalot and his troops, they said: Our Lord, grant us steadfastness, make our feet firm and help us against the disbelieving people. Then they defeated them by Allah’s permission and David killed Jalot and Allah gave him kingship and wisdom and He taught him [much] of whatever He willed.”2
David [peace be upon him] also comes forward in this verse. He was the one in the army who killed the leader of the enemy, Jalot, with a slingshot.
THE REGRETS OF CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
Not only did the children of Israel deny the sayings of the prophet Ilyas, they also sent him out of Baalbek. Then Allah, the Almighty, removed abundance from them. They had no rain. Animals began to die. They had to eat the animals that died. They suffered several setbacks. They realized that the reason why these misfortunes befell them is to deport Ilyas (as) from Baalbek and disobey him. They searched for prophet Ilyas and found him. They apologized to him and promised to obey him. After Ilyas (as) for a while, children of Israel began to deny him again and commit sins by showing ingratitude. They ceased to obey him. When Ilyas (as) believed that they would not follow the straight path, he asked Allah Almighty to separate him from them. Allah Almighty accepted his prayer and allowed him to leave them and go elsewhere.3 May Allah be pleased with him!
1 Surah as-Saffat, verses 123-132
2 Surat al-Baqara, verses 247-251
3 A.C. Paşa, Kısas-ı Enbiya, I/35-36, Ö. N. Bilmen, ibid, VI/3001-3002