Prophet Idris (AS) is a prophet and messenger in Islam, recognized as one of the earliest messengers sent to humanity after Prophet Adam (AS) and Prophet Seth (AS). Allah (SWT) describes him in the Quran as a man of truth, patience, and elevated rank – qualities that define his entire prophetic mission.
His name appears twice in the Quran, and classical scholars unanimously regard him as a prophet of profound wisdom, intellectual contribution, and spiritual elevation. Islamic tradition identifies him as the third prophet in the line of prophethood after Adam (AS) and Seth (AS).
Prophet Idris in the Quran
Allah (SWT) mentions Prophet Idris (AS) directly in two Surahs of the Quran.
Surah Maryam (19:56-57)
“And mention in the Book, Idris. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. And We raised him to a high station.”
Surah Maryam, 19:56-57
This verse establishes three core attributes of Prophet Idris (AS):
- Siddiq (Man of Truth) – He was truthful in his character, speech, and message.
- Nabi (Prophet) – He carried the message of Allah to his people.
- Raised to a High Station – Allah elevated him in rank and position, spiritually and, according to many scholars, physically.
Surah Al-Anbiya (21:85)
“And [mention] Ishmael and Idris and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.”
Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:85
This verse groups Prophet Idris (AS) with Prophet Ishmael (AS) and Dhul-Kifl as examples of patience – a virtue directly linked to his endurance in calling his people to the worship of Allah against persistent resistance.
Lineage and Historical Context of Prophet Idris (AS)
Prophet Idris (AS) descended from Prophet Adam (AS) through the lineage of Prophet Seth (AS). Classical scholars, including Ibn Kathir in Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah (The Beginning and the End), place his birth in Babylon, present-day Iraq. He later migrated to Egypt, where he continued his prophetic mission.
He lived during a period when the descendants of Adam (AS) had begun to deviate from the pure monotheism taught by Adam (AS) and Seth (AS). Idris (AS) was sent to call them back to Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah), righteous conduct, and sincere worship.
Physical Description and Character of Prophet Idris (AS)
Classical Islamic accounts preserve detailed descriptions of Prophet Idris (AS) based on historical narrations:
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Build | Tall, broad-shouldered, and physically strong |
| Appearance | Handsome with a dignified bearing and a thick beard |
| Speech | Deliberate and measured – often choosing silence over unnecessary words |
| Temperament | Deeply reflective, patient, and profoundly focused on contemplating Allah’s creation |
The Pioneering Contributions of Prophet Idris (AS)
Prophet Idris (AS) is uniquely distinguished in Islamic tradition for being the first human to introduce foundational skills that shaped human civilization. Al-Qurtubi, in his Tafsir al-Qurtubi commentary on Surah Maryam (19:56), records:
“Idris, upon him be peace, was the first to write with the pen, the first to sew and stitch his clothing, and the first to study knowledge of the stars, their calculations, and their movements.”
Al-Qurtubi, Tafsir al-Qurtubi
1. Writing with the Pen
Prophet Idris (AS) is identified as the first human being to write with a pen. This contribution carries profound significance in Islam – the very first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (?) referenced the pen: “Recite in the name of your Lord who created… who taught by the pen.” (Surah Al-Alaq, 96:1-4). Writing preserved divine knowledge across generations, and Idris (AS) was its first human practitioner.
2. Tailoring and Sewing Clothes
Before Idris (AS), people wore animal skins as garments. Prophet Idris (AS) introduced the art of tailoring – cutting, stitching, and assembling fabric into fitted clothing. This transition marked a significant leap in human dignity and civilization.
3. Astronomy and Mathematics
Prophet Idris (AS) pioneered the systematic study of stars, celestial movements, and mathematical calculations. This knowledge enabled early human societies to develop calendars, measure seasons, and navigate by the heavens. Many classical and medieval Muslim scholars identified Idris (AS) with Hermes Trismegistus, a figure in ancient traditions also credited with the invention of astronomy and mathematical sciences.
4. City Planning
Historical accounts suggest Prophet Idris (AS) was involved in establishing numerous cities, using his knowledge of mathematics and celestial measurements to plan settlements for his people.
The Mission of Prophet Idris (AS)
Prophet Idris (AS) was sent to a people who had strayed from the monotheism of their ancestors. His call centered on three core pillars:
- Tawhid – Pure monotheism and exclusive worship of Allah
- Salah – Establishing consistent prayer
- Zakat – Giving charity and fulfilling obligations to the community
Prophet Idris (AS) in the Night Journey (Isra wal-Miraj)
The most definitive confirmation of the elevated station of Prophet Idris (AS) comes from the authentic Hadith narrating Prophet Muhammad’s (?) miraculous Night Journey (Isra) and Ascension (Miraj). In narrations recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (?) encountered Prophet Idris (AS) during his ascent through the heavens. Prophet Idris (AS) was positioned in the Fourth Heaven.
Upon meeting, Prophet Idris (AS) greeted Prophet Muhammad (?) as a “pious brother and pious prophet” – a greeting of honor between two of the mightiest prophets in Islamic history.
The “High Station” – Scholarly Interpretations
The Quranic phrase “Wa rafa’naahu makaanan ‘aliyyaa” – “We raised him to a high station” (19:57) – has been interpreted by classical scholars in two primary ways:
1. Spiritual Elevation
Allah raised the rank, status, and closeness of Idris (AS) to Him. His truthfulness, patience, and prophethood earned him an exalted position in the sight of Allah – above most of humanity and comparable only to the greatest of prophets.
2. Physical Elevation – Alive to the Heavens
The majority interpretation, supported by the Hadith of the Night Journey, holds that Allah physically raised Prophet Idris (AS) to the heavens while he was still alive. This places him among the distinguished figures – like Prophet Isa (AS) – about whom Islamic tradition maintains that Allah raised them in a manner that distinguished them from the ordinary course of death.
Lessons from the Life of Prophet Idris (AS)
1. Knowledge Is an Act of Worship
Prophet Idris (AS) combined prophethood with intellectual mastery. He studied the stars, wrote with the pen, and built cities – all in service of Allah’s creation. Islam does not separate the pursuit of knowledge from the worship of Allah; they are complementary.
2. Patience Produces Elevation
Allah explicitly cited the patience of Idris (AS) alongside Ishmael and Dhul-Kifl (21:85). His elevation – spiritual and physical – was not given instantly but built through years of patient perseverance in calling his people to Truth.
3. Truth Is the Foundation of All Rank
The Quran’s first description of Idris (AS) is Siddiq – truthful. Before prophethood, before elevation, before worldly contribution, Allah identified him by his truthfulness. Truthfulness in character, intention, and action is the cornerstone of prophetic rank.
4. Civilizational Contribution Is a Form of Service to Allah
Writing, mathematics, tailoring – these are not merely secular inventions. They are contributions that enabled human civilization to grow, preserve divine guidance, and serve one another with greater dignity. Idris (AS) demonstrates that every legitimate contribution to human welfare is an act of service to Allah.
Prophet Idris (AS) and the Prophets Around Him
| Prophet | Relationship to Idris (AS) |
|---|---|
| Adam (AS) | Great forefather – first prophet and first human |
| Seth (AS) | Second prophet; Idris (AS) descended from his lineage |
| Nuh (AS) / Noah | Prophet who came after Idris (AS), continuing the mission of monotheism |
| Muhammad (?) | The final prophet who encountered Idris (AS) in the Fourth Heaven during Isra wal-Miraj |
Frequently Asked Questions About Prophet Idris (AS)
Is Prophet Idris the same as Enoch in the Bible?
Most Islamic scholars and comparative religion researchers identify Prophet Idris (AS) with the biblical figure Enoch, son of Jared, who is described in the Book of Genesis as a man who “walked with God” and was “taken by God” – an account that parallels the Islamic narrative of his elevation to a high station.
How many times is Prophet Idris mentioned in the Quran?
Prophet Idris (AS) is mentioned by name twice in the Quran: once in Surah Maryam (19:56-57) and once in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:85).
Which heaven was Prophet Idris (AS) in during the Night Journey?
Prophet Muhammad (?) encountered Prophet Idris (AS) in the Fourth Heaven during the Night Journey (Isra wal-Miraj), as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
What was Prophet Idris known for inventing?
According to Al-Qurtubi’s Tafsir and Ibn Kathir’s Stories of the Prophets, Prophet Idris (AS) is credited with introducing writing with the pen, tailoring and sewing clothes, and the systematic study of astronomy and mathematics.
Is Prophet Idris still alive?
Many classical scholars interpret the Quranic verse “We raised him to a high station” alongside the Night Journey Hadith to mean that Prophet Idris (AS) was raised alive to the heavens. This is the majority scholarly position, though scholars caution against treating auxiliary narrations about the specific details of his ascension as definitive religious doctrine.
Summary: The Legacy of Prophet Idris (AS)
Prophet Idris (AS) stands as a unique figure in the history of prophethood – a messenger whose mission extended beyond spiritual guidance into the very foundations of human civilization. He wrote the first words with a pen, stitched the first garments, mapped the first stars, and built the first cities. He called his people to Tawhid with truth and patience until Allah elevated him to a station that no ordinary human reaches.
His two Quranic mentions are brief – but each word carries the weight of a life lived entirely in alignment with Allah’s will. For Muslims today, his legacy is a call to combine sincere faith with purposeful contribution: to worship Allah through knowledge, patience, truth, and service.
This article is based on the Quran, authentic Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim), and the scholarly works of Ibn Kathir (Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah; Qisas al-Anbiya) and Al-Qurtubi (Tafsir al-Qurtubi).
Mohammed Basheer is the founder of Sukoonly.com, an Islamic blog focused on duas, prophetic healing, and Qur’anic wisdom. He writes with sincerity and spiritual depth for seekers around the world.