Muhammad, the Qur'an and Islam
Abraham (2:90). He lived to be 160 (2:147). SUYUTI: He was 14 years
younger than Ishmael. He died at 180 and his name means "to laugh much"
["laughter"] (2:359).
Elias - (Ilyas)Elias - (Ilyas)Elias - (Ilyas)Elias - (Ilyas) The name is not Arabic, is probably from Syriac (or
Ethiopic) and predates Islam (Vocabulary, pp. 67-8). QUR'AN: Elias is
mentioned with respect to the challenge against Baal (37:123f). HADITH:
--- TABARI: Rain was held back three years because of his prayer (3:123).
He was taken away on a fiery horse (3:125). SUYUTI: According to Ibn
Ishaq, Ilyas is the son of Yasin the son of Fenhas the son of Ayzar the son
of Aaron whose brother was Moses b. `Imran. Another says he was a
grandson of Yusha (Joshua ?). Another says he lived as long as al-Khadir
and would live until the Judgment. Another says he is Idris (2:363).
Baal - (Bal)Baal - (Bal)Baal - (Bal)Baal - (Bal) The name is not Arabic, probably from the Syriac (or
Ethiopic) and predates Muhammad (Vocabulary, p. 81). QUR'AN: Baal is
mentioned (37:123f). HADITH: --- TABARI: Was an idol worshipped in
the time of Elijah (3:123). SUYUTI: It is said this was a woman's name
which was worshiped (2:367).
Jonah - (Yunus)Jonah - (Yunus)Jonah - (Yunus)Jonah - (Yunus) The name is not Arabic, probably came from Christians
and is said to predate Islam, although the evidence is doubtful (Vocabulary,
pp. 295-6). QUR'AN: Jonah would still be in the fish if he had not praised
God, he was ill, God caused a gourd to grow over him, he was sent to more
than 100,000 people, who believed and were allowed to live (37:139f). The
people of Jonah believed (10:98f). HADITH: None is to say he is better
than Jonah the son of Matta (SB 4:413). TABARI: He is placed after Jesus
in time, and is said to have been from Nineveh (4:160). Others said he was
told to go to Nineveh by Gabriel and the whale brought him to Nineveh via
the Tigris (4:161). Some say a tree and a goat witness that a shepherd had
seen Jonah and thus many believed in him (4:164). SUYUTI: He is the son
of Matta. According to one, his mother had this name, another says Matta
must have been his father's name. One says he lived in the times of the
Iranian kings. Some say he lived in the belly of a fish for 40 days, another
says 7 days, another says 3 days. Another says he was swallowed in the
morning and spit out after sunset (times given as Islamic prayer times)
(2:362-3).