Tafsir of Al-Anbiya' 21:85

Meaning: "And mention them." The apparent order of Dhu al-Kifl being placed within the rank of the Prophets (peace be upon them) indicates that he is one of them, which is the position held by the majority. There is disagreement regarding his name:

It is said that he was Bishr, the son of Ayyub (peace be upon him). Allah the Almighty sent him as a Prophet after his father and named him Dhu al-Kifl. He commanded him to call people to His Oneness. He remained in the Levant throughout his life and died at the age of seventy-five, leaving his will to his son, 'Abdan. Al-Hakim recorded this from Wahb.

It is also said that he was Ilyas (Elijah) ibn Yasin ibn Finhas ibn al-'Aizar ibn Harun, brother of Musa ibn 'Imran (peace be upon them), and the approach of some scholars suggests they favored this. Others say he was Yusha' ibn Nun (Joshua). It is said his name was simply Dhu al-Kifl. Others say he was Zakariya; Al-Kirmani related this in al-'Aja'ib. It is also said that he was Al-Yasa' (Elisha) ibn Akhtub ibn al-'Ajuz. The Jews claimed he was Ezekiel, to whom prophecy came while he was in the midst of the captivity of Nebuchadnezzar by the river Chebar.

Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Mujahid said: "He was not a Prophet, but a righteous servant." Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Mujahid that Al-Yasa' (peace be upon him) made him a successor on the condition that he fast by day, pray by night, and not become angry; and he did so. Mujahid did not mention his name.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded from Ibn 'Abbas that he said: "He was a judge among the Children of Israel. When death approached him, he said: 'Who will take my place on the condition that he does not become angry?' A man said: 'I will.' He was called Dhu al-Kifl."

It is also recorded from Ibn Hujayrah al-Akbar: "There was a king from among the kings of the Children of Israel. When death approached him, the heads of the Children of Israel came to him and said: 'Appoint a king over us whom we can turn to.' He said: 'Whoever guarantees three things for me, I shall grant him my kingdom.' No one spoke except a young man from the people who said: 'I will.' He said: 'Sit.' Then he said it a second time, and no one spoke except that young man. He said: 'Guarantee three things for me and I shall grant you my kingdom: you shall pray the night and not sleep, you shall fast and not break it, and you shall judge and not become angry.' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'I have granted you my kingdom.'"

The account contains the story of Iblis (may the curse of Allah be upon him) attempting to make him angry and Allah the Almighty protecting him from him.

Al-Kifl signifies guarantee, share, or double. If this was not his name, it is either because he guaranteed a matter and fulfilled it, or because he had a "share" (hazz) from Allah the Almighty. It is also said that he had double the work of the Prophets of his time and double their reward.

Those who said he was Zakariya (peace be upon him) stated that this title was given to him because of his guarantee (kafaalah) of Maryam, which falls under the first explanation. In al-Bahr, it is said: "There are conflicting statements regarding his naming as Dhu al-Kifl that are not authentic, and Allah the Almighty knows best."

Meaning: Patient in the face of the hardships of divine obligations and the severity of calamities. This is understood from the mention of these individuals after Ayyub (peace be upon them). The sentence is an isti'naf (a new commencing clause) that serves as an answer to a question arising from the command to mention them.