Tafsir of Maryam 19:56-57

Maryam (19:56-57)

And mention in the Book...

Know that Idris (peace be upon him) is the grandfather of Noah (peace be upon him). His lineage is Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch. It is said he was named Idris because of his extensive study (dirāsah), while his actual name was Enoch.

Allah the Almighty described him with several attributes:

1. He was a Truthful One (Ṣiddīq).
2. He was a Prophet (Nabī). (The discussion on these two points has preceded.)
3. His statement: {And We raised him to a high station} (وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا).

Regarding this high station, there are two opinions:

1. It refers to the elevation of rank, like His statement concerning the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): {And did We not raise high for you your reputation?} (Al-Sharh: 4). Indeed, Allah honored him with prophethood, sent down thirty scriptures to him, and he was the first to write with a pen, study astronomy and calculation, and the first to sew and wear clothes, whereas people previously wore skins.
2. The intended meaning is elevation in physical location to a high place. This view is stronger because elevation coupled with the word 'place' (مَكَانًا) implies spatial elevation rather than just rank.

They further differed on the nature of this elevation:

• Some said Allah raised him to the heaven and to Paradise while he was still alive and had not died.
• Others said he was raised to the heaven, and his soul was then taken there.

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) asked Ka'b about the verse {And We raised him to a high station}: Ka'b replied that a close friend from the angels came to him and pleaded until the Angel of Death delayed taking his soul. That angel then carried him on his wings and ascended with him to the heaven. When they reached the fourth heaven, the Angel of Death said, "I have been sent, and I was commanded to take the soul of Idris in the fourth heaven, and I was wondering how, since he is on earth." Idris turned and the Angel of Death saw him, so he took his soul there.

Know that Allah praised him by raising him to the heaven because it is customary that only those of great status and high rank are raised there. This is why He said concerning the angels: {Those who are with Him are not too proud to worship Him} (Al-Anbiyā’: 19).

Here ends the story.

{These are those whom Allah has favored from among the prophets: of the descendants of Adam, and of those whom We carried with Noah, and of the descendants of Abraham and Israel, and of those whom We guided and chose. When the Most Merciful's verses were recited to them, they fell down in prostration, weeping.} (19:58)

(Note: The provided excerpt seems to skip verse 58 and jump to a section that appears to be a continuation or summary related to the lineage of prophets, possibly referencing verse 58 or the context following it, but the numbering in the source text is unusual: 7 < { ... } > 7 ! < <)

(Self-Correction/Contextual Note: The provided text segment starting with 7 < { أولائك الذين أنعم الله عليهم... } > 7 ! < < corresponds exactly to Surah Maryam, verse 58.)