Dhul-Kifl was a righteous prophet who prayed 100 times a day. He promised to judge his people fairly and take care of their affairs, earning him the name “Dhul-Kifl.”
Biography:
Historians say Dhul-Kifl was the son of Prophet Ayyub (Job), originally named Bishr. He was sent by God after Ayyub and was named Dhul-Kifl because he took on certain acts of worship and fulfilled them. He lived in the Levant, and people in Damascus believe he has a tomb on Mount Qasioun overlooking the city. Some scholars believe he was not a prophet but a righteous man from the Israelites. However, Ibn Kathir favored his prophethood because God mentioned him alongside other prophets in the Quran: “And [mention] Ishmael and Idris and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient. And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.” (Quran 21:85-86) Ibn Kathir stated that the Quran’s praise of Dhul-Kifl, alongside other esteemed prophets, suggests he was indeed a prophet. This is the widely accepted view.
The Quran only mentions Dhul-Kifl by name among the prophets, without detailing his mission, message, or the people he was sent to. Therefore, we refrain from discussing his mission as many historians have provided very little information about him. It is important to note that the Dhul-Kifl mentioned in the Quran is different from the “Kifl” mentioned in the hadith. The hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) states: “Kifl from the Israelites did not refrain from any sin. A woman came to him, and he gave her sixty dinars to sleep with her. When he was about to do so, she trembled and cried. He asked her why she was crying, and she said it was because she had never done such a thing before and was only driven by need. He then let her go with the dinars and said, ‘By Allah, Kifl will never disobey Allah again.’ He died that night, and it was found written on his door: ‘Allah has forgiven Kifl.’” (Narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is a good hadith, though its chain of narration has some issues. If authentic, this Kifl is not the same as Dhul-Kifl mentioned in the Quran.) Some historians mention that Dhul-Kifl promised his people to take care of their affairs and judge them fairly, earning him the name Dhul-Kifl. However, these stories require verification and scrutiny.
The Righteous Man:
Those who believe Dhul-Kifl was not a prophet but a righteous man from the Israelites narrate that he lived during the time of Prophet Elisha (Al-Yasa). It is said that when Elisha grew old, he wanted to appoint someone to lead the people during his lifetime to see how he would act. He gathered the people and said, “Who will accept three conditions for me to appoint him: fasting during the day, praying at night, and not getting angry?” A man, whom people looked down upon, stood up and said, “I will.” Elisha asked, “Will you fast during the day, pray at night, and not get angry?” The man replied, “Yes.” Elisha dismissed the people that day without appointing anyone. The next day, Elisha repeated his offer, and the same man stood up again. Elisha then appointed him.
So Iblis (Satan) said to his devils, “You must deal with this man,” but they were unable to. Then he said, “Leave him to me.” He came to him in the form of an old, poor man and approached him when he was about to take his afternoon nap, which was the only time he slept day and night. He knocked on the door. Dhul-Kifl asked, “Who is it?” The old man replied, “An old, oppressed man.” Dhul-Kifl got up and opened the door. The old man began to tell him about a dispute between him and his people, how they wronged him, and he prolonged his story until the time for Dhul-Kifl’s council with the people had arrived, and his nap was missed. Dhul-Kifl said, “If you come to my council, I will get your right for you.”
The old man left, and Dhul-Kifl went to his council without sleeping. However, the old man did not show up at the council. The council ended without the old man appearing. The next day, Dhul-Kifl held his council again, but the old man did not come. When Dhul-Kifl returned home for his nap, the old man came and knocked on the door. Dhul-Kifl asked, “Who is it?” The old man replied, “The old, oppressed man.” Dhul-Kifl opened the door and said, “Didn’t I tell you to come to my council?” The old man said, “They are the worst people. When they know you are sitting, they say they will give me my right, but when you leave, they deny me.” Dhul-Kifl said, “Come now, and if you come to my council, I will get your right for you.”
Dhul-Kifl missed his nap again, went to his council, and waited for the old man, but he did not see him. Sleep overcame him, so he told his household, “Do not let anyone near this door until I sleep, for sleep has become difficult for me.” The old man came, but they prevented him from entering. He said, “I came to him yesterday and told him my story.” They replied, “By Allah, he ordered us not to let anyone near him.” The old man climbed over the wall, entered the house, and knocked on the door from inside. Dhul-Kifl woke up and said to his household, “Didn’t I tell you not to let anyone in?” They replied, “We did not let anyone near; see how he entered.” Dhul-Kifl went to the door, found it closed as he had left it, and saw the man inside the house. He recognized him and said, “Enemy of Allah?” The old man replied, “Yes, you have exhausted me in everything, so I did all this to anger you.”
Allah named him Dhul-Kifl because he took on a responsibility and fulfilled it!
