The story in short
- Arabic name
- ذو الكفل
- English name
- Dhul-Kifl (identity uncertain)
- Named in the Quran
- 2 times
- Sent to
- Not stated in the Quran
- In the list of 25
- 16 of 25
In short: the Quran names Dhul-Kifl with Ismail and Idris as "of the patient" and "of the righteous" (21:85-86), and with Ismail and al-Yasa as "among the outstanding" (38:48). Most scholars, Ibn Kathir among them, counted him as a prophet because he is listed with prophets. The Quran does not say who he was sent to, and no sahih hadith tells his story.
The story of Dhul-Kifl
What the Quran says
"And Ismail and Idris and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient. And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous" (21:85-86). "And remember Ismail, al-Yasa and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding" (38:48). The name means "the one with the portion" or "the one with the pledge", and scholars explain it in different ways.
What is uncertain
A well-known story says a prophet asked who would take on his duties on the condition that he fasted by day, prayed by night and never became angry, and that a man took the pledge and kept it, so he was called Dhul-Kifl. This comes from reports of early scholars, not from a sahih hadith. A hadith in Jami at-Tirmidhi about an Israelite sinner called al-Kifl, who repented, is about a different man, as Ibn Kathir noted, and scholars differ on its chain. Some suggested he was Ezekiel (Hizqil), but this is a guess.
Key verses
وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ﴿٨٥﴾ وَأَدْخَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿٨٦﴾
Wa Ismaa'eela wa Idreesa wa Zal Kifli kullum minas saabireen Wa adkhalnaahum fee rahmatinaa innahum minas saaliheen
(85) And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient. (86) And We admitted them into Our mercy. Indeed, they were of the righteous.
Quran 21:85-86 · Sahih International · Read in Surah Al-Anbiya
وَٱذْكُرْ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ ﴿٤٨﴾
Wazkur Ismaa'eela wal Yasa'a wa Zal-Kifli wa kullum minal akhyaar
And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding.
Quran 38:48 · Sahih International · Read in Surah Sad
Lessons from the story
- Patience is the quality the Quran chose to describe him by. It is enough to be remembered for.
- Allah honours people whose stories we do not know. Their deeds are with Him.
- Where the sources are silent, we hold back from adding stories.
Where it is in the Quran
The main passages about Dhul-Kifl, with links to read and listen to each surah:
- Surah Al-Anbiya 21:85-86
- Surah Sad 38:48
What is authentic, and what is not
We have not told any story of Dhul-Kifl as fact, because none is established by the Quran or a sahih hadith. Whether he was a prophet or a righteous man is discussed by scholars, and the stronger view is that he was a prophet.
We follow Ibn Kathir's Qasas al-Anbiya only where it rests on the Quran and sound hadith. Isra'iliyyat are reports taken from earlier scriptures and storytellers. Scholars allow mentioning them only when they do not contradict the Quran and Sunnah, and they are never treated as certain.
Questions
Was Dhul-Kifl a prophet?
Most scholars say yes, because the Quran lists him with prophets in 21:85 and 38:48. A minority said he was a righteous man.
How many times is Dhul-Kifl mentioned in the Quran?
Twice: Surah Al-Anbiya 21:85 and Surah Sad 38:48.
What does Dhul-Kifl mean?
"The one with the portion" or "the one with the pledge". Scholars explain the name in different ways.
Is Dhul-Kifl the same as Ezekiel?
Some suggested so, but there is no authentic evidence. His identity is uncertain.
Sources
- Ibn Kathir, Qasas al-Anbiya, chapter on Dhul-Kifl, and his tafsir of 21:85-86.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi, the hadith of al-Kifl, from Ibn Umar; scholars differ on its grading.
- Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Uthmani text, English by Sahih International. In quotations within the text, the prophets' names are given in their Arabic form (Musa for Moses, Ibrahim for Abraham).
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.