وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحۡيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلۡيَاسَۖ كُلّٞ مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias – and all were of the righteous.
وَإِنَّ إِلۡيَاسَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ
And indeed, Elias was from among the messengers,
إِذۡ قَالَ لِقَوۡمِهِۦٓ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
When he said to his people, "Will you not fear AllŒh?
أَتَدۡعُونَ بَعۡلٗا وَتَذَرُونَ أَحۡسَنَ ٱلۡخَٰلِقِينَ
Do you call upon BaÔl[1] and leave the best of creators –
1- The name of a great idol worshipped by the people and said to mean "lord."
ٱللَّهَ رَبَّكُمۡ وَرَبَّ ءَابَآئِكُمُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ
AllŒh, your Lord and the Lord of your first forefathers?"
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَإِنَّهُمۡ لَمُحۡضَرُونَ
And they denied him, so indeed, they will be brought [for punishment],
إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ
Except the chosen servants of AllŒh.
وَتَرَكۡنَا عَلَيۡهِ فِي ٱلۡأٓخِرِينَ
And We left for him [favorable mention] among later generations:
سَلَٰمٌ عَلَىٰٓ إِلۡ يَاسِينَ
"Peace upon Elias."[1]
1- IlyŒseen is said by some commentators to be a plural form, meaning "Elias and those who followed him."
إِنَّا كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ
Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.
إِنَّهُۥ مِنۡ عِبَادِنَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ
Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.