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Prophet 16 of 25

The Story of Prophet Dhul-Kifl

Named twice in the Quran, among the patient and the best.

Dhul-Kifl is mentioned by name in two places in the Quran, each time in a list of righteous servants. The Quran gives no narrative of his life, and this page does not invent one.

وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

Surah Al-Anbiya 21:85
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Chapter 1 of 2

Among the patient

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Surah Al-Anbiya names Ismail, Idris and Dhul-Kifl as among the patient, admitted into Allah's mercy, for they were of the righteous.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Al-Anbiya 21:85–86

وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ ﴿85﴾ وَأَدْخَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُم مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ ﴿86﴾

(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.

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Chapter 2 of 2

Among the best

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Surah Sad tells the Prophet ﷺ to remember Ismail, Al-Yasa and Dhul-Kifl, and says that all are among the best.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Sad 38:48

وَٱذْكُرْ إِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَٱلْيَسَعَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ وَكُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلْأَخْيَارِ

And remember Ishmael, Elisha and Dhul-Kifl, and all are among the outstanding.

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Sources note. Whether Dhul-Kifl was a prophet or a righteous man is discussed by scholars; the Quran honours him without narrating his life.
Where is this story mentioned?

Passages about Dhul-Kifl in the Quran

Opening passage, rendered from the stored text:

  1. Surah Al-Anbiya21:85

    وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا ٱلْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّۭ مِّنَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ

    And [mention] Ishmael and Idrees and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.

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The story of Dhul-Kifl

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