Ala-Maududi
(19:56) And recite in the Book the account of Idris.[33] He was a man of truth, a
Prophet;
33. There is a difference of opinion as to who Prophet Idris (peace be upon him) was. Some
commentators opine that he was a Prophet from among the Israelites, but the majority of them are
inclined to the view that he was a Prophet before Noah (peace be upon him). There is no
authentic tradition which may help determine his identity. The next (Surah Maryam, ayat 58), however,
supports the view that he appeared before Prophet Noah (peace be upon him). For of all the
Prophets mentioned, he alone was the one who may be said to be from the descendants of Adam.
The commentators are of the opinion that Idris was Enoch of the Old Testament, about whom it is
said:
And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he
begat Methuselah three hundred years…. and he was not; for God took him. (Gen. 5: 21-24).
In Talmud, there are greater details about Enoch, which are briefly as follows: Before Noah when
the descendants of Adam began to degenerate, the angel of God called to Enoch, who led a pious
life away from the people, and said: O Enoch, arise, come out from seclusion, and go about among
the people of the earth, guiding them to the path which they should follow and the ways which
they should adopt.
Receiving this Divine Command, Enoch left his seclusion and gathered the people together and
preached to them what he had been commanded, with the result that they listened to him and
adopted the worship of God. Enoch ruled over mankind for 353 years: his rule was based on
justice and truth, and consequently God favored mankind with all kinds of blessings.” (H.
Polano: The Talmud Selections, pp. 18-21)
Ala-Maududi
(19:57) and We exalted him to a lofty position.[34]
34. The plain meaning is that God had favored Idris with a high rank, but according to the
Israelite traditions, God took up Idris (Enoch) to heavens. The Bible says: And he was not; for
God took him, but the Talmud has a long story to tell, which ends with the words: Enoch ascended
to heaven in a whirlwind, with chariot and horses of fire.