In the Bible, Elijah is a major prophet of God (Yahweh) who confronts Baal’s prophets, performs miracles, and ascends to heaven. See 1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 1-2. Elijah constantly calls upon Yahweh (Lord). He also met with Jesus at the Transfiguration. Some selected verses are below:-
1 Kings 18:21: And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:24: And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.”
1 Kings 17:22: And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.
2 Kings 2:11: And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Mark 9:2–13:
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”
The Quranic version of Elijah calls Israel to worship one God and gives a brief moral summary. This is the main detail we get about Elijah from the Quran other than name dropping in Surah 6:85 and Surah, 38:48.
Surah 37:123-132
And Elias was indeed one of the messengers.
When he said to his people, “Will you not fear Allah?
Do you call upon Baʿal and forsake the best of creators—
Allah, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?”
But they denied him, so they will certainly be brought forth for punishment,
Except for the sincere servants of Allah.
And We left for him [favourable mention] among later generations:
“Peace upon Elias.”
Indeed, We reward the doers of good.
Indeed, he was of Our believing servants.
The Quran strips away historical drama and miracles, reducing Elijah to a mere preacher of monotheism. The biblical Elijah prefigures Christ’s prophetic role. Elijah did not die but was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, making him a unique figure.
2 Kings 2:11: And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
He is prophesied to return before the “day of the Lord” linking him to end-time prophecy.
Malachi 4:5–6: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
The Quran has relegated Elijah to worshipping a different god from the one that he served.