Ibn Kathir states that since Dhul-Kifl is mentioned alongside other prophets in the Quran, it is likely that he was a prophet himself—this is the most widely accepted view. However, some scholars suggest that he was not a prophet but rather a pious man. Regardless, we will discuss what is known about Dhul-Kifl from narrations, as his life is not explicitly detailed in the Quran. Nonetheless, there are many lessons to learn from his story.

And ˹remember˺ Ishmael, Enoch, and Ⱬul-Kifl. They were all steadfast.21:85

And remember Our servants: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the men of strength and insight.38:45

We truly chose them for the honour of proclaiming the Hereafter.38:46

And in Our sight they are truly among the chosen and the finest.38:47

On the Day of Judgment you will see those who lied about Allah with their faces gloomy. Is Hell not a ˹fitting˺ home for the arrogant?39:60

The name Dhul-Kifl translates to "the one who possesses or takes care." He was given this name because he took on the responsibility of guiding his people towards the way of Allah while also providing for their needs.

Mujahid, a notable scholar, believed that Dhul-Kifl was a pious man rather than a prophet. He narrated that when the prophet Elisha (Al-Yasa) grew old, he wanted to appoint a successor who could fulfill his duties. Elisha looked for someone with three essential qualities: 1. Fasting during the day 2. Praying at night 3. Never becoming angry

Elisha made an announcement seeking such a person, and one man stepped forward, declaring that he possessed all three qualities. Elisha questioned him further, but he did not appoint him immediately. On the second day, Elisha repeated the call, and once again, the same man stepped forward. This time, Elisha accepted him as his successor, and he became known as Dhul-Kifl for upholding this responsibility.

At this, Satan instructed his devils to go after him and try to tempt him from justice and goodness - but they could not do so. Satan tried again, this time telling his devils to leave Dhul-Kifl to be misled by Satan himself. He came in the form of a poor old man at the point in the day when he would usually sleep, in the heat - this was the only time he would sleep. Satan knocked on the door, Dhul-Kifl got up asking who was at the door. Satan replied saying he was an old poor man who had been wronged. Dhul-Kifl got up and let him in.

Satan began telling him a fake story; saying there was enmity between him and his people and that they had done every wrong to him. He spoke for a long while, making the story as long as he could so that the time Dhul-Kifl would normally sleep was all used up. Dhul-Kifl explained that he should come to his court later but the man was nowhere to be seen.

The next day, Dhul-Kifl waited for the old man (Satan) and only when it was the time when he would sleep did the old man come knocking at his door. Again the old man talked and talked until he had no time to sleep. Dhul-Kifl told him to come when he was in his court.

The next day Dhul-Kifl was now very tired In his court, and his eyes kept shutting. He told his guard to not let anyone enter as he needed to sleep. Satan then came, as the same old man asking the guard to let him in. The guard refused so Satan entered a different way and knocked from the inside, waking up Dhul-Kifl. At this, he asked the guard why he had let him in. Now realising who this man might be, he asked Satan whether he was the enemy of Allah to which he said yes. Satan tried his best to make him angry but Dhul-Kifl remained true to the responsibility he took upon himself - he fasted in the day, prayed at night and did not get angry.