Selected story
Elijah
Read the cited context and compare 8 documented textual points.
Comparison 26 of 34
Elijah
The two accounts at a glance
Bible
World English BibleElijah confronts Israel's Baal worship and challenges the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
Qur'an
Sahih InternationalIlyas asks his people whether they will call on Baal and abandon God, their Lord and the Lord of their forefathers.
These are concise account summaries with exact references. Open the complete texts at these passages →
8 documented comparison points
The comparison reads Elijah's complete biblical ministry cycle and the Qur'an's brief Ilyas passage, separating shared opposition to Baal from events found only in Kings. Labels use one standard: agreement means both texts state the point; additional detail means one adds a non-conflicting detail; omission means one is silent; ambiguity means an identity or meaning is not explicit; contradiction means both texts state mutually exclusive claims. Stylistic wording alone is not counted.
Name and historical setting
Elijah the Tishbite ministers in Israel under Ahab and Ahaziah, with Jezebel and named locations structuring the account.
Ilyas is named among the messengers and righteous, but no king, queen, Israelite kingdom, date, or location is supplied.
The confrontation over Baal
Elijah summons Ahab, 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah to Mount Carmel; the narrated public test is conducted with the 450 prophets of Baal.
Ilyas asks his people why they call on Baal and forsake God, but Ahab, Jezebel, Carmel, and the numbers of rival prophets are not mentioned.
The drought and its end
Elijah announces years without rain, later prays on Carmel, and rain returns after his servant watches for a cloud.
The Ilyas passage does not narrate a drought, prayer for rain, cloud, or its duration.
Ravens and the widow of Zarephath
Ravens feed Elijah at Cherith; a widow's flour and oil do not fail, and Elijah raises her son.
No raven provision, widow, inexhaustible food, or raising of a child appears in the Ilyas account.
Fire from heaven on Carmel
Yahweh answers Elijah's prepared sacrifice with fire after Baal's prophets fail, and the people confess Yahweh as God.
The passage condemns Baal worship but does not narrate altars, sacrifice, self-cutting prophets, water-soaked offering, or heavenly fire.
The death of Baal's prophets
Elijah orders the prophets of Baal seized and kills them at the Kishon.
Ilyas' rejecters are warned they will be brought to punishment, but no execution at a river is narrated.
Horeb and the appointment of successors
Elijah flees Jezebel, encounters God at Horeb after wind, earthquake, and fire, and is told to appoint Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha.
No flight from Jezebel, Horeb encounter, quiet voice, remnant of seven thousand, or appointment of Elisha is narrated.
How Elijah's earthly ministry ends
A chariot and horses of fire separate Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah ascends in a whirlwind while his mantle passes to Elisha.
The Ilyas passage ends with blessing and honor among later generations, not an ascension, fiery chariot, mantle transfer, or search for his body.
What do both texts share?
- Elijah/Ilyas opposes Baal worship.
- He calls his people back to the one God.