Allah has praised Idris, describing him as being a prophet and truthful. Idris AS was born and raised in Babylon following the teachings and religion of Prophet Adam (pbuh) and his son Seth (pbuh). Idris was the 5th generation of the Prophet Adam.
Allah (swt) awarded Idris (as) with skill in various fields of science, such as mathematics and astronomy. Prophet Idris also known to be an expert in making the tools of human needs. He knew all the languages on earth. It is narrated from Wahab that Idris was a well-built man with a broad chest. He had less hair on his body and more on his head. His one ear is bigger than the other. He had scanty hair on his chest and spoke in a low voice.
While walking his feet used to come close to one another. He is known as Idris because he used to **teach** about the magnanimity of Allah (swt) and the excellence of Islam.
When Idris (as) came after Sheeth (as), he was of course the ruler. A Prophet and a Messenger and their leader, and he ruled by Allah his law and he changed some of the Shareeah of Sheeth (as). And one of the things that Idris came up with at that time was ‘Jihad’.
The first Prophet and Messenger to call for Jihad (fighting in the path of Allah (swt)) was Idris (as). When he (as) saw the corruption spreading, especially among the people of Cain, and that corruption is spreading even within the people of Idris. So Idris (as) declared a war against corruption and against the corrupt people. He prepared an army of Horseman and people walking and fighting against the people of Cain. Allah (swt) gave victory to Idris (as).
Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), when he (pbuh) went to the Isra Wa Miraj, on the journey of the Miraj, he (pbuh) met Prophets and messengers in every heaven and he (pbuh) met Idris (as) in the fourth heaven.
Allah revealed to Idris one day, the rewards of all the good deeds of Mankind every single day, which included the rewards of all the people living at the time of Idris (as) over his own deeds. So he (as) thanked Allah (swt) and he (as) realized that the only way to increase more rewards is to live for longer.
And one of the Angels was a good friend of Idris (as) and a companion to him. So Idris told this Angel that: “Is there any chance that you could talk to the Angel of Death and ask him to delay my life and for me to live even longer?” So the Angel said: “we will see.”
So Idris (as) went on the back of this Angel, and flew with him all the way to the heavens. And then they met with the Angel of Death on the fourth heaven. The Angel told the Angel of Death the Prophet’s request. The Angel of Death replied: “Amazing. Allah (swt) ordered me to take the soul of Idris in the fourth heaven and I wondered How I am going to do this. I was amazed. Subhan Allah, Allah (swt) made it happen.”
Idris (as) passed away and his (as) soul was taken in the fourth Heaven. He is the only Prophet who died in fourth heaven. Subhan Allah.
Following the death of Prophet Idris, corruption began to increase rapidly again. Several generations later, with no Prophetic guidance, Satan finally managed to influence the children of Adam to commit their first act of shirk (polytheism).
Corruption was increasing until Idris (as) destroyed a great portion of it. After his death, corruption started to increase even more and more but people still believe in One Lord, Allah (swt). They stayed on Tawheed (Monotheism) for 1000 years.
Then after that 1000 year a change started to take place. It became a big gap between Idris (as) and the next Prophet being sent, which was Nuh (as). Idris’s (as) father was Yarid and his mother was Barkanah. His wife was Aadanah. Idris (as) also had a son named Methuselah; who would eventually be the grandfather of Prophet Nuh (as). That means Idris (as) was the great-grandfather of Nuh (as).
In that big gap between Idris and Nuh (as), for a few centuries, there was No Prophet, No Messenger. But these Prophets and Messengers had followers. After the death of Idris (as), there were followers who were very righteous, very God fearing, people used to respect them. After these righteous followers started to die one by one, Shaitan played his game.
Shaitan came to the people who were grieving and initially sympathized with them. He told them: “We should have a remembrance of this person, otherwise we will forget this good soul and his teachings quickly.”
The progression of Shaitan’s deception over successive generations:
Thus, the people started to believe in something that does not exist. They started to attribute power to these statues, stones, and dead people: “That is the one that gives us rain, that is the one that gives us children, and that is the one that gives us this and that.” So in the end, Allah (swt) sent Nuh (as), who was dealing with a very very stubborn people.