The Quran says very little about him, and every word of it is praise.
إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا
His story
Idris is mentioned twice in the Quran. He is called truthful, a prophet, and one of the patient, and Allah says He raised him to a high place (19:56-57, 21:85).
On the Night Journey, the Prophet ﷺ met him in the fourth heaven, and Idris welcomed him as "the righteous brother and the righteous prophet" Bukhari 3207.
Many stories are told about Idris outside the Quran and the authentic hadith. We leave them out. What Allah chose to tell us is enough.
Moments
- 01
Truthful and patient
Allah names Idris together with Isma'il and Dhul-Kifl: "all were among the patient." Then: "We admitted them into Our mercy. They were among the righteous." The Quran does not tell his trials. It tells the result: patience, mercy, righteousness.
- 02
Met on the Night Journey
On the Night Journey, the Prophet ﷺ was taken up through the heavens and met the prophets before him. In the fourth heaven he met Idris, who welcomed him: "Welcome, righteous brother and righteous prophet."
What he did when…
Allah describes Idris in only a few words: "He was a man of truth, a prophet, and We raised him to a high station." No long story, no crowds, no list of deeds. Idris is proof that you do not need to be famous to be raised high. A few verses, all of them honour.
If your child carries this name
إدريس Idris
Idris is a name for a quiet, truthful child. Fame is not the goal. Truth is.
Sources on this page
Quran 19:56-57Quran 21:85-86Sahih al-Bukhari 3207
Quran meanings are given in plain English, close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com.