Among the various Prophets sent for the guidance of Bani Israel, Prophet Shia (Isaiah) alaihissalam was also a Prophet sent to the Israelites. It said that Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam appeared before Zakkariya alaihissalam and Yahya alaihissalam and He was the one who prophesied about the coming of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W and Prophet Isa alaihissalam. He is not mentioned in Quran by name, however, in many Islamic sources, He is referred to as a Prophet.
There was a kind king during His time in Jerusalem, named Hazkia. The king was obedient to Isaiah alaihissalam and used to follow His advice. Though king Hazkia was a righteous man, He could not control the violence and agitation in Israel and the situation worsened.
Once, the King fell severely ill with a foot infection and was not recovering. During the period of His sickness, King Sennacherib (Sinharib) of Babylon with his troop of sixty thousand men approached Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem got horrified by this.
Since king Hazkia always listened to Prophet Isaiah alaihisslam and sought his advice in all his affairs, King asked Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam: “What did ALLAH reveal to you about Sennacherib and his army? ”
Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam replied: “ ALLAH SWT has not revealed anything to me”.
It is said that king Hazkia wished for a successor, as he was not recovering from his illness and was worried about his people after him.
Then the revelation came to Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam for king Hazkia to appoint a successor and Isaiah alaihissalam informed him about the revelation. Listening to this, the king turned towards Qibla and wept, invoked, and Glorified ALLAH SWT.
Weeping and invoking Allah with a sincere heart, trust, and patience, he said: “O Lord of lords and God of gods! O, Benevolent and Merciful One Whom neither sleep nor nodding can overpower, remember me for my deeds and my just judgment over the children of Israel; and all that was from You, and You know it better than I do, my open acts and my secrets are with You.”
The sincere invocations of the king were answered by ALLAH SWT. ALLAH SWT further revealed to Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam that the life of king Hazkia is extended for fifteen more years and ALLAH SWT saved the king from his enemy Sennacherib.
As soon as Prophet Isaiah informed the king about the revelation, The disease of the king was healed, his sadness and worries went away and the king immediately prostrated to ALLAH SWT saying: “Weeping and invoking Allah the All-Powerful and majestic with a sincere heart, trust, and patience, he said: “O Lord of lords and God of gods! O, Benevolent and Merciful One Whom neither sleep nor nodding can overpower, remember me for my deeds and my just judgment over the children of Israel; and all that was from You, and You know it better than I do, my open acts and my secrets are with You.”
When king Hazkia got up from prostration, Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam extracted the water of the fig and applied it to his wound as commanded by ALLAH SWT in the revelation and the wound was healed completely.
Then ALLAH SWT turned the army of Sennacherib into corpses, all were dead except for Sennacherib and his five companions. King of Israel immediately put them into shackles and they were exhibited in the land for seventy days. it is said that they were given a loaf of barley bread every day to eat. After seventy days, they were prisoned.
It was then revealed to Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam to send the king Sennacherib and his people back to their country so they could warn them about the torments of ALLAH SWT.
When they went back to their country, Sennacherib gathered his people and told them everything that happened to them. The priests and magicians said to him: “We told you about their Lord and their prophets, but you did not listen to us. It is a nation which, with their God, nobody can overcome.” So, Sennacherib was afraid of Allah. He died seven years later.
It is reported form Ibn Ishaaqthat when King Hazkiyadied, the condition of Israelites’ worsened, and their wickedness and ignorance increased.
Prophet Isaiah alaihissalam reminded them what Allah revealed to him, directing them to righteousness and warning them of Allah’s severe punishment. His preaching made him their enemy and they decided to kill him, so he escaped from them.
Ibn Ishaaq also reported an Israelite interpolation which said that when Isaiah was passing by a tree, it opened, and he entered therein; but Satan saw him and held onto the loop of his garment so that it stuck out. When they saw it, they brought a saw and sawed the tree, and him with it. Indeed, from Allah we come and to him we return.