Hermes in Greek, Enoch in Hebrew, and Idrees in Arabic, was in the sixth generation of Adam and the great grandfather of Noah. He was the first to formulate social and civil laws to lay the foundations of civilization. Babylon, now known as Kufa, in the land at the junction of the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris, once known as Mesopotamia, was the first civilized city, planned and built by Idrees.
Idrees was a handsome man of medium stature and tanned skin. He had attractive features, was polite in speech, spoke with seriousness, and had a pleasantly composed personality. He was known for deliberation, knowledge, and sincerity. His initial training was given by his forefather Seth. He walked with his gaze lowered. He was given a scripture, fragments of which still exist in translation.
The Qur’an mentions:
“And remember Ishmael, Idrees, and Zulkifl, all men of constancy and patience. We admitted them to Our mercy, for they were of the righteous ones.”
Before Noah, when the children of Adam became corrupted, the Angel of God said to Idrees:
“O Idrees, arise and go forth from obscurity. Walk upon the earth and call your people to the right path. Teach them how they should live and how they should act if they want to live a happy life.”
Idrees did as he was commanded. He gathered the people and addressed them. Except for a few, all turned against him, rejected his teachings, and refused to follow the path he suggested.
When the opposition of the disbelievers grew beyond measure, Idrees migrated with his followers to Egypt. Upon seeing a vast green land, he said to his companions:
“This place resembles your Babylon.”
Because of these words, the land became popularly known as Babylon among the Arabs and the people of other ancient nations.
Town Planning
Idrees was a multilingual man who knew about seventy two languages. Besides preaching the religion of God, he taught the ways of living socially and in a civilized manner. For this purpose, he gave different guidance to different classes of people. His disciples built and constructed over two hundred towns and cities. Reha was the smallest of these towns. Along with teaching the principles of town planning, he taught his people various sciences. Astrology, astronomy, mathematics, writing, calligraphy, measuring weights, making armory, and the use of the pen in its early form are all ascribed to Idrees. He introduced the construction of roads and passages, markets for trade and business, and playgrounds, and educated his people to construct buildings and structures based on drawings.
Measuring System
Before Idrees there was no proper system of weighing and measuring. To ensure justice and give the buyer his due right, he introduced a system of measurement and weight. To preserve knowledge for future generations, he had halls constructed where pictures and pictorial representations of the inventions of his time were drawn so that mankind could learn from the past and benefit themselves. Idrees was also the first to predict the great Flood of Noah. The laws and rules he made, based on justice and reason, were widely accepted in his time. He divided the population into four parts and appointed a governor over each part. He gave rules for governing these divisions. He also pioneered the use of logic, coined terms for astrology, and gave their descriptions. He was well versed in the divination knowledge of Raml.
Laws Given by Idrees
Idrees declared that worthy of worship is only He who created the earth and the heavens. He said that virtuous deeds are the source of a peaceful life. He taught that the material world and everything in it is mortal and perishable. He emphasized that justice and adherence to law help to end negative norms in society. He said that deliberation and acting upon the commandments give the best results. He warned that wealth earned by unfair means rusts the heart and must be avoided. He reminded his people that tidiness and cleanliness are part of faith. He advised that fasting on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of the lunar month and giving alms purifies the inner self and helps to remove attachment to wealth. He also appointed a few days of celebration each year and made offering sacrifices on particular days mandatory for his people.
Prophetic Properties
Idrees told his people that many prophets would come after him to correct the deteriorated and corrupted situations. He described that these prophets would have special characteristics. They would be free from evil deeds. They would be perfect in their qualities and praised for them. They would be aware of the situations on earth and in the heavens. They would know efficacious medicines for curing diseases. No one visiting them would remain spiritually thirsty. God would listen and respond to their prayers and they would invite people to purify themselves.
Three Classes of People
Idrees classified mankind into three classes, namely scholars, kings, and subjects, and he graded them accordingly. The scholars were ranked the highest because before God they are answerable for the kings and the subjects besides their own selves. The kings were ranked second because they are accountable for themselves and their subjects. The subjects were placed last because they are answerable only for themselves. This classification was not based on family or lineage but on responsibility.
In the General Epistle of Jude in the New Testament, after rebuking and admonishing those who are misled from the right path, there is a prophecy of Idrees (Enoch) in which the coming of a Leader who will convince people of their ungodly deeds is mentioned.
“Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear. Clouds they are without water, carried about of winds. Trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame. Wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” (Jude 11–14, New Testament)
The Qur’an also mentions Idrees: “Also mention in the Book the case of Idrees. He was a man of truth and sincerity and a prophet. And We raised him to a lofty station.” (Surah Maryam, verses 56–57)
This is also stated in the Old Testament: “And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years, and Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5, verses 23–24)
In the Old Testament, it is only stated that Enoch disappeared because God took him, but in the Talmud, a long tale is told in which, at the end, it is mentioned that Enoch, while riding his chariot driven by many horses, ascended in a whirlwind toward the heavens.
Ring of Enoch
Upon the ring of Enoch, this inscription was engraved: “Patience with faith in God is a sign of success.”
The belt he wore around his waist carried this inscription: “Real delights lie in guarding the Commandments that perfect the religion, completed with courtesy.”
The headgear worn at funerals bore this inscription: “Blessed is he who guards his self. Man’s godly deeds speak for him before the Lord.”
Point to Note
When we study the story of Idrees and deliberate upon the knowledge he possessed, we conclude that only man enjoys the trust of God. Man is blessed with the knowledge of vicegerency and with formulae to conquer the cosmos. Creative abilities arise in man when these formulae are put to use. By using these abilities, man can perform both positive and negative acts.
If the paradigm of thinking is right and in accordance with the teachings of the prophets of God, then any act performed or any invention made becomes a source of comfort, ease, and delight for the creatures of God. If the thinking is limited to personal gain and confined to individual benefits, then the use of creative abilities brings no true benefit to mankind, individually or collectively.
It is firmly established in the minds of the prophets of God that their Lord is the All Sovereign. Everything connected to one another is only because of God. The reach of prophetic thinking is unlimited, and any invention under their approach benefits creation. They know the realities operating behind manifestations. Since reality is one and not fragmented, a person familiar with it is not overcome by grief or fear and remains calm in every state and situation.
Mankind finds peace when the system defined by those who are familiar with true knowledge is followed. It is stated in the beginning of the Qur’an: “This is the Book that guides those who are mindful of God, those who have faith in the Unseen.” Faith in the Unseen means the ability to witness the Unseen, for faith is incomplete if it is not supported by observation.
Earth our Mother
The earth provides us sustenance according to certain rules and regulations. When we build a house, the earth does not forbid us from constructing it. It does not become so hard that we cannot cultivate crops, nor does it become so soft that movement upon it is hindered. The sun and the moon perform their duties for us. The moonlight is responsible for the sweetness of fruits, and the sunlight helps them to ripen. In short, every cosmic element is performing its role diligently, and we benefit directly or indirectly, willingly or unwillingly. This is one form of their subjugation to man.
In reality, however, the true conquest is when man can consciously make use of the characteristics of oceans, seas, rivers, hills, mountains, the sun, and the moon. A higher form of this conquest is demonstrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when, by pointing his finger, the moon split into two halves. Umar ibn al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) once sent a message to the River Nile, saying: “If you are flowing by God’s command, then stop transgressing, otherwise Umar’s whip will suffice for you.” After that, the river never again caused a problem in its flow.
Once a peasant complained to Umar (RA) saying, “I labor in tilling my land, sow seeds, and do all that is required, but the earth spoils the seeds and I get no crop.” Umar replied, “Whenever I happen to be in that area, remind me.” When Umar later visited that place, the man showed him the land. Umar struck the ground with his whip and said, “You dare not spoil the work of a man of God when he takes care of your needs.” After that, the land turned into a green farm.
God has created the universe for man. All the components of the cosmos, including man and his abilities, are concentric. According to spiritual science, man is blessed with eleven thousand abilities, and each ability is a faculty of knowledge, and this knowledge is limitless.