21:85
And (remember) Isma’il, Idris, and Zul-kifl, all (men) of constancy and patience;
Dhu al Kifl would literally mean “possessor of, or giving, a double requital or portion”; or else, “one who used a cloak of double thickness,” that being one of the meanings of Kifl. The Commentators differ in opinion as to who is meant, why the title is applied to him, and the point of his being grouped with Isma’il and Idris for constancy and patience. I think the best suggestion is that afforded by Karsten Niebuhr in his Reisebeschreibung nach Arabian, Copenhagen, 1778, ii. 264-266, as quoted in the Encyclopaedia of Islam under “Dhul-Kifl”.
Some commentators have suggested identifying Dhū al-Kifl with the biblical prophet Ezekiel. It is reported that the traveler Ibn Baṭṭūṭah visited the town of al-Kifl in Iraq, located between Najaf and Ḥilla (ancient Babylon), where a shrine traditionally associated with Ezekiel was found. The name “Kifl” is considered by some to be the Arabic form of Ezekiel, and the site has historically been visited by Jewish pilgrims. Based on this association, certain scholars propose that the Qurʾānic reference to Dhū al-Kifl may represent an Arabicized form of the name Ezekiel rather than a descriptive title.
According to biblical accounts, Ezekiel was a prophet among the Israelites who was taken into exile in Babylon following the second campaign of Nebuchadnezzar against Jerusalem around 599 BCE. His prophecies are recorded in the Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. The narrative describes periods during which he was restrained or silenced and portrays him as a figure who endured hardship with patience while continuing to admonish the Israelites for their wrongdoing. In particular, Ezekiel strongly criticized corrupt leaders, likening them to shepherds who neglected their flocks and instead pursued their own interests (Ezekiel 34:2–4). In the Qurʾān, Dhū al-Kifl is mentioned among the prophets noted for their patience and righteousness, appearing alongside figures such as Ishmael and Elisha (Qurʾān 21:85; 38:48)
References:
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. Translation and Commentary of the Quran. (surah 21 verse 85).