Which prophet challenged the worship of the idol Baal? Ilyas, known in the Bible as Elijah, challenged Baal worship.
The Quran presents Ilyas as a messenger who asked his people whether they would call upon Ba'l while abandoning Allah, “the Best of Creators.” His preaching opposed idolatry and defended exclusive worship of God. The Quran says that most of his people rejected him, while a small group of sincere servants believed.
Ilyas is identified with Elijah, the prophet associated with the northern Kingdom of Israel in biblical tradition. Later Islamic commentaries connect his mission with the reign of Ahab and the spread of Baal worship, although the Quran gives only a concise account and does not name Ahab or Jezebel.
A common mix-up is confusing Ilyas with Al-Yasa, or Elisha. Islamic tradition generally treats Al-Yasa as the prophet who followed Ilyas, not the prophet who confronted Baal. Some later commentators also associated Ilyas with Baalbek, but that location is not stated in the Quran.