Prophets in Islam

Muslims regard as Prophets of Islam (Arabic: نبي) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah as prophets. Each prophet brought the same basic ideas of Islam, including belief in one God and avoidance of idolatry and sin. Each came to preach Islam and told of the coming of the final law-bearing prophet and messenger of God: Muhammad. Each prophet directed a message to a different group and each prophet taught minor variations in Sharia (or the practice of religion) to a different target-audience. These variations constitute applications of Islam: mainstream Muslims do not consider them discrete versions of Islam.

Islamic tradition holds that God sent messengers to every nation. In Islam, only Muhammad was sent to convey God's message to the whole world, whereas other messengers (rasuls) were sent to convey their messages to a specific group of people or nation.

Unlike Judaism and Christianity, Islam distinguishes between a direct messenger of God (rasul) and a prophet (nabi). Both function as divinely inspired recipients of God's revelation. However, in addition, rasuls are given a divine message or revelation for a community in book form. While every rasul is a nabi, not every nabi is a rasul.

Muslims regard Adam as the first prophet and Muhammad (PBUH) as the last prophet; hence Muhammad's(PBUH) title Seal of the Prophets. In Islam, Jesus is regarded as a nabi and a rasul because he received wahi (revelation) from God, through which God revealed the Injil (Gospel) to him. Muslims believe that God has sent over 124,000 messengers all over the world as mentioned in the Sahih Hadith. Five (sometimes known as Ulul Azmi or the Imams — i.e. leaders — of the Rasuls) are accorded the highest reverence for their perseverance and unusually strong commitment to God in the face of great suffering. These five are Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and Muhammad(PBUH).

Etymology

In both Arabic and Hebrew, the term nabī (plural forms: nabiyyūn and anbiyāʾ) refers to "prophet." These terms occur 75 times in the Qur'an. The term nubuwwa (meaning "prophethood") occurs five times in the Qur'an. The terms rasūl (plural: rusul) and mursal (plural: mursalūn) denote “messenger” or "apostle" and occur more than 300 times. The term for a prophetic “message”, risāla (plural: risālāt) appears in the Qur'an in ten instances.

The Syriac form of rasūl Allāh (lit: messenger of God) is s̲h̲eliḥeh d-allāhā which occurs frequently in the apocryphal Acts of St. Thomas. The corresponding verb for s̲h̲eliḥeh, i.e. s̲h̲alaḥ, is used in connection with the prophets in the Old Testament (Exodus, iii, 13-14, iv, 13; Isaiah, vi, 8; Jeremiah, i, 7).

Prophets and messengers in the Bible

The words "prophet" (Arabic: nabi, نبی) and "messenger" (Arabic: rasul, رسول) appear several times in the Old and New Testaments. The following table shows these words in several languages:

Prophet and Messenger in Bible

Arabic	English	Greek	pronunciation	Hebrew	pronunciation
نبی	Prophet	προφήτης	prophētēs	נביא	nâbîy'
رسول	Messenger, Apostle	ἄγγελος	aggelos	מלאך	mal'âk

In the Old Testament the word "prophet" (nabi) occurs more commonly, and the word "messenger" (malak) refers to angels, But the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi, speaks of a messenger that most commentators interpret as a reference to John the Baptist. In the New Testament, however, the word "messenger" becomes more frequent, sometimes in association with the concept of a prophet. "Messenger" can refer to Jesus, to his Apostles and to John the Baptist

It seems that in the New Testament messengers have a higher rank than prophets; Jesus Christ said about John the Baptist:

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Prophets and messengers in the Qur'an

The table below charts the Qur'anic verses which explicitly reference a prophet (nabi), a messenger (rasul) or a leader (imam). It also charts explicit references to prophets' book(s) / people / divine law ( sharia).

Men of Allah in Qur'an

Name	Nabi (Prophet)	Rasul (Messenger)	Imam (Leader)	Book	People	Sharia (Divine Law)
Adam (Adam)
Idris ( Enoch)	Prophet
Nuh (Noah)	Prophet	Messenger			People of Noah	Shari'a
Hud (Eber)		Messenger			A'ad
Saleh (Shaloh)		Messenger			Thamud
Ibrahim (Abraham)	Prophet	Messenger	Imam	Books of Abraham	People of Abraham	Shari'a
Lut (Lot)	Prophet	Messenger			People of Lut
Isma’il (Ishmael)	Prophet	Messenger
Ishaq (Isaac)	Prophet		Imam
Yaqub (Jacob)	Prophet		Imam
Yusef (Joseph)	Prophet
Ayoub (Job)	Prophet
Shoaib (Jethro)		Messenger			Midian
Musa (Moses)	Prophet	Messenger		Books of Moses	Pharaoh	Shari'a
Harun (Aaron)	Prophet
Dhul-Kifl (Ezekiel)
Daud (David)	Prophet			Zabur (Psalms)
Sulayman (Solomon)	Prophet
Ilyas (Elijah)	Prophet	Messenger			People of Elijah
Al-Yasa (Elisha)	Prophet
Yunus (Jonah)	Prophet	Messenger			People of Jonah
Zakariya (Zechariah)	Prophet
Yahya (John)	Prophet
Isa (Jesus)	Prophet	Messenger		Injil (Gospel)	Children of Israel	Shari'a
Muhammad(PBUH) (Muhammad)	Prophet	Messenger		Qur'an	All people	Shari'a

For Ahl al-Kitab (followers of the Holy Books), see People of the Book.

Distinguishing between prophets and messengers

The Quran, like the New Testament, ranks a Messenger (apostle) higher than a Prophet. For example, in the Qur'an whenever both titles appear together, "messenger" comes first. According to the Muslim scholar al-Baydawi, a messenger establishes a new religious law (sharia) whereas a prophet continues an old one. This would imply that prophets were more numerous than messengers and occupied a lower rank. God sends both prophets and messengers as givers of good news and as warners to their people. In the case of messengers, however, it appears that a close relationship exists between them and their people (ummah). A messenger will become the witness that God will take from that community on the Day of Judgment (see Sura X, 48; XVI, 38; XXIII, 46; XL, 5; IV, 45; XXVIII, 75). According to the Qur'an, Allah sent Muhammad (PBUH) to a people to whom He had not previously sent a messenger.

The Faithful distinguish between celestial and human messengers. In the Qur'anic world, God has made the angels messengers but not prophets. The human messengers, however, also function as prophets — though not every prophet serves a messenger. Angels always carrys "orders" to the human prophets or messengers on what to say, what to do, and so forth. While human messengers deliver some messages about new orders to the people, prophets only reinforce previous orders by earlier messengers or prophets, but since the angels carry orders to prophets to do their duty, then all angels of revelations count as messengers.

The status of prophets

The Qur'anic verse 4:69 lists various virtuous groups of human beings, among whom prophets (which include messengers) occupy the highest rank. Verse 4:69 reads:

And whoever obeys God and the messenger, these will be [in paradise] with the prophets and the truthful and the martyrs and the righteous, upon whom God has bestowed favors"

Miracles

The Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) performed his greatest and only miracle in revealing the Holy Qur'an to mankind; Muslims regard this as the last in a series of divine revelations, which came to him through the inspiraton of the Angel Gabriel. At the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, the Arabians who stood at the pinacle of linguistic and poetic eloquence expressed astonishment at its linguistic perfection. The Qur'an seemed even more miraculous to the Arabians of his time due to the fact that the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)lacked education in the matters of philosophy, science, linguistic syntax; nor was he a poet and moreover had not read or written down any of the previous religious scriptures . The Qur'an challenges all of humanity to make a book of its kind. Many people{[who?}} during the time of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)took on this challenge and tried to imitate the eloquence of the Qura'n but failed in their attempts. Unlike most ancient religious texts, the Qur'an has survived in its original form since its compilation. Muslims up until present times have memorized it, making it the most memorized book in human history. Muslims believe that, unlike other miracles done by other prophets who came before Muhammad(PBUH), all ages can witness the miracle of the Quran. With the revelation of the Holy Qur'an came a unprecedented revolution in science, literature and philosophy that not only took place in the Islamic empire but worldwide. Despite modern criticism of the Islamic religion, due to the unprecedented influence that the revelation Qur'an has had on people throughout history many historians and great figures in history have recognized the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)as the most influential person in human history.

The scope of the prophetic mission

The purpose of messengers

The following list summarises the purpose of sending Messengers of Allah:

i. Allah sent messengers to every nation to guide them to Path of Allah:

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولاً أَنِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُواْ الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى اللّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلالَةُ فَسِيرُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ فَانظُرُواْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ

Transliteration: Walaqad baAAathna fee kulli ommatin rasoolan ani oAAbudoo Allaha waijtaniboo alttaghoota faminhum man hada Allahu waminhum man haqqat AAalayhi alddalalatu faseeroo fee al-ardi faonthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena (Qur'an 16:36)

Pickthal Translation: And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming): Serve Allah and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom Allah guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for the deniers! (Qur'an 16:36)

ii. Messengers warn nations to follow Allah’s commands and gave them glad tidings:

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ

Transliteration: Inna arsalnaka bialhaqqi basheeran wanatheeran wa-in min ommatin illa khala feeha natheerun (Qur'an 35:24)

Pickthal Translation: Lo! We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them. (Qur'an 35:24)

iii. Messengers gave us guidance from Allah, taught us knowledge and provided a path to purify us:

كَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِيكُمْ رَسُولاً مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِنَا وَيُزَكِّيكُمْ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُعَلِّمُكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُواْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Transliteration: Kama arsalna feekum rasoolan minkum yatloo AAalaykum ayatina wayuzakkeekum wayuAAallimukumu alkitaba waalhikmata wayuAAallimukum ma lam takoonoo taAAlamoona (Qur'an 2:151)

Pickthal Translation: Even as We have sent unto you a messenger from among you, who reciteth unto you Our revelations and causeth you to grow, and teacheth you the Scripture and wisdom, and teacheth you that which ye knew not. (Qur'an 2:151)

iv. Allah explained that obedience to Him and His Messenger will earn paradise:

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Transliteration: Tilka hudoodu Allahi waman yutiAAi Allaha warasoolahu yudkhilhu jannatin tajree min tahtiha al-anharu khalideena feeha wathalika alfawzu alAAatheemu (Qur'an 4:13)

Pickthal Translation: These are the limits (imposed by) Allah. Whoso obeyeth Allah and His messenger, He will make him enter Gardens underneath which rivers flow, where such will dwell for ever. That will be the great success. (Qur'an 4:13)

v. And whosoever disobeys will earn Hell fire:

وَمَن يَعْصِ اللّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَتَعَدَّ حُدُودَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ نَارًا خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَلَهُ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ

Transliteration: Waman yaAAsi Allaha warasoolahu wayataAAadda hudoodahu yudkhilhu naran khalidan feeha walahu AAathabun muheenun (Qur'an 4:14)

Pickthal Translation: And whoso disobeyeth Allah and His messenger and transgresseth His limits, He will make him enter Fire, where he will dwell for ever; his will be a shameful doom. (Qur'an 4:14)

vi. Allah said that He will judge us only after we have received the Message from His Messengers, and everyone will be judged based on his own actions:

فَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْأَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ - فَلَنَقُصَّنَّ عَلَيْهِم بِعِلْمٍ وَمَا كُنَّا غَآئِبِينَ

Transliteration: Falanas-alanna allatheena orsila ilayhim walanas-alanna almursaleena. Falanaqussanna AAalayhim biAAilmin wama kunna gha-ibeena (Qur'an 7:6-7)

Pickthal Translation: Then verily We shall question those unto whom (Our message) hath been sent, and verily We shall question the messengers. Then verily We shall narrate unto them (the event) with knowledge, for We were not absent (when it came to pass). (Qur'an 7:6-7)

مَّنِ اهْتَدَى فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدي لِنَفْسِهِ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلاَ تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى وَمَا كُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّى نَبْعَثَ رَسُولاً

Transliteration: Mani ihtada fa-innama yahtadee linafsihi waman dalla fa-innama yadillu AAalayha wala taziru waziratun wizra okhra wama kunna muAAaththibeena hatta nabAAatha rasoolan (Qur'an 17:15)

Pickthal Translation: Whosoever goeth right, it is only for (the good of) his own soul that he goeth right, and whosoever erreth, erreth only to its hurt. No laden soul can bear another's load, We never punish until we have sent a messenger. (Qur'an 17:15)

تَكَادُ تَمَيَّزُ مِنَ الْغَيْظِ كُلَّمَا أُلْقِيَ فِيهَا فَوْجٌ سَأَلَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ نَذِيرٌ- قَالُوا بَلَى قَدْ جَاءنَا نَذِيرٌ فَكَذَّبْنَا وَقُلْنَا مَا نَزَّلَ اللَّهُ مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ كَبِيرٍ

Transliteration: Takadu tamayyazu mina alghaythi kullama olqiya feeha fawjun saalahum khazanatuha alam ya/tikum natheerun. Qaloo bala qad jaana natheerun fakaththabna waqulna ma nazzala Allahu min shay-in in antum illa fee dalalin kabeerin (Qur'an 67:8-9)

Pickthal Translation: As it would burst with rage. Whenever a (fresh) host is flung therein the wardens thereof ask them: Came there unto you no warner? They say: Yea, verily, a warner came unto us; but we denied and said: Allah hath naught revealed; ye are in naught but a great error. (Qur'an 67:8-9)

vii. Thus, those who received His message will not have excuse of ignorance:

رُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا

Transliteration: Rusulan mubashshireena wamunthireena li-alla yakoona lilnnasi AAala Allahi hujjatun baAAda alrrusuli wakana Allahu AAazeezan hakeeman (Qur'an 4:165)

Pickthal Translation: Messengers of good cheer and of warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. (Qur'an 4:165)

Distinguishing Muhammad f(PBUH)rom other messengers

Muhammad (PBUH) differs from other messengers in three respects:

i. Allah sent all previous messengers to a specific nation in specific region of Earth. Their teachings were also limited for a specific time and period. However, Muhammad(PBUH) was sent to entire mankind and his guidance is for all mankind until the end of times.

ii. The teachings of all previous Islamic messengers except Muhammad(PBUH) have all but disappeared, and whatever remained of it is so much altered and mixed with falsely made up stories that it is very difficult to recognize the original teachings. Whilst the teaching of Muhammad and the Quran is preserved in its originality, and Allah has promised to protect it until end of times.

iii. The teachings of previous Messengers confined themselves to specific nations and times, thus their laws relating to ethics and moral code, justice, trade and financial deals, civilian laws remained incomplete. Allah (swt) through his final Messenger Mohamad completed the Religion and perfected it. It includes all the teachings from previous Messengers, and abrogated what was specific to those people and time.

Thus since the days of the prophet the teaching of Muhammad remains as the only trustworthy source to reach the guidance of Allah. And if one wants to follow teachings of Moses and Jesus, who also brought the religion of Allah to their nations, then he has no other choice but to accept the teachings of Muhammad who left with us the trustable source to guidance from Allah in the Quran and in the Sunnah.

The Relationship between Messengers (rusul), Prophets (anbiya), the Announcement (naba), and The Sender (mursil)

The verse about the great news (awful tiding, great event, mighty tiding, mighty event, tremendous announcement, grand news, awesome tiding) reads:

Quran 78:2 AAani alnnaba-i alAAatheemi Concerning the Great News

Nabi, Naba

The word used in this verse, naba, relates to the word nabi.

• Nabi (prophet) is one who informs others.
• Naba is news, announcement, information.
• Anbiya is plural of nabi.

Anbiya inform others of a coming naba. The Quran says that the naba is not the Quran itself but that it comes in the future.

Rasul, Mursil

Now when I look at the word rasul I notice it relates to the word mursil.

• Rasul is a messenger, a bearer of a message.
• Mursal(een) is a messenger, a bearer of a message.
• Mursil is one who sends, a sender.
• Risalat is messages.
• Rusul is plural of rasul.

So a rasul is sent by a mursil to give risalat. The Quran says that risalat of the mursil (Allah) are His kalimat. The Quran says that risalatullah cannot end.

All Together

Putting these together, we see that Jesus and Muhammad are each a rasul who was sent from the mursil to act as a nabi to inform of the naba.

The Quran itself even states that the messages (risalat), which are by definition the kalamat (words) of God, cannot be exhausted. Therefore the naba which was announced by the anbiya (plural of nabi) must itself be followed by more risalat (messages).

If or when the naba appeared, there was no need for any more nabi (who give the news of the naba). What about rusul (messengers) and risalat (messages)? Does the mursil stop sending rusul to give his risalat? The Quran says no.

I note that the sender of messages and messengers (mursil) is a rasul if he gives the risalat himself. And, I note that the mursil can send rusul who are not anbiya.

Summary

To summarize, there are four words in question: nabi, naba, rasul, and mursil.

• Some rusul (plural of rasul) are anbiya (prophets) if they are sent (arsala) before the naba.
• Some rusul are not anbiya if they are sent after the naba.
• The naba itself is a risalatun.
• The naba is associated with the mursil in the Quran.
• Risalat cannot be exhausted.
• The mursil sends rusul to give 'risalat even after naba.
• There's no reason why a mursil cannot give risalat himself (and act as a rasul).

Points of belief about Muhammad

The belief in Muhammad includes four points:

i. That he is the Messenger of Allah who brought us the Book of Guidance, the Quran

ii. That he brought us the deen (way of life, or path) that is complete and perfected, and it's applicable to all mankind until end of times

iii. That he receives his guidance from Allah and that his knowledge and guidance is perfect from any defects

iv. That he is the Last and Final Messenger of Allah who has perfected the deen (way of life, or path) of Allah, and there will be no further Messenger after him, as none is needed after the deen is completed and perfected. And teachings of Muhammad are for remainder of mankind.

Stories of prophets

Allah sent each prophet to a specific nation except Muhammed - whom Allah sent to the whole world.

Prophets in the Qur'an

The following table lists the prophets mentioned in the Qur'an. Biblical versions of names also appear where applicable:

And undoubtedly, We sent many Messengers before you, of them, there are some whose story We have narrated to you, and there are some whose story We have not narrated to you, and it is not for any Messenger that he should bring any sign without Allah's permission, but when the command of Allah will come, the matter shall be decided with truth, and then the men of falsehood shall lose there."

— Qur'an,

Name (Arabic & Arabic Translit.)	Name (Biblical)	Main Article(s)	No. of verses with mention
آدم Adam	Adam	Main articles: Islamic view of Adam, Adam (Bible), and Adam and Eve	5
	"Adam is the first prophet of Islam and the first human being. He was created by God but brought to life forty days after being kept as a dry body." Adam plays an important role in Judaism and in Christianity as well. Many people remember him as a character in the story of Adam and Eve.
إدريس Idris	Enoch	Main articles: Idris (prophet) and Enoch (ancestor of Noah)	3
	Idris lived during a period of drought inflicted by God to punish the people of the world who had forgotten God. Idris prayed for salvation and for an end to the suffering, and so the world received rain.
نوح Nuh	Noah	Main articles: Islamic view of Noah and Noah	7
	Although best known for the Deluge, Nuh was a primary preacher of monotheism at his time. Muslims believe his faith in God led to his selection for building the Ark.
هود Hud	Eber	Main article: Hud (prophet)	9
	Muslims believe that Hud, for whom the eleventh chapter of the Qur'an takes its name, was one of the few people to survive a great storm inflicted by God, similar to the Deluge five generations earlier, to punish the people of the `Ad who had forgotten about God. Hud, by comparison and records, is never mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible.
صالح Saleh	Shaloh	Main article: Saleh	7
	According to the Qur'an God ordered Saleh to leave behind his people, the tribe of Thamud, after they disbelieved and disobeyed God's order to care for a special camel and instead killed it. In Saleh's and his followers' (believers) absence, God punished the people with an utter cry from the skies that killed his people instantly. Note that Saleh is not Shelah mentioned in the Old Testament.
إبراهيم Ibrahim	Abraham	Main articles: Islamic view of Abraham and Abraham	5
	Muslims [[[as of 2008 | today]] regard Abraham as one of the significant prophets, because they credit him with rebuilding the Kaaba in Mecca. His family, including his son Ishmael, also receives credit with helping create the civilization around Mecca that would later give birth to the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Ibrahim also significantly almost sacrificing his son Ismail (Ishmael) to God in an event now commemorated annually by Eid ul-Adha. He is also the first prophet to name the believers as "Muslims" meaning "those with full submission to God".
لوط Lut	Lot	Main articles: Islamic view of Lot and Lot (Bible)	2
	Lot is most notable in Islam for attempting to preach against homosexuality in Sodom and Gomorra in addition to preaching for his people to believe in the Oneness of God, only to be mocked and ignored by the people who lived there. Islam also denies the acts attributed to Lut that are mentioned in the Old Testament, like drinking and being drunk, and having intercourse with and impregnating his two daughters.
إسماعيل Isma'il	Ishmael	Main articles: Islamic view of Ishmael and Ishmael	9
	Muslims regard Ismaïl, first-born son of Ibrahim, as a notable prophet in Islam for his near-sacrifice in adulthood. As a child he and his mother Hagar's search for water in the region around Mecca led God to reveal the Zamzam well, which still flows to this day.
إسحاق Ishaq	Isaac	Main article: Isaac	9
	According to Islamic tradition, Isaac, second-born son of Ibrahim, became a prophet in Canaan. He, along with his brother Ismaïl, carried on the legacy of Ibrahim as prophets of Islam.
يعقوب Yakub	Jacob	Main article: Jacob	2
	Yakub, according to the Qur'an was "of the company of the Elect and the Good" and he continued the legacy of both his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham. Like his ancestors, he was committed to worshipping God exclusively.
يوسف Yusuf	Joseph	Main articles: Islamic view of Joseph and Joseph (Bible)	3
	Yusuf, son of (Yakub) and great-grandson of Ibrahim, became a prominent advisor to the king of Egypt after he interpreted the phaoroh's dream which predicted the economic state of Egypt. He spent a large part of his life away from his eleven brothers, who showed jealousy of Yusuf because their father favored him. They took him one day, telling their father that they where going to play and have fun, but they planned to kill him. Instead, they threw him down a well and told their father Yaqub that he was eaten by a wolf. According to Islam Yusuf was gifted with half of the beauty granted to mankind.
أيوب Ayyub	Job	Main article: Job (Bible)	8
	According to Islamic tradition, Ayyub was rewarded by a fountain of youth, which removed all illnesses except death, for his service to God in his hometown outside Al Majdal. Ayyub is believed to have suffered an illness for 18 years as test of patience by God.
شعيب Shu'aib	Jethro	Main articles: Shoaib and Jethro	2
	Jethro was a direct descendant of Abraham. According to Islam, he was appointed by God to guide the people of Midyan and Aykah, who lived near Mount Sinai. When the people of the region failed to listen to his warnings, God destroyed the disbeliever's villages. Although the Qur'an and the reported speeches from Muhammad mention that Musa married one of Shu'aib's daughters, the Old Testament tells the same story of a man named Jethro. Some scholars believe that Jethro in the Old Testament is not the same person as Shu'aib in the Qur'an.
موسى Musa	Moses	Main articles: Islamic view of Moses and Moses	5
	Moses, whom the Qur'an refers to more than any other prophet, had the distinction of revealing the Tawrat (Torah) to the Israelites. The Qur'an says Musa realized his connection with God after receiving commands from him during a stop at Mount Sinai. He later went on to free the enslaved Hebrews after the Egyptian pharaoh denied God's power. Musa subsequently led the freed Hebrews for forty years through the desert after they refused to obey God's command and enter the Holy Lands, saying to Moses (as mentioned in Qur'an [Quran 5:24], "O Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here." During this long journey, on another trip to Mount Sinai Musa received the Tawrat and the Ten Commandments. At the end of his life, according to Islamic tradition, Musa chose to die to be closer to God instead of taking an offer that would have extended his life.
هارون Harūn	Aaron	Main articles: Islamic view of Aaron and Aaron	8
	Harun (Aaron) served as an assistant to his older brother Musa (Moses). In Islam, he, like Musa, received the task of saving the Israelites from the Egyptian pharaoh. He would often speak for Musa when Musa’s speech impediment prevented him from doing so himself.
ذو الكفل Dhul-Kifl	most likely Ezekiel	Main articles: Dhul-Kifl and Ezekiel	5
	The status of Dhul-Kifl as a prophet remains debatable within Islam, although both sides can agree that he was indeed a righteous man who strived in the way of God. Some studies also note that Dhul-Kifl can be also Obadiah, who is mentioned in the Old Testament to be the one that took care of 100 prophets. He is also believed to have possibly been Gautama Buddha.
داود Dawud	David	Main article: David	7
	In Islam, God revealed the Zabur (Psalms) to Dawud (David). Dawud also has significance as the one who defeated Goliath. It is worth to note that the story of King David with Uriah according to the Islamic tradition is different, thus the acts attributed to King David in the Old Testament like sending Uriah to be killed for the purpose of marrying his wife is denied in Islam.
سليمان Süleyman	Solomon	Main articles: Islamic view of Solomon and Solomon	6
	Süleyman (Solomon) learned a significant amount from his father Daud before God made him a prophet. According to Islamic tradition, Süleyman received power to manipulate nature, including the jinn. Known for his honesty and fairness, he also led a kingdom that extended into southern Arabia.
إلياس Ilyas	Elijah	Main articles: Ilyas and Elijah	3
	Ilyas (Elijah), descendant of Harun (Aaron), took over control of the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula after the kingdom of Sulaiman (Solomon) collapsed. Islamic tradition says he attempted to convince the people of the Peninsula of the existence of only one God, but when the people refused to listen they were smitten with a drought and famine.
اليسع Al-Yasa	Elisha	Main articles: Al-Yasa and Elisha	3
	Al-Yasa (Elisha) took over the task of leading the Israelites after Ilyas' (Elijah) death. He attempted to show the king and queen of Israel the powers of God, but was dismissed as a magician. Subsequently, the Assyrians were able to make people burn and inflict significant damage on them.
يونس Yunus	Jonah	Main articles: Islamic view of Jonah and Jonah	5
	Islamic tradition shows that God commanded Yunus (Jonah) to help the people of Nineveh towards righteousness. However, after Nineveh's people refused to listen to God, Yunus became disgruntled and became angry for God. After an incident where Yunus was spared death, he decided to re-commit himself to striving for God, attempting to lead the people of Nineveh to righteousness. But after returning to evil, illicit ways, the Scythians conquered them.
زكريا Zakariya	Zechariah	Main articles: Islamic view of Zechariah and Zechariah (priest)	6
	A descendant of Süleyman, Zakariya (Zachariah became a patron of Maryam (Mary) the mother of 'Isa. According to the Qur'an, he prayed to God asking for a son, since his sterile wife al-Yashbi could not provide one. God granted his wishes, temporarily lifting his wife's sterility and allowing her to give birth to Yahya (John).
يحيى Yahya	John the Baptist	Main articles: Islamic view of John the Baptist and John the Baptist	2
	Yahya (John) was cousin to Isa and Islam says that, throughout his lifetime, Yahya captivated audiences with his powerful sermons that preached Abrahamic monotheism. The Qur'an does not mention baptism.
عيسى Isa	Jesus	Main articles: Islamic view of Jesus and Jesus	3
	God sent one of the highest ranked prophets in Islam, Eisa al-Maseeh, (Jesus the Messiah) to guide the Children of Israel. The Qur'an makes it very clear that in Islam, Jesus is not the begotten (physical) son of God, but rather a nabi and rasul (messenger) of God. 'Isa performed many miracles with the permission of God, for example: raising the dead, creating a bird from clay, talking as an infant. Islamic traditions states that he abstained from drinking alcohol. It also states that he received a revelation, the Injil (Gospel), though according to Islam, it has been distorted. Muslims believe that 'Isa was not crucified, meaning he was not killed on the cross. They believe that Isa was raised up to God and will return to Earth to fight the Dajjal during the time of the Mahdi, however in Quran there is no evidence and clear indication of Isa's return to Earth to fight the Dajjal.
محمد Muhammed	Ahmad أحمد: in the original Gospel and Bible	Main article: Muhammed	294
	Habib u'l A'zam, Imam u'l Anbiya Sayyidina Muhammed ibn 'Abdullah,(53 B.H-11 A.H; 571-632 AD) ranks as the last prophet in Islam ("seal of the Prophets"). Muslims shun idolatry of any of the prophets, as their messages from God hold the most weight. His father's name was 'Abdullah ibn 'AbdulMuttalib and his mother's name was Amina bint Wahb az-Zuhriyya. Muhammed. Born in Mecca in 571 AD (53 AH), Muhammed spent the first part of his life as a well-travelled merchant. He would often spend his time in the mountains surrounding Mecca in prayer contemplating the situation with the city. At the age of forty, during one of those trips to the mountain, Muhammed began to, despite his illiteracy, receive and recite verses from Allah which today make up the Qur'an. He quickly spread the message he was receiving, converting a few others in the city, including his wife. He is the last (seal) of the prophets with a message to all humanity. When oppression became intolerable for his followers, Muhammed first asked his fellow Muslims to migrate to Medina and later himself migrated to Medina away from the oppressors in Mecca. Muhammad served not just as a prophet, but as a military leader who helped defeat the Meccans in 624 during the Battle of Badr. He continued to lead the Muslims as Islam spread across the Arabian Peninsula. He performed the first hajj in 629 and established Islam as it is still practised by Muslims today. Others continued Muhammad's legacy after his death in 632, having been given the position of caliph (or successor) to Muhammad. The Five Pillars of Islam were established from his Hadiths after Muhammad's death.

Other prophets

Muslims believe in other prophets other than those mentioned by name in the Qur'an. Many verses in the Quran discuss this:

• "And certainly We sent messengers (rasul) before you: there are some of them that We have mentioned to you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to you..." ^{[Quran 40:78]}

• "For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger..."^{[Quran 16:36]}

Muslims believe that God has sent 124,000 (or 224,000) messengers all over the world, as mentioned by the prophet Muhammad in the Sahih Hadith.

Historic narratives suggest there existed a prophet named Khaled bin Sinan in pre-Islamic Arabia.

The Qur'an mentions Al-Imran as the father of Maryam. Al-Khidr is not mentioned by name, but is traditionally assumed to be referred to in Quran 18:66. Biblical prophets Danyal (Daniel), Ishaia (Isaiah), Armya (Jeremiah), and Samuel are mentioned by Ibn Kathir in his book as prophets.

Luqman is mentioned in the sura named after him but it is unclear whether he is a prophet or a wali. According to the most wide-spread shiite belief, Luqman was a wiseman, not a prophet nor a wali. The reported news hold that Luqman had a dream, and in that dream he was asked to choose between being a King and a wiseman, and he chose the second.

Additional numerous historical figures may have been prophets, but this is a source of debate and contention. Such figures include: Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha, Socrates, Merlin, Confucius , Krishna (also mentioned in some books of Hadith) and Rama. However, Muslims will state that there is no way of knowing for sure since they are not mentioned by name in the Qur'an. An argument often used in support of the prophethood of such men is that they came with the word of God, but it was later corrupted, this accounting for the differences between Islam, and the respective religions with which each man is associated. The Hadith and Qur’an support such claims that say that a messenger was sent to every people.

Maryam mother of 'Isa

Main articles: Maryam and Mary

A few scholars (such as Ibn Hazm) have argued that she may have been a nabi and a prophetess, since she was sent a message from God via an angel. The Qur'an, however, does not explicitly state that she is one. According to the Islamic belief, she was a holy woman, but she was not a prophet. In the Qur'an, 'Isa is usually referred to as 'Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary), a matronymic, indicative of Jesus having no father.

See also

• Allah
• Table of prophets of Abrahamic religions
• Nubuwwah
• Prophecy
• Nevi'im (Prophets in Judaism)
• Major Prophets in the Bible
• Minor Prophets in the Bible
• Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament
• Ilah
• Names of God
• 99 Names of God in the Qur'an
• Tawhid
• Termagant
• Islam
• Pillars of Islam
• Qaaba