You know what makes Islam different from how most people view religion? It’s not new. It’s not something that started 1,400 years ago in Arabia.
Islam is the original religion—the same message that every prophet brought since the beginning of humanity. The same call that Adam (peace be upon him) taught his children. The same truth that Nuh (peace be upon him) preached for 950 years. The same guidance that Ibrahim (peace be upon him) proclaimed when he smashed the idols.
Islam isn’t a new religion. It’s the final and complete version of the message Allah ﷻ has been sending to humanity since the first human walked the earth.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 55, Hadith 608): “My similitude in comparison to the other prophets is that of a man who has built a house completely and excellently except for the space of one brick. When the people enter the house, they admire it and say, ‘How excellent this is but for the place of this brick!’ I am that brick, and I am the seal of the Prophets.”
Muhammad ﷺ didn’t start something new—he completed what had been building for thousands of years through every prophet before him.
So let’s talk about the prophets in Islam. Who they were. What they taught. Why their stories matter. And how understanding them changes everything about how you see religion, history, and your own life.
How Many Prophets Were There? The Numbers That Matter
Allah ﷻ sent 124,000 prophets to humanity throughout history. That’s not a random number pulled from nowhere—that’s what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated when asked.
But here’s what most people don’t know: There’s a difference between prophets (Nabi) and messengers (Rasul). Every messenger is a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger.
Prophets (Anbiya) were those who received revelation from Allah ﷻ and followed an existing divine law brought by a previous messenger.
Messengers (Rusul) were those who received revelation AND were given a new divine law or scripture to convey to their people.
There were 313 or 315 messengers among those 124,000 prophets—special prophets who brought new scriptures or laws.
And out of all those thousands, the Quran specifically names 25 prophets by name. These are the ones Muslims must know and believe in by name. The rest? You believe they existed even though you don’t know their names.
The 25 Prophets Named in the Quran
Here are the 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Quran. I’m listing them in roughly chronological order based on historical understanding, though some dates remain debated:
- Adam (peace be upon him) – The first human and first prophet
- Idris (peace be upon him) – Early prophet
- Nuh (peace be upon him) – Noah, who survived the great flood
- Hud (peace be upon him) – Sent to the people of ‘Ad
- Salih (peace be upon him) – Sent to the people of Thamud
- Ibrahim (peace be upon him) – Abraham, father of prophets
- Lut (peace be upon him) – Lot, nephew of Ibrahim
- Ismail (peace be upon him) – Ishmael, son of Ibrahim
- Ishaq (peace be upon him) – Isaac, son of Ibrahim
- Yaqub (peace be upon him) – Jacob, son of Ishaq
- Yusuf (peace be upon him) – Joseph, son of Yaqub
- Ayyub (peace be upon him) – Job, the patient one
- Shu’ayb (peace be upon him) – Sent to Madyan
- Musa (peace be upon him) – Moses, who faced Pharaoh
- Harun (peace be upon him) – Aaron, brother of Musa
- Dhul-Kifl (peace be upon him) – Possibly Ezekiel
- Dawud (peace be upon him) – David, the king-prophet
- Sulaiman (peace be upon him) – Solomon, given power over jinn
- Ilyas (peace be upon him) – Elijah
- Al-Yasa (peace be upon him) – Elisha
- Yunus (peace be upon him) – Jonah, who was swallowed by a whale
- Zakariyya (peace be upon him) – Zechariah
- Yahya (peace be upon him) – John the Baptist
- Isa (peace be upon him) – Jesus, born of virgin birth
- Muhammad ﷺ – The final messenger
According to Islamic belief rooted in the article of faith regarding prophets, you must believe in all 25 of these by name, and believe that thousands of others existed even though their names aren’t mentioned.
Adam (Peace Be Upon Him): Where It All Started
Adam (peace be upon him) was the first human being and the first prophet. He wasn’t evolved from something else. He was created directly by Allah ﷻ from clay, fashioned with divine hands, and given life when Allah ﷻ breathed His spirit into him.
But before Adam (peace be upon him) was even created, according to Quranic testimony, Allah ﷻ announced to the angels that He would place a khalifah (vicegerent) on earth. The angels questioned this—not out of disobedience, but out of concern. They asked: “Will You place therein one who will cause corruption and shed blood?” They’d seen other creations do this before, according to scholarly interpretation of this dialogue.
Allah ﷻ responded:
[Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 30]
“Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
Then according to the Quranic account, Allah ﷻ taught Adam (peace be upon him) the names of all things—knowledge the angels didn’t have. When Allah ﷻ asked the angels to tell Him these names, they couldn’t. But Adam (peace be upon him) could. That was the proof of human potential—the capacity for knowledge that even angels don’t possess.
Allah ﷻ commanded the angels to prostrate to Adam (peace be upon him) as a sign of respect. All of them did—except Iblis (Satan). Iblis refused out of arrogance, saying he was better than Adam because he was created from fire while Adam was created from clay.
That arrogance got him expelled from Paradise. And it’s the same arrogance that damns humans too—thinking you’re better, refusing to submit, following your ego instead of divine guidance.
Adam (peace be upon him) and his wife Hawwa (Eve) lived in Paradise until they were tempted by Iblis and ate from the forbidden tree. Both were equally responsible—Islam doesn’t blame Hawwa more than Adam. They both sinned. They both repented. And Allah ﷻ forgave them both.
Then they were sent to earth—not as punishment, but as part of Allah’s ﷻ plan all along. Earth was where humanity would be tested. And Adam (peace be upon him) was the first prophet teaching his children to worship Allah ﷻ alone.
Nuh (Peace Be Upon Him): 950 Years of Calling to Truth
Nuh (peace be upon him) preached for 950 years. Read that again. 950 years. Calling his people to abandon idol worship and return to worshipping Allah ﷻ alone.
Can you imagine the patience that takes? He watched generations be born, grow up rejecting him, grow old in disbelief, and die. Then their children did the same. Then their grandchildren. For nearly a millennium.
The Quran documents his exhaustion:
[Surah Nuh, Ayah 5-6]
“He said, ‘My Lord, indeed I invited my people [to truth] night and day. But my invitation increased them not except in flight [i.e., aversion].'”
The elites of his society mocked him constantly. They told the common people: “Don’t listen to this man. He’s crazy. He wants you to abandon the religion of your fathers.” Sound familiar? Every prophet faced this same opposition.
Eventually, Allah ﷻ commanded Nuh (peace be upon him) to build an ark. He built it while his people mocked him even more: “Now you’re a carpenter? What happened to being a prophet?”
Then the flood came. It wasn’t a global flood covering the entire earth—scholarly opinions differ on this, but many contemporary scholars argue it was a regional flood devastating Nuh’s people specifically. The disbelievers drowned. Only those who believed and boarded the ark with Nuh (peace be upon him) survived.
Even Nuh’s son refused to believe. Nuh (peace be upon him) called to his son as the waters rose: “O my son, come aboard with us!” But his son refused, thinking he’d climb a mountain to escape. He drowned with the disbelievers.
Nuh (peace be upon him) cried out to Allah ﷻ about his son, and Allah ﷻ taught him a lesson that every Muslim needs to understand:
[Surah Hud, Ayah 46]
“O Noah, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge.”
According to scholarly interpretation, blood relations don’t save you. Faith does. Your family name doesn’t guarantee Paradise. Your beliefs and actions do.
Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him): The Father of Prophets
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) is one of the greatest prophets. The Quran mentions him more than any prophet except Musa (peace be upon him) and Muhammad ﷺ.
He was born into a society of idol worshippers. His own father Azar was an idol maker. But Allah ﷻ granted Ibrahim (peace be upon him) pure fitrah (natural inclination toward truth), and even as a young man, he recognized the absurdity of worshipping statues.
The Quran describes his logical reasoning:
[Surah Al-An’am, Ayah 76-79]
“So when the night covered him, he saw a star. He said, ‘This is my lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘I like not those that disappear.’ And when he saw the moon rising, he said, ‘This is my lord.’ But when it set, he said, ‘Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray.’ And when he saw the sun rising, he said, ‘This is my lord; this is greater.’ But when it set, he said, ‘O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah. Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah.'”
Ibrahim (peace be upon him) used observation and logic to arrive at the truth: the Creator must be greater than creation, permanent unlike temporary creation, worthy of worship unlike that which needs worship.
Then came the famous incident. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) smashed all the idols in the temple except the largest one. When the people asked who did it, he said, “Ask the big one—if they can speak.”
They realized the absurdity—their “gods” couldn’t even defend themselves or speak. But instead of accepting truth, according to the Quranic account, they decided to burn Ibrahim (peace be upon him) alive as punishment.
They built a massive fire. It was so huge that they had to use a catapult to throw him in because no one could get close enough due to the heat. As he was being thrown, the Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) came and asked if he needed help. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said something that should define every Muslim’s relationship with Allah ﷻ: “From you, no. My need is from Allah, and He knows my condition.”
Then Allah ﷻ commanded:
[Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayah 69]
“O fire, be coolness and safety upon Ibrahim.”
According to the Quranic miracle, the fire didn’t burn him. He sat in it comfortably until they pulled him out, unharmed. That’s what happens when you put your trust completely in Allah ﷻ, according to Islamic understanding of tawakkul (reliance on God).
Later, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was tested with the command to sacrifice his son. Scholarly debate continues about whether it was Ismail or Ishaq (peace be upon them both), but the lesson is universal: Are you willing to sacrifice what you love most for Allah ﷻ?
Both Ibrahim and his son submitted. Just as the knife was about to strike, Allah ﷻ provided a ram to sacrifice instead. The willingness was what mattered. The submission was what was tested.
And that’s why Muslims around the world sacrifice animals during Eid al-Adha, according to Islamic tradition—to remember Ibrahim’s submission and renew our own.
Musa (Peace Be Upon Him): The One Who Spoke to Allah
Musa (peace be upon him) is mentioned more times in the Quran than any other prophet—including Muhammad ﷺ. His story takes up significant portions of multiple chapters.
He was born during a time when Fir’awn (Pharaoh) was killing all newborn Israelite boys. Why? A fortune teller had warned Fir’awn that a boy would be born who would destroy his kingdom. So he ordered infanticide to prevent it.
But according to divine plan documented in the Quran, Allah ﷻ inspired Musa’s mother to place baby Musa in a basket and set him in the river. The river carried him right to Fir’awn’s palace. The very man trying to kill him ended up raising him.
That’s what Islamic scholars call divine irony—Allah’s ﷻ plan cannot be stopped by human plotting.
Musa (peace be upon him) grew up in luxury in the palace. But one day, he saw an Egyptian oppressing an Israelite. He intervened, accidentally killing the Egyptian. Fearing for his life, he fled Egypt and ended up in Madyan, where he married and worked as a shepherd for years.
Then came the burning bush. Musa (peace be upon him) saw a fire on Mount Sinai. When he approached, Allah ﷻ spoke to him directly—making him one of the few prophets granted this honor. Allah ﷻ commanded him to return to Egypt and confront Fir’awn.
Musa (peace be upon him), according to Quranic documentation of his honest vulnerability, asked Allah ﷻ to send his brother Harun (peace be upon him) with him because Harun spoke more eloquently. Allah ﷻ granted this request, and both brothers went to face the most powerful tyrant of their time.
The confrontation is documented extensively in the Quran. Musa (peace be upon him) performed miracles: his staff turned into a snake, his hand glowed white. Fir’awn’s magicians tried to match him but couldn’t. In fact, the magicians immediately recognized truth, fell into prostration, and declared belief in Allah ﷻ—even though Fir’awn threatened to torture and kill them.
The magicians said, as recorded in the Quran [Surah Ta-Ha, Ayah 72-73]: “Never will we prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs and [over] He who created us. So decree whatever you are to decree. You can only decree for this worldly life. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allah is better and more enduring.”
These magicians went from being Fir’awn’s servants to Allah’s ﷻ martyrs in minutes—because they recognized truth when they saw it and chose correctly despite the cost.
Eventually, Fir’awn and his army chased Musa (peace be upon him) and the Israelites to the Red Sea. The sea split. The Israelites crossed. Fir’awn followed. The sea closed on him and his army, drowning them all.
According to Islamic teaching on deathbed repentance, faith accepted only when death arrives doesn’t count. The test was already over.
Isa (Peace Be Upon Him): The Prophet Christians Misunderstood
Isa (peace be upon him)—known as Jesus in English—was one of the greatest prophets. But he was a prophet, not God. Not the son of God. Not one-third of a trinity.
He was born miraculously according to Quranic testimony—no father, only his mother Maryam (Mary). Allah ﷻ created him by saying “Be,” just as He created Adam (peace be upon him) without parents.
[Surah Aal-Imran, Ayah 59]
“Indeed, the example of Isa to Allah is like that of Adam. He created him from dust; then He said to him, ‘Be,’ and he was.”
Isa (peace be upon him) spoke from the cradle as an infant, defending his mother’s honor when people accused her of immorality. He performed miracles by Allah’s ﷻ permission: healing the blind and lepers, bringing the dead back to life, creating birds from clay that became real when he breathed into them.
But according to explicit Quranic correction of Christian belief, none of these miracles made him divine. They were signs of his prophethood, granted by Allah ﷻ, not proof of his divinity.
And according to Islamic teaching that contradicts Christian doctrine, he was not crucified. The Quran states clearly:
[Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 157-158]
“And [for] their saying, ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Isa, the son of Maryam, the messenger of Allah.’ And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them… Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise.”
According to Islamic eschatology documented in prophetic hadith, Isa (peace be upon him) will return near the end of times. He will kill the Dajjal (Antichrist), break the cross (symbolically ending false Christianity), and rule justly. Then he will die a natural death and be buried next to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah.
Muhammad ﷺ: The Final Messenger
And then came the seal of prophets. The completion of the message. The final brick in the house of prophethood.
Muhammad ﷺ was born in Makkah in 570 CE. He was an orphan—his father died before his birth, his mother when he was six. His grandfather raised him, then his uncle. But even as a young man, he was known for his honesty and trustworthiness. People called him Al-Amin (the Trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (the Truthful).
At age 40, he received the first revelation in the Cave of Hira. The Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) came to him and commanded: “Read!” That was the beginning of 23 years of revelation—13 years in Makkah of intense persecution, 10 years in Madinah of establishing the first Islamic state.
He didn’t come with a new message. He came with the same message every prophet before him brought: worship Allah ﷻ alone, treat people justly, prepare for the Hereafter.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, as recorded in Sahih Bukhari (Book 60, Hadith 54): “The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”
All prophets had the same core message (their father, metaphorically) but came to different peoples at different times with specific laws suited to their contexts (different mothers, metaphorically).
Muhammad ﷺ was the completion. The final word. The last chance. No prophet will come after him. The Quran is the final scripture. Islam is the final message.
And according to Islamic belief rooted in divine promise, this message will remain preserved until the Day of Judgment—unchanged, uncorrupted, available for anyone who sincerely seeks truth.
The Common Message: What Every Prophet Taught
Here’s what you need to understand about all these prophets:
They all taught Tawhid—the absolute oneness of Allah ﷻ. Every single prophet, called their people to worship Allah ﷻ alone, to reject false gods, to abandon associating partners with the Creator.
They all faced opposition from their people. The wealthy and powerful always rejected the prophets first because the message threatened their privilege and control. Sound familiar?
They all taught accountability in the Hereafter. Every prophet warned about the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell. This wasn’t invented by Islam—it’s been the consistent message since Adam (peace be upon him).
They all showed mercy, justice, and beautiful character. Prophets were the best examples of how humans should live. They were truthful, trustworthy, intelligent, and conveyed the message clearly.
They were all human—not divine. Prophets ate food, walked in markets, got married, had children, and died like other humans. They were chosen for prophethood, but they remained human. Only Allah ﷻ deserves worship.
Why Knowing the Prophets Matters for You
If you’re Muslim, believing in all the prophets is one of the six articles of faith. You can’t be Muslim without believing in them. But it’s not just about abstract belief—their stories teach you how to live.
When you’re tested like Ibrahim (peace be upon him), you learn to submit even when it hurts. When you face opposition like Nuh (peace be upon him), you learn patience across decades. When you’re tempted like Yusuf (peace be upon him) was, you remember his choice to flee from sin. When you make mistakes like Adam (peace be upon him), you remember how to sincerely repent.
And when you feel like you’re standing alone for truth, remember: every prophet stood alone at first. Every prophet was mocked, rejected, and opposed. But they kept going because they knew Allah ﷻ was with them.
You’re part of their legacy. You’re connected to every prophet who ever lived through the same message, the same mission, the same God. That’s powerful. That’s your spiritual lineage. That’s why their stories aren’t ancient history—they’re your family history.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in presenting Islamic teachings about the prophets, readers are strongly advised to consult qualified Islamic scholars for detailed studies of prophetic history, specific questions about Islamic belief, and matters requiring expert religious guidance. The prophets’ stories presented here are based on Quranic accounts, authenticated hadith collections, and classical Islamic historical sources as transmitted through reliable scholarly tradition across fourteen centuries. For comprehensive study of any prophet’s life, please refer to detailed biographies written by qualified Islamic scholars and authenticated sources of Islamic history.