Overview
Understanding What Are the Prophets?
history
Guidance for Many Peoples
The Quran names twenty-five prophets but says that other messengers were sent. This leaves room for guidance among peoples outside its named settings without naming individuals without evidence. Scholars distinguish nabi and rasul in several ways, often by commission or law. The shared point is simple: both are chosen human bearers of divine guidance.
Key passage
Quran
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعْبُدُونِ
سورة الأنبياء · الآية ٢٥
And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."
Quran 21:25
Translation: Saheeh International
scripture
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus in One Line
Abraham models devotion to God. Moses is the messenger sent to Pharaoh and the law-bearing leader of Israel. Jesus is the Messiah, miraculously born to Mary, and a mighty messenger whose miracles came by God's permission. Islam rejects his divinity while honoring him deeply. Muhammad stands in the same line and, in Islamic belief, brought the final universal message.
Key passage
Quran
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
سورة البقرة · الآية ١٣٦
Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
Quran 2:136
Translation: Saheeh International
interpretation
Human, Trustworthy, and Worth Following
Prophets are trustworthy in conveying revelation. Scholars discuss details of prophetic impeccability, but no Islamic position permits accusing a prophet of betraying God's message. Respect for prophets has a boundary set by Tawhid: prayer and sacrifice belong to God alone. A prophet leads people away from self-worship and toward the Creator.
interpretation
The Finality of Prophethood
Key passage
Quran
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍۢ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا
سورة الأحزاب · الآية ٤٠
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing.
Quran 33:40
Translation: Saheeh International
summary
Key Takeaways: What Are the Prophets?
Sources
Sources and further reading
Primary texts and works cited in this article.
The Quran — Tanzil Uthmani text with Saheeh International translation
quran
Source linkUthmani-script Arabic text from Tanzil with the Saheeh International English translation.
The Holy Bible, World English Bible (public domain)
bible
Source linkPublic-domain English translation from the World English Bible.
Prophets in the Quran: An Introduction to the Quran and Muslim Exegesis
book | Brannon M. Wheeler
A source-based collection and introduction covering prophetic figures from Adam to Muhammad, published under the Continuum imprint by Bloomsbury.
The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an
book | Jane Dammen McAuliffe (editor) | Cambridge University Press | 2006
A multi-author scholarly guide to the Quran's formation, themes, interpretation, and reception.