Information about Prophet Of Islam

Part of a series on Prophets, salaf & caliphs:

Prophets of Islam Ahl al-Bayt Muhammad's wives Sahaba Tabi‘in Taba‘ at-Tabi‘in Caliph   •  • [ e]  Imams

Prophets of Islam are male human beings who are regarded by Muslims to be prophets chosen by God. The term for prophet in Islam is nabi (pl. anbiyaa). All prophets are Muslims, they were just different in the sharia that they taught to their nation, but that they all preached the same message; to believe that there is only one God, not to commit idol-worship, and to follow the word of God, not to commit sin, etc, and that they all came to preach Islam and to warn of the coming of the final prophet and messenger of God; the prophet Muhammad.

Islamic tradition dictates that prophets were sent by God to every nation. In Islam, only Muhammad was sent to convey God's message for the whole of mankind, whereas other prophets were sent to convey a message 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 are 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 all rasul are nabi, not all nabi are rasul.

Muslims believe the first prophet was Adam, while the last prophet and rasul was Muhammad, thus his title Seal of the Prophets. Isa (Jesus) is the result of a virgin birth in Islam as in Christianity, and is regarded as a nabi because he received a wahi from God. Jesus is also considered to be one of the rasul as God revealed the Injil (Gospel) to him.^[1] Contrary to Christianity, in Islam, it is heresy to claim that God had a son.

Muslims believe that God has sent over 124,000 messengers all over the world as mentioned in the Sahih Hadith. However, of these, five (sometimes known as Ulul Azmi or the Imams — i.e. leaders — of the Rasuls) are the most commonly revered 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.

Qur'an

The following table lists the prophets mentioned in the Qur'an. Biblical versions of names are given where applicable. However, it is clearly stated in Qur'an that this list is not comprehensive:

	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..."
—Qur'an, 40:78

Name (Arabic & Arabic Translit.)	Name (Biblical)	Main Article(s)	No. of verses with mention
آدم Adam	Adam	: Main articles: Islamic view of Adam, Adam, and Adam and Eve	77
	"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." He is an important figure in Judaism and Christianity as well and he is best known for the story of Adam and Eve.
إدريس Idris	Enoch	: Main articles: Idris (prophet) and Enoch (ancestor of Noah)	2
	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 an end to the suffering, and so the world received rain.
نوح Nuh	Noah	: Main articles: Islamic view of Noah and Noah	47
	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. In contrast with Christian and Jewish traditions which say the Deluge was a global event, there is some difference in opinion in Islam over whether the flood associated with Nuh was localized or global.
هود Hud	Eber	: Main article: Hud (prophet)	8
	Muslims believe Hud, for whom the eleventh chapter of the Qur'an is named, 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
	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	71
	Abraham is regarded by Muslims today as one of the significant prophets, because he is credited with rebuilding the Kaaba in Mecca. His family, including his son Ishmael, is also credited with helping create the civilization around Mecca that would later give birth to the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad. Ibrahim is also noted for almost sacrificing his son Ismail (Ishmael) for 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)	29
	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 Ismail	Ishmael	: Main articles: Islamic view of Ishmael and Ishmael	12
	Ismaïl, first-born son of Ibrahim, is 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	16
	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 Yaqub	Jacob	: Main article: Jacob	19
	Jacob, according to the Qur'an was "of the company of the Elect and the Good"[2] 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)	37
	Yusuf, son of (Yaqub) and great-grandson of Ibrahim, became a prominent advisor to the king of Egypt since the king was believed to have seen a dream, which was interpreted by Yusuf that predicted the economic state of Egypt. He spent a large part of his life away from his eleven brothers, who were jealous 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 50% of the beauty distributed to mankind.
أيوب Ayub	Job	: Main article: Job (Bible)	4
	According to Islamic tradition, Ayub was rewarded by a fountain of youth, which removed all illnesses except death, for his service to God in his hometown outside Al Majdal. Ayub is believed to have suffered an illness for 18 years as test of patience by God.
شعيب Shoaib	Jethro	: Main articles: Shoaib and Jethro
	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 it is mentioned in the Qur'an, and by the reported speeches from Muhammad that Musa married one of Shoaib's daughters, and the same thing is mentioned in the Old Testament for a man named Jethro, some scholars believe that Jethro in the Old Testament is not the same person as Shoaib in the Qur'an.
موسى Musa	Moses	: Main articles: Islamic view of Moses and Moses	176
	Moses, referred to in the Qur'an more than any other prophet, is significant for 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 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	24
	Harun (Aaron) served as an assistant to his older brother Musa (Moses). In Islam, he, like Musa, was given 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	2
	The status of Dhul-Kifl as a prophet is 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.
داود Dawood	David	: Main article: David	16
	In Islam, the Zabur (Psalms) were revealed to Dawood (David) by God. He is also significant as he is 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 Sulaiman	Solomon	: Main articles: Islamic view of Solomon and Solomon	21
	Sulaiman (Solomon) learned a significant amount from his father Daud before being made a prophet by God. According to Islamic tradition, Sulaiman was given power over all things, 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 Sulaiman's (Solomon)kingdom 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	2
	Al-Yasa (Elisha) took over the job 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 article: Jonah	5
	Islamic tradition shows that Yunus (Jonah) was commanded by God to help the people of Nineveh towards righteousness. However, after Nineveh's people refused to listen to God, he 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.[3]
زكريا Zakariya	Zacharias	: Main articles: Islamic view of Zechariah and Zechariah (priest)	8
	A descendant of Sulaiman, Zakariya (Zachariah was 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).[4]
يحيى Yahya	John the Baptist	: Main articles: Islamic view of John the Baptist and John the Baptist	5
	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	28
	One of the highest ranked prophets in Islam, 'Isa al-Maseeh, (Jesus the Messiah) was sent 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. Whether he was put on the cross or not is an issue of interpretation. Mainstream Muslim belief is that 'Isa was raised up to God and will return to Earth to fight Dajjal during the time of the Mahdi (divinely guided one).
محمد Muhammad	Paraclete	: Main article: Muhammad	275
	Habib u'l A'zam, Imam u'l Anbiya Sayyidina Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah,(53 B.H-11 A.H; 571-632 AD) [5] is the last prophet in Islam ("seal of the Prophets"). Idolatry of any of the prophets should be avoided, 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. Muhammad is considered the most perfect creation by God. Born in Makkah in 53 B.H (571 AD), Muhammad spent the first part of his life as a well-travelled merchant. He would often spend his time in the mountains surrounding Makkah in prayer contemplating the situation with the city. At the age of forty, during one of those trips to the mountain, Muhammad began to, despite his illiteracy, receive and recite verses from God 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, Muhammad first asked his fellow Muslims to migrate to Medina and later himself migrated to Medina away from the oppressors in Makkah. Muhammad served not just as a prophet, but as a military leader who helped defeat the Makkans 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 practiced 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 were established after Muhammad's death.

Other prophets

Muslims believe in other prophets other than those mentioned by name in the Quran as ther are many verses in the Quran that speak about 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..." ^{[Qur'an 40:78nosup]}
• "For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger..."^{[Qur'an 16:36nosup]}

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

The verses open up debate, and there is no strong consensus as to the identities of the other authentic Prophets.

Al-Imran is mentioned in the Qur'an, he was father of Maryam.

Al-Khidr is not mentioned by name, but is traditionally assumed to be referred to in Qur'an 18:66

Biblical prophets Danyal (Daniel), Ishaia (Isaiah), Armya (Jeremiah), 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, among them: Zoroaster, Gautama Buddha 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 (Mary) mother of 'Isa

Main articles: Maryam and Mary

A few scholars (e.g. Ibn Hazm)^[6] have argued that she was a nabi prophetess, since she was sent a message from God via an angel but the Qur'an does not state that she is one, and thus it cannot be definitely established that she is. The majority position among Islamic scholars is that no woman has received a prophetic mission from God, especially due to religious reasons including the maintenance of Hijaab. According to the Shi'a belief, she was a holy woman, but she was not a prophet. In the Qur'an, 'Isa is usually referred to as 'Isa bin Maryam (Jesus, son of Mary), a matronymic, indicative of Jesus having no father. Not a human one nor taking God as his "heavenly father", but that Mary conceived by the Will of God.

See also

• Table of prophets of Abrahamic religions
• Itmam al-hujjah
• Nubuwwah
• Sahaba
• Salaf
• List of Islamic terms in Arabic
• Islamic eschatology
• Christian eschatology
• Prophecy
• Nevi'im (Prophets in Judaism)
• Major Prophets in the Bible
• Minor Prophets in the Bible

Notes

References

• Hoda, About.Com Guide.About.Com "Prophets of Islam: Since the beginning of time, God has sent prophets to teach His message". Retrieved April, 8, 2006.
• Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi 15/Mar/2006."Was There Islam Before Prophet Muhammad's Mission?". Retrieved April, 8, 2006.
• Islam101.Com "Introductory Theology: Islam Explained: What is Islam?, withSuggested reading list". Retrieved April, 8, 2006.
• Dr. Abdullah Al-faqih 23/04/2003. "The Message of the Messengers". Retrieved April, 8, 2006.
• Islam - The Religion of All Prophets (www.islaam.ca) PDF article. Published: 2006. "Why do Muslims Believe that Muhammad (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) was a Messenger of God?". Retrieved April, 8, 2006.

External links

• - The Prophets of Islam - A Referenced List
• - Rasul and Nabi
• - Stories of the Prophets, Seerah of Companions, Mothers of Believers
• - Islamic Articles - Stories of Prophets
• - Are the Prophets equal?
• TurnToIslam.Com Muslim Belief of the Prophets, Following Abraham
• Prophetic Midrash -- Information on Prophets of the Bible and the Qur'an