ON 25 PROPHETS

It is our belief that Allah SWT has sent a prophet to every nation and not necessarily to every generation. Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an, 

"Indeed, we sent in every community a messenger… "[2]

"There was not any community except a warner lived among them." [3]

As for the exact number of prophets the Prophet (ṣaw) was asked by Abu Dharr (ra), "O Messenger of Allah! What was the total number of prophets?" the Prophet (ṣaw) replied, "124,000 and from amongst them 315 messengers"[4] 

The difference between a prophet and a messenger, is that a messenger is a prophet to whom Allah reveals a new book or law, and orders them to propagate their new law. Whereas a prophet would merely upholds the law and scriptures of previous messengers. Therefore all messengers are prophets but not all prophets are messengers. 

We have only 25 prophets and messengers who are mentioned in the Qur'an by name. About other prophets and messengers Allah said, "We have told you the story of some Messengers and of others We have not …" (al-Nisa' 4;164) 

List of 25 prophets we must believe in:

 

1. Ādam (as) - He was the first human being to be created and is the father of all mankind.  Came down to the earth from jannah.

 

2. Idrīs/Enoch (as) - He was the first prophet to whom the angel Jibrā`īl came to with revelation to guide the children of Ādam (as). He came after the Prophet Shīth. 

3. Nūḥ/Noah (as) - He was the first messenger to be sent to the earth. He ordered his people stop worshipping idols and images and to worship Allah alone. He called them to Allah for 950 years, he was finally ordered to build the ark. Only a handful of people followed him and were saved the rest were drowned by the great flood even Nūḥ's own son. 

4. Hūd (as) - It is said that Hūd (as) was the first person to speak Arabic. He was sent to the people of ‘Ād in Yemen. His people were giants who lived in palaces with lofty pillars. His people were destroyed by a hurricane with fiercly cold winds. 

5. Ṣāliḥ (as) - He was sent to the people of Thamūd who lived in Madyan. They came after the people of Ād and were given the ability to carve their homes out of mountains. They killed the she-camel of Ṣāliḥ (as) and as a result were destroyed by an earthquake. 

6. Ibrāhīm/Abraham (as) - He is known as Khalīl al-Allah (the friend of Allah); the father of the prophet.

7. Lūṭ/Lot (as) - He was the nephew of Ibrāhīm (as). He was sent to the people of Sodom on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Their town was turned upside down due to their shameful ways.

8. Ismā’īl/ Ishmael (as) - Was the son of Ibrāhīm (as) who was ordered to be given in sacrifice. And from his offspring's came the last and final prophet Muḥammad (ṣaw). 

9. Isḥāq/Isaac (as) - He was also the son of the prophet Ibrāhīm (as) All the prophet after him were from his offspring's except for Muḥammad (ṣaw). 

10. Ya’qūb/Jacob (as) - Was the son of Ishāq (as). He is known as Isrā`īl and he had 12 children. The offspring's of these children are called Banū Isrā`īl. 

11. Yūsuf/Joseph (as) - Was the most beloved son of his father Yaʿqūb. There is a whole sūrah dedicated to his story. 

12. Shu’aib (as) - He was sent to the people of the forest in Madyan. 

13. Mūsa /Moses (as) - Was sent to save the Banī Isrā`īl from Firʿaun. He was given many miracles e.g. splitting of the sea and turning his staff into snake. He was also given the Taurah. 

14. Hārun /Aaron (as) - Was sent to Firʿaun along with his brother as a spokesman. 

15. Dāwūd/David (as) - He was the person who killed Goliath and then became a ruler and a prophet. He was given the Zabūr/Psalms. 

16. Sulaymān/Solomon - Was a king who ruled the whole world and had the control of jinns. He was also able to understand the languages of the animals. 

17. Ayyūb/Job (as) - Was tested by Allah, he lost all his wealth and children. 

18. Dhul Kifl (as): Some mention he was the son of Ayyūb. 

19. Yūnus/Jonah (as) - The prophet who was swallowed by the whale after leaving his people fearing the punishment of Allah.

20. Ilyās/Elias (as) - He was sent to the people of Baalek, west Damscus. 

21. Al-Yasa’/Elisha (as) - It is said that he was the cousin of Ilyās.

 

22. Zakariyyah/Zechariah (as) - He was granted a son at a very old age. 

23. Yaḥya/John (as) - Was the son of Zakariyyah, and he was killed by his people. 

24. ‘ Īsā ibn Maryam/Jesus the son of Mary - He was the Messiah sent to the Jews, he was granted many miracles, such as healing the ill, deaf, blind lepers and bringing the dead back to life by God's permission. 

25. Muḥammad (as) - The last and final prophet of Allah. The leader of all the prophets and the greatest of all creation. 

It is mentioned in the Quran in as clear as possible words that Muhammad(saw) is the last prophet:

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.” (Quran 33:40)