Allah Almighty has sent Prophets for the guidance of humankind in different times and places. Prophets were means to communicate Allah Almighty’s message to mankind. Allah Almighty sent His guidance through Prophets. Belief in these Prophets whom Allah Almighty chose to convey His message to mankind is a part of our Islamic faith. Prophets or the Messengers of Allah were all chosen by Allah. Allah Almighty said in the Holy Quran:
آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِن رَّبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّن رُّسُلِهِ وَقَالُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
“The Prophet (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in God, His Angels, His Books, and His prophets. (They say,) ‘We make no distinction between one another of His prophets… ” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:85)
The religion that God established for all mankind is Islam, which means to submit or surrender. Islam is not limited to the revelation that was sent to the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him but was also the message of previous prophets. Therefore, the Qurʾan teaches that previous religions, such as Christianity and Judaism, in their authentic and original forms were based on the Oneness of God.
“Many prophets were sent to the world between Hazrat Adam, the first prophet and Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). According to a sound narration, there were 124 000 prophets. 315 of them are Rasul. (Ahmad bin Hanbal, Musnad V, 266) According to another narration, the number is 224 000. Only 25 of them are mentioned in the Quran by their names. It is informed that not all of the names of the prophets were mentioned in the Quran. ” (al-Mumin 40/78)
Each prophet conveyed the consistent divine message of worshipping one God and living a morally upright life. Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and all other prophets are considered to be one family. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity share the core concept that God sent prophets to guide their fellow people. However, Islam also differs from these two faiths on important aspects related to prophethood. For instance, Islam teaches that all prophets of God were of high moral character and did not succumb to the sins their people committed.
قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَ
Say, “We have believed in Allah and what (is) revealed to us and what was revealed to Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq and Yaqub and the descendants, and what was given (to) Musa and Isa and what was given (to) the Prophets from their Lord. Not we make a distinction between any of them. And we to Him (are) submissive.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:136)
All Prophets were human beings who taught people about faith in One Lord that is Allah Almighty and also how to follow and walk on the righteous path. Allah Almighty also revealed some Holy Books on these Prophets for conveying His message to mankind, these books are also known as books of revelation. Being a Muslim we believe that all prophets gave guidance and instruction to their people about how to properly worship Allah (SWT) and live their lives according to the teachings of the Lord. Since Allah is One, His message has been one and the same throughout time.
وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ فَمَنْ آمَنَ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
“And not We send the Messengers except an (as) bearer of glad tidings and (as) warners. So whoever believed and reformed, then no fear upon them and not they will grieve.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:48)
Muslims are obligated to believe in and honour all the prophets and to testify that prophethood has been completed with the coming of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Allah (SWT) mentioned in the Holy Quran:
شَرَعَ لَكُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا وَصَّىٰ بِهِ نُوحًا وَالَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَمَا وَصَّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ أَنْ أَقِيمُوا الدِّينَ وَلَا تَتَفَرَّقُوا فِيهِ كَبُرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ اللَّهُ يَجْتَبِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَن يُنِيبُ
“He has ordained for you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nuh, and that which We have revealed to you, and what We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa. To establish the religion and not be divided therein. Is difficult on the polytheists what you call them to it. Allah chooses for Himself whom He wills, and guides to Himself whoever turns.” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:13)
There are 25 Prophets mentioned by their names in the Holy Quran. Although Muslims believe Allah Almighty has sent much more than these at different times and places. Below we have listed 25 Prophets whose names are mentioned in the Holy Quran:
- Hazrat Adam (AS)
- Hazrat Idris (AS)
- Hazrat Nuh (AS)
- Hazrat Hud (AS)
- Hazrat Saleh (AS)
- Hazrat Ibrahim (AS)
- Hazrat Ismail (AS)
- Hazrat Ishaq (AS)
- Hazrat Lut (AS)
- Hazrat Yaqoob (AS)
- Hazrat Yusuf (AS)
- Hazrat Shuaib (AS)
- Hazrat Ayub (AS)
- Hazrat Musa (AS)
- Hazrat Harun (AS)
- Hazrat Dhul-kill (AS)
- Hazrat Dawud (AS)
- Hazrat Suleiman (AS)
- Hazrat Ilias (AS)
- Hazrat Al-Yasa (AS)
- Hazrat Yunus (AS)
- Hazrat Zakariya (AS)
- Hazrat Yahya (AS)
- Hazrat Isa (AS)
- Hazrat Muhammad (SAW)
In nutshell, Muslims believe and respect all Prophets sent by Allah Almighty. Allah (SWT) sent Prophets as an example for humanity to follow, and if one does follow their example, they would live a life in accordance to the Will of Allah Almighty, earning His Love and Pleasure in this life and the Hereafter. However, Mohammad (saw) is for the entire humanity and for every period of time until the Day of Judgment.
