An Introductory Guide To Understanding The Role Of The Prophets Of Allah October 24, 2024

In Islam, the Prophets of Allah—from Adam to Muhammad (peace be upon them all)—were divinely chosen to guide humanity toward righteousness and worship the one true God. This guide explores the fascinating world of Islamic Prophethood, uncovering its profound messages and lasting impact.

In this Islamic post, you’ll learn:

• The concept of Prophethood in Islam and its significance
• Why Allah sent prophets to humanity
• The names and stories of prophets mentioned in the Quran
• The standard message shared by all prophets
• The distinction between prophets and messengers in Islamic theology
• The miracles of prophets and their purpose
• The finality of Prophethood with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
• Lessons Muslims can learn from the lives and teachings of the prophets
• How the teachings of the prophets continue to guide and inspire Muslims today

Discover why these messengers of Allah matter and how their wisdom continues to illuminate the path for Muslims while enriching your faith and strengthening your connection with the Divine.

Prophets of Islam: what is a Prophet of Allah?

Belief in the Messengers and Prophets in Islam is the third article of faith in Islam. From Prophet Adam (PBUH) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), these individuals chosen by Allah guided their nations to worship the one true God, Allah, and shun false gods. They taught their people how to find God, build relationships with Him, and live righteously as God expects. They delivered divine messages, some of which were later compiled into Books known as Scriptures, performed miracles to prove their Prophethood, and set examples of moral excellence for their people to emulate.

The need for divine guidance

Have you ever pondered the purpose of life and how to fulfill it? How would you know your role and life purpose unless you receive clear and practical instructions regarding what God wants and expects from you?

The Purpose of Prophethood in Islam

In Islam, the answer lies in the profound concept of Prophethood. This is where the need for Prophethood arises. Allah sent many prophets and messengers in His infinite wisdom to guide humanity towards Him. The Messengers and Prophets of God taught their people about God and their purpose in life. They delivered glad tidings of Paradise for those who believed and submitted to the Creator and a warning for those who disbelieved and disobeyed God, as God instructed them.

Allah communicates to humanity through His Prophets

Muslims believe that Allah conveys His divine guidance through His chosen human prophets. In Islam, belief in these Prophets is not simply historical knowledge but an essential tenet of faith. The Quran consistently emphasizes the role of Prophets in guiding humanity towards Allah’s truth.

The Prophet (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His prophets. They say, ‘We make no distinction between one another of His prophets…’ (Quran 2:285)

The universal message of Islamic Prophets

Regardless of their time or place, these messengers shared a fundamental message: the oneness of God (Tawhid). They called upon people to worship Allah alone, rejecting all false deities and idols. They taught that all other gods are false and are only creations of God, not the actual Creator. The Prophets of Islam were beacons of truth, guiding their communities towards worshipping the one true God.

Allah sent messengers to every nation

Out of Allah’s boundless mercy and love, He has consistently sent Prophets and Messengers throughout history to guide humanity. This divine chain of Prophethood spans across all nations.

And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger,
saying, ‘Worship Allah and shun false gods.’ (Quran 16:36)

The Role of Prophets in Islam

Prophets serve several crucial roles in Islamic theology:

• delivering Allah’s message
• leading people to God
• providing moral and spiritual guidance
• demonstrating exemplary character
• informing that life is a test
• informing their people, they will be held accountable for their intentions and actions
• warning people of the consequences of disobedience and the Hellfire
• giving glad tidings of Paradise in the Hereafter to the believers that follow God’s commands

Core teachings of Islamic Prophets and Messengers

The prophets and messengers in Islam preached and taught:

• The oneness of Allah (Tawhid)
• Rejection of false deities
• About their Creator: His Names, Attributes, and Nature
• How to build a meaningful relationship with their Creator
• Morality, ethics, and the importance of purifying one’s soul
• Understanding life as a test from Allah
• Informing about the unseen world that exists beyond our ordinary senses, including:

• Angels of Allah (Mala’ika)
• Satan (Iblis/Shaytan)
• Jinn
• The Soul (Ruh)
• Paradise (Jannah)
• Hellfire (Jahannam)
• Barzakh (the intermediate realm after death)
• The Afterlife (Akhirah)
• The Divine Decree (Al-Qadr)
• The Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah)
• Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz (the Preserved Tablet)
• Al-‘Arsh (the Throne of Allah)
• Al-Kursi (the Footstool)
• The Antichrist (Dajjal)
• The Return of Jesus (Isa)
• The reality of the Day of Judgment

The noble mission of Prophets in Islam

The role of prophets in Islam extends beyond mere preaching as they:

• guide humanity to worship the Creator, not the creation
• teach about morality, ethics, and soul purification
• warn people against that which is harmful
• inform about the unseen world
• stand as witnesses on the Day of Judgment for those who claim they never received the divine message.

The selfless mission of the Prophets

The Prophets were not motivated by personal gain or worldly desires. They dedicated their lives to the service of Allah and the betterment of humanity. They warned their people against harmful practices and deviations from the right path, seeking only the pleasure of Allah and the well-being of their communities.

Respecting all Prophets: a unique aspect of Islamic belief

Muslims deeply respect, honor, and love all Prophets and Messengers of Allah for their unwavering faith and dedication to spreading Allah’s message. Each of these Messengers and Prophets of God carried the divine message of Allah, inviting their people to worship only Him and to reject all false gods. This inclusive respect for all divine messengers is a distinguishing feature of Islamic theology. Muslims Believe in many of the prophets mentioned in the Christian and Jewish Tradition.

Who are the 25 Prophets mentioned by name in the Quran?

The Noble Quran highlights the significant role of prophets as divine messengers, offering guidance to humanity. While Islamic tradition acknowledges many prophets, the Quran mentions 25 by name. The stories of these prophets in Islam showcase their struggles, dedication, and unwavering commitment to spreading the message of Allah. These narratives provide valuable lessons for Muslims, reinforcing the importance of faith, patience, and obedience to Allah.

Below is the list of the 25 prophets in Islam, arranged in the order of their approximate historical appearance:

Adam – آدم
Idris – إدريس
Nuh – نوح
Hud – هود
Salih – صالح
Ibrahim – إبراهيم
Lut – لوط
Ismail – إسماعيل
Ishaq – إسحاق
Yaqub – يعقوب
Yusuf – يوسف
Shu’ayb – شعيب
Ayyub – أيوب
Dhul-Kifl – ذو الكفل
Musa – موسى
Harun – هارون
Dawud – داود
Sulayman – سليمان
Ilyas – إلياس
Al-Yasa – اليسع
Yunus – يونس
Zakariyya – زكريا
Yahya – يحيى
Isa – عيسى
Muhammad – محمد

Peace be upon them all.

Prophets vs. Messengers: understanding the distinction

In Islam, both Rasool (Messenger) and Nabi (Prophet) are figures chosen by Allah to guide humanity, but there are distinctions between the two roles:

Rasool (Messenger):

• A Rasool is a prophet sent with a new Shariah (divine law or scripture) to reform or guide a people.
• A Rasool receives revelations through a divine book or message that often introduces significant changes in religious practice.
• Examples include Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who was sent with the Quran, Prophet Moses (PBUH) with the Torah, and Prophet Jesus (PBUH) with the Injil (Gospel).

Nabi (Prophet):

• A Nabi is a prophet who follows the teachings of a previous messenger and guides people according to the existing scriptures or divine laws given to that messenger without introducing any new laws himself.

• Anyone who is a Rasool (Messenger) is also a Nabi (Prophet), but not every Nabi is a Rasool. For example, Prophet Harun (PBUH) was a Nabi who supported his brother, Prophet Moses (Musa PBUH), who was a Rasool. The plural forms are Rusul (رُسُل) for Rasool and Anbiya (أنبياء) for Nabi.

The distinguished Prophets

In Islam, five prophets are granted a higher status for their exceptional perseverance and dedication in delivering God’s message. These prophets, known as the Ulul Azm (Messengers of strong will), are:

• Noah (Nuh) – نوح
• Abraham (Ibrahim) – إبراهيم
• Moses (Musa) – موسى
• Jesus (Isa) – عيسى
• Muhammad – محمد

They are revered for their unwavering commitment to guiding their people toward monotheism and enduring immense trials in their missions.

The Seal of Prophethood

With the advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Holy Quran, the Prophethood chain reached completion. There will be no new prophet or divine book after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or the Quran. This concept, known as the “Seal of Prophethood” (Khatam an-Nabiyyin), emphasizes the completeness and timelessness of Islam’s final message.

Unlike previous scriptures, the Quran remains unchanged and protected from corruption. Since it needs to serve as a timeless guide for all generations to come, God took it upon Himself to ensure the Quran is not altered by human hands, unlike past scriptures after their Prophets passed. As the last and final Prophet, Muhammad’s (PBUH) mission marked the culmination of divine guidance intended for all humanity, and no other prophet will come after him.

Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the
Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets. (Quran 33:40)

The lineage of Prophets & their divine scriptures

Islam teaches that all previous Prophets and Books, except for the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), were intended for specific nations and periods. For instance, Prophet Jesus (Isa PBUH), one of the mightiest messengers of God, was explicitly sent to the Children of Israel. His mission was to:

• reaffirm the belief in One God (Tawhid)
• confirm the Torah that was revealed before him
• deliver the message of the Injil (Gospel) scripture, which complemented the Torah and provided further guidance
• perform miracles by the will and power of God to prove he was sent as a Prophet
• adjust specific laws to ease his nation’s lives by the will of God
• proclaim the coming of the Final Messenger (Muhammad PBUH)

The Quran states about Jesus (PBUH):

And He will teach him writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel (Quran 3:48)

The miracles of Prophets to prove they were sent from God

Allah granted His messengers the ability to perform miracles to validate their Prophethood. These prophets’ miracles were relevant to their people’s expertise. For Prophet Jesus (Isa PBUH), this included healing the sick and reviving the dead with Allah’s permission since his people excelled in medicine and healing. They were to recognize that the type of healing he was doing could only have come from God. Understanding that all miracles were performed only through Allah’s will & power is crucial.

The Corruption of earlier messages

Over time, the pure revelations brought by earlier prophets were distorted. Human interference led to the pollution of divine messages with myths, superstitions, and irrational ideologies. The religion of Allah was lost in a plethora of man-made practices, necessitating a final, universal message.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): the Seal of Prophets

When humanity was in darkness, Allah sent His final Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), with the last revelation, the Holy Quran. This final message:

• affirms the teachings & Books of previous prophets
• abrogates earlier laws not meant for all time
• serves as a message for all of humanity until the Day of Judgment

And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a bringer of glad tidings
and a warner unto all humanity, but most people know not. (Quran 34:28)

The divine selection of Prophets in Islam

Prophethood cannot be earned or acquired through specific practices or higher education in Islam. Instead, it is a divine selection where Allah chooses the best among humanity to deliver His message. The Prophets and Messengers were the most righteous, morally upright, and intellectually gifted individuals in their communities. Allah protected them from falling into major sins, ensuring they were exemplary role models for their followers.

The noble characteristics of the Prophets of Allah

The prophets of Islam possessed a unique combination of character traits that attracted people to their message. The Prophets and Messengers of Allah were distinguished by their:

• exemplary morals and manners
• mental and physical fitness for their mission
• protection from major sins
• superior moral and intellectual standing in their communities
• charismatic personalities that attracted people to their message

Glad tidings and warnings from the Prophets

Every Prophet’s message carried both glad tidings and warnings. For those who believed and followed the message, glad tidings were the promise of forgiveness for their past sins and the reward of Paradise. On the other hand, the warning was clear for those who rejected the divine message: if they persisted in their evil ways, their ultimate destination would be Hellfire. The Quran affirms:

Verily! We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner.
And there never was a nation, but a warner had passed among them. (Quran 35:24)

Prophetic messages in the language of their people

Prophets were sent with a message in the language of the people they were sent to. They could easily understand the message, apply it to their lives, and convey it to others. They would not have understood them if they had not carried the message in their language and would have had an excuse on the day of judgment. Since Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to the Arabs speaking plain Arabic, they had no excuse but to hear his message. God states in the Quran:

And We did not send any messenger except speaking in the
language of his people to state clearly for them… (Quran 14:4)

Even though Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) Message was in Arabic, his message was certainly not meant only for the Arabs or the people of his time. Instead, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to all of humanity. This is stated repeatedly in the Qur’an.

The diversity of Prophets: beyond Arabic origins

Whereas Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was an Arab, only four of the 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran were Arabs. The Arab Prophets mentioned in the Quran are:

Prophet Hud (PBUH) (Eber in English)

Prophet Saleh (PBUH)

Prophet Shuaib (PBUH) (known in Biblical literature as Jethro)

 and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Prophet Moses (PBUH): the most mentioned Prophet

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is only mentioned by name four times in the Quran. The most mentioned Prophet in the Quran is Moses (PBUH), who was not Arab. Prophet Moses (PBUH) is mentioned in over 70 passages.

• Prophet Moses (PBUH) is the most frequently mentioned Prophet in the Quran, appearing in over 70 passages.

• The experiences of Prophet Moses (PBUH) and the Children of Israel offer valuable lessons and guidance for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers, highlighting the importance of learning from past prophets and their communities.

Lessons from the Past: the Quran’s guidance through Israelite history

Reflecting on the trials, tribulations, and mistakes of the Israelites provides Muslims with invaluable lessons on avoiding similar pitfalls. The Quran emphasizes the significance of learning from the stories of past nations. Through these narratives, Allah offers guidance on how to live righteously and avoid the errors of previous communities.

There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the
Qur’an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed
explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe. (Quran 12:111)

Nations that rejected their Prophets

As mentioned, each story in the Quran holds profound lessons for humanity. Throughout history, people have often reacted to the prophets and messengers sent by Allah in extreme ways. Some prophets were outright rejected and accused of being sorcerers, madmen, forgers, plagiarists, magicians, poets, soothsayers, impostors, and liars.

When prophets performed miracles to prove God sent them, or when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recited the verses of the Quran, people would often resort to these accusations. Ironically, these accusations highlighted the profound nature of the miracles, which were beyond human capability and only possible by God’s will.

For instance, Prophet Jesus (Isa PBUH), the son of Mary, was rejected by the Jews, who refused to recognize him as the messenger they had been waiting for. The Jews also rejected Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), even though their scripture foretold the coming of another prophet. In the Book of Deuteronomy, it is written:

I will establish a prophet for them from among their brothers, like you, and I will place My words in his mouth; and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. (Devarim 18:18)

While Muslims believe in the original revelations given to previous prophets, it’s important to note that the current versions of these scriptures, including the Old Testament, have undergone changes over time. Therefore, we cannot definitively confirm that this specific verse was originally from God in this exact form.

However, it’s worth observing that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shared many similarities with Prophet Moses (PBUH).

The nations that took their Prophets as divine

While some people rejected the prophets of Allah, others went to the opposite extreme, turning prophets into gods or attributing divine qualities to them. This is particularly true of the Prophet Jesus (Isa PBUH).

Christians elevated him to the status of God’s son and as God Himself, beliefs that are not supported by the actual teachings of Jesus (PBUH). Jesus never claimed divinity or that he should be worshipped, nor is it explicitly referenced in the Bible. Instead, certain ambiguous biblical verses are often interpreted in ways that fit the Christian narrative, but these interpretations overlook the broader context and can be understood differently.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, Who is this? The crowds answered. This is Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. (Matthew 21:10-11)

This clearly shows that Prophet Jesus (Isa PBUH) was recognized as a messenger of God, not a deity.

Prophets as servants of God

Muslims believe that all prophets and messengers were created human beings without any divine attributes. They were the best of God’s servants, leading everyday human lives—eating, drinking, sleeping, and living among their people. Although they were granted special status as Allah’s messengers, they never claimed to possess any of God’s powers or qualities. They only performed miracles with the permission and power of God in the Heavens. Their mission was to guide people back to the oneness of Allah (Tawhid), teaching them to love, worship, and obey the Creator.

Conclusion

The prophets in Islam hold a profoundly significant role as divinely chosen guides tasked with leading humanity toward righteousness, belief in Allah’s oneness, and adherence to divine law. Their teachings and examples are models of faith and submission to Allah’s will. By following their guidance, Muslims strive to lead lives pleasing to Allah.

The stories and missions of these prophets continue to inspire and remind us of our ultimate purpose and accountability to Allah. Their legacy offers hope to you and believers toward spiritual fulfillment and success in the Hereafter.