Prophets and messengers in Islam facts for kids

Prophets in Islam (called al-ʾAnbiyāʾ fī al-ʾIslām in Arabic) are special people who Muslims believe were chosen by God. Their main job was to share God's message with everyone on Earth. They also served as perfect examples of how humans should behave.

Some prophets are also called messengers (rusul). These messengers brought new divine messages, often with the help of an angel. Muslims believe there have been many prophets throughout history, even more than those mentioned in the Quran. The Quran says that every community has had a messenger. Believing in these prophets is one of the six main beliefs in Islam.

Muslims believe that the very first prophet was also the first human, Adam, created by God. Many prophets mentioned in the Torah (for Jews) and the Bible (for Christians) are also recognized in the Quran, but often with Arabic versions of their names. For example, Jesus is called 'Isa, and Moses is called Musa. The holy book given to Moses is called Tawrat, the Psalms given to David is the Zabur, and the Gospel given to Jesus is Injil.

The last prophet in Islam is Muhammad ibn ʿAbdullāh. Muslims believe he is the "Seal of the Prophets," meaning no new prophets will come after him. The Quran was revealed to Muhammad in parts over time and written down by his friends. Muslims believe the Quran is God's exact words, protected from any changes, and will stay true until the Last Day.

Every prophet in Islam taught the same basic ideas. They taught about the Oneness of God, meaning there is only one God to worship. They also taught people to avoid worshipping idols and to avoid sin. Prophets also taught about the Day of Resurrection or Last Judgment, and life after death. God sent prophets and messengers to different groups of people at different times in history.

What Makes a Prophet Special?

In Islam, the Quran is seen as a message from God, given to Muhammad, the last prophet. It shows Muslims the "straight path" to live by. Muslims believe that all prophets taught people to obey and surrender to God (which is what "Islam" means). They emphasized being kind to others (charity), praying, going on pilgrimages, and fasting. But most importantly, they taught the strict belief in and worship of one God. The Quran even calls Islam the "religion of Abraham" (Ibrahim) and says that Jacob (Yaqub) and the Twelve Tribes of Israel were Muslims.

The Quran says:

He has ordained for you ˹believers˺ the Way which He decreed for Noah, and what We have revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ and what We decreed for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, ˹commanding:˺ "Uphold the faith, and make no divisions in it."

Prophets in Islam are role models for everyone. They show how to be righteous and behave morally. All prophets share certain traits: they come from a special line of prophets, they teach that there is only one God, they deliver God's messages, and they warn people about what will happen if they reject God. Prophets often show signs and proofs from God. Each prophet is connected to the others, and their messages all lead up to Muhammad's final message. The good qualities of prophets are meant to guide people toward the straight path. A saying (hadith) mentions: "Among men the prophets suffer most."

Protected from Mistakes

Islamic teachings, especially in Shia Islam, say that prophets have a special quality called ʿiṣmah. This means God protects them from making big mistakes or committing serious sins. This doesn't mean they never make small errors, but they always try to correct them. Some believe that small errors are necessary for prophets to show people how to ask for forgiveness.

While some people question if the Quran directly supports ʿiṣmah, it became a widely accepted belief in Sunni Islam by the 800s CE.

The Quran describes prophets as the greatest humans ever. Quran 4:69 lists different good groups of people, and prophets are at the very top. Verse 4:69 says:

All who obey God and the messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of God—of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship!

Stories of prophets in the Quran show that it is "God's practice" (Sunnat Allah) for faith to win over evil in the end. "We have made the evil ones friends to those without faith." "Assuredly God will defend those who believe." Prophets are inspired by God but do not share God's qualities. They have no knowledge or power except what God gives them. Prophets are chosen by God for the special job of teaching the Islamic faith.

Age of Prophets

Some prophets were called to their mission later in life, like Muhammad, who was 40 years old. Others were called when they were young, like John the Baptist. Jesus even spoke as a prophet while still a baby in his cradle.

Female Prophets

The Tawrat (the Arabic name for the Torah in Islam) mentions Deborah as a prophetess and a judge in ancient Israel.

The question of whether Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a prophetess has been discussed by Muslim scholars. Some scholars, like Ibn Hazm (who lived in the 1000s), believed that women like Mary, Sarah (mother of Isaac), and Asiya (mother of Moses) could be considered prophets (nubuwwa). This is because angels spoke to them and guided their actions. However, he believed that only men could be messengers (risala). Ibn Hazm also based his view on Qurān 5:75, which calls Mary "a woman of truth," similar to how Joseph is called "a man of truth" in Q12:46.

Other scholars point to Q4:34, where Mary is called one of the "qanitin," meaning someone who shows "devout obedience." This same term is used for male prophets.

However, most scholars, especially in the Sunni tradition, do not believe women can be prophets. They see this idea as a new, incorrect belief (bid'a).

Line of Prophets

Abraham is known as the father of monotheism (belief in one God) in many religions. In the Quran, he is an important messenger and a link in the chain of Muslim prophets. Muhammad, God's last messenger, is a descendant of Abraham. The Quran says, "He [God] said: 'I am making you [Abraham] a spiritual exemplar to mankind.'" (Q. 2:124) This shows Islam as an Abrahamic religion and highlights Abraham's importance. This connection between Abraham and Muhammad is key because Muhammad completes Abraham's line of prophets. This can be seen in Quranic chapter 6:

"That is Our Argument which We imparted to Abraham against his people. We raise up in degrees whomever We please. Your Lord is indeed Wise, All-Knowing. And We granted him Isaac and Jacob, and guided each of them; and Noah We guided before that, and of his progeny, [We guided] David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron. Thus We reward the beneficent. And Zechariah, John, Jesus and Elias, each was one of the righteous. And Ishmael, Elijah, Jonah and Lot; each We exalted above the whole world. [We also exalted some] of their fathers, progeny and brethren. And We chose them and guided them to a straight path." (Q. 6:83-87)

These verses show Abraham as a leader and confirm his prophetic family line, which ends with Muhammad. Even though Muhammad is the last prophet, some Muslim traditions also respect saints. However, some modern groups, like Salafism and Wahhabism, do not believe in sainthood.

The Quran describes Abraham's world as having conflicts. There's the divine story of creation and leaving the garden, and the human story of people's lives and the prophets. This situation calls prophets to follow and bring back the message of the Straight Path. Islamic morality is based on living a good life through faith, as guided by God. This is the special task given to believers, along with the divine gift of revelation that prophets received. This makes their messages powerful because they come from God and fit within the Abrahamic tradition.

Belief in One God

The Quran says,

"And (remember) Abraham, when he said to his people: 'Worship Allah and fear Him; that is far better for you, if only you knew. Indeed, you only worship, apart from Allah, mere idols, and you invent falsehood. Surely, those you worship, apart from Allah, have no power to provide for you. So, seek provision from Allah, worship Him and give Him thanks. You shall be returned unto Him.'" (Q. 29:16-17)

This passage shows Abraham's strong belief in one God and his role as a messenger. Islam is a religion that believes in one God, and Abraham is known for bringing about this change in religious tradition. This idea of one God is mentioned many times in the Quran. Abraham believed in one true God (Allah) and promoted an "invisible oneness" (tawḥīd) with Him. The Quran states, "Say: 'My lord has guided me to a Straight Path, a right religion, the creed of Abraham, an upright man who was no polytheist.'" (Q. 6:161) Abraham worked to remove idol worship from the Arabian Peninsula. His father made wooden idols, and Abraham disagreed with this. Because of his strong belief, Abraham is known as the father of monotheism.

Warnings and Good News

Prophets and messengers in Islam often act as "warners" (nadhir) and "announcers of good tidings" (bashir). Many prophets tell people about what will happen in the future if they don't accept God's message and believe in one God. A verse from the Quran says: "Verily, We have sent thee [Muhammad] with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner: and thou shalt not be held accountable for those who are destined for the blazing fire." (Q2:119) The messages from prophets in the Quran describe the fires of Hell for those who don't believe, but also the rewards of Paradise for true believers. These warnings and promises from God, delivered by prophets, confirm Muhammad's message. The final message given to Muhammad strongly emphasizes that the Day of Judgment is coming soon.

Signs and Proofs from God

In the Quran, prophets like Moses and Jesus often perform miracles or are linked to amazing events. The Quran makes it clear that these events always happen through God's power, not the prophet's own will. In some parts of the Quran, people in Mecca asked Muhammad for visible proofs of his connection to God. Muhammad replied, "The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner." (Q29:50) This shows that prophets are just humans who can only show God's power when God wants them to. Also, the Quran says that unbelievers often reject these signs, calling them sihr ("magic"). The Quran reads: "They claim that he tries to bewitch them and make them believe that he speaks the word of God, although he is just an ordinary human being like themselves. (Q74:24-25)

Muhammad's Connection to Other Prophets

There are many ways Quranic prophecy supports Muhammad's message. Since Muhammad is from Abraham's line of prophets, they are similar in many ways. Muhammad tried to stop idol worship among the pagans during his life, just like Abraham did. This led many to reject Muhammad's message, and he even had to leave Mecca for his safety. Carl Ernest, author of "How to Read the Qur’an," says, "The Qur’an frequently consoles Muhammad and defends him against his opponents." This comfort is also similar to how God encouraged Abraham. Muhammad is also known for performing miracles, like Abraham. Sura 17 (al-isrā) briefly describes Muhammad's amazing Night Journey, where he went up to the Heavens to meet earlier prophets. This spiritual journey is important because many Islamic practices, like daily prayer, were given and set up during this miracle. (Q17:78-84) Muhammad is a descendant of Abraham, making him part of the prophetic line and the final prophet to guide humanity to the Straight Path. Sura 33 (al-ahzāb) confirms Muhammad, stating, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the Prophets. Allah is Cognizant of everything". (Q33:40)

Obedience to Prophets

The Quran highlights the importance of obeying prophets in Surah 26 Ash-Shu'ara. In this chapter, several prophets preach fearing God and obeying them:

• Verse 108 has Noah saying 'fear God and Obey me'.
• Verse 126 has Hud saying 'fear God and obey me'.
• Verse 144 has Salih saying 'fear God and obey me'.
• Verse 163 has Lot saying 'fear God and obey me'.
• Verse 179 has Shu'ayb saying 'fear God and obey me'.

Holy Books and Gifts

Holy Books of Islam

Muslims believe that God gave special books to various prophets throughout history. These books taught the laws and rules of Islam. Believing in all these revealed books is a core part of the Islamic faith. Islam teaches Muslims to respect all previous holy scriptures.

The Quran mentions some of these Islamic scriptures by name:

• The "Tawrat" (also Tawrah or Taurat; Arabic: توراة‎) is the Arabic name for the Torah. Muslims believe it was revealed to prophets among the Children of Israel. When talking about traditions from the Tawrat, Muslims connect it not only to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible but also to other Hebrew scriptures and Jewish writings.
• Books of Divine Wisdom (Arabic: az-Zubur): The Quran mentions certain "Books of Divine Wisdom." Some scholars think these might be the same as the Psalms, as their Arabic root word, Zubur, is similar to Zabur (for Psalms).
• The Injil (Gospel) was the holy book revealed to Jesus, according to the Quran. Many Muslims think Injil means the whole New Testament. However, scholars explain that it refers to an original Gospel, a single book from God given to Jesus. So, Muslims believe the Gospel was the message Jesus preached to the Children of Israel. The Gospels we have today, written by Jesus's friends and followers, contain parts of his teachings but are not the original, single book from God.
• Quran: The Quran (Arabic: القرآن‎, romanized: al-Qurʼān) was the final revelation given to Muhammad.
• Scrolls of Abraham (Arabic: صحف إبراهيم‎, Ṣuḥuf ʾIbrāhīm) are believed to be some of the earliest scriptures. They were given to Abraham (Ibrāhīm) and later used by Ishmael (Ismā‘īl) and Isaac (Isḥāq). Although called "scrolls," many translate the Arabic suhuf as "books." The Quran mentions them in Quran 87:18-19, along with the Scrolls of Moses, as "Books of Earlier Revelation."
• Scrolls of Moses (Arabic: صُحُفِ مُوسَىٰ, Ṣuḥuf Mūsā) are ancient scriptures mentioned twice in the Quran. They are part of Islamic holy texts. Some scholars believe they are the same as the Torah of Moses.
• Book of Enlightenment (Arabic: الكِتَابُ ٱلْمُنِير, romanized: Kitābul-Munīr): The Quran mentions a "Book of Enlightenment," also called "Scripture of Enlightenment" or the "Illuminating Book."

Special Gifts

Muhammad received a divine gift of revelation through the angel Gabriel. This direct talk with God is a special human experience. The Quran shows how this history of revelation through chosen people forms the basis for Muhammad's line of prophets.

The Quran mentions various gifts from God given to prophets. These could be books or special knowledge. While all prophets are believed to be very gifted, special mention of "wisdom" or "knowledge" for a prophet means they received some secret knowledge. The Quran says Abraham prayed for wisdom and got it. Joseph and Moses gained wisdom when they grew up. David received wisdom and kingship after defeating Goliath. Lot (Lut) received wisdom while preaching in Sodom and Gomorrah. John the Baptist received wisdom when he was young, and Jesus received wisdom and the Gospel.

How Revelation Works

During Muhammad's time, the Arabian Peninsula had many pagan tribes. His birthplace, Mecca, was a major pilgrimage and trading center where many tribes and religions met. Muhammad's connection to this culture was key to how the Quran was revealed. Even though it's seen as God's direct word, it came to Muhammad in his native Arabic. This language could be understood by everyone in the region. This is what makes the Quran special compared to other poetry and religious texts of that time. It is believed to be perfect in its original Arabic and fits the culture of its time. Muhammad was criticized for his revelation being like poetry, which some thought came from spirits (jinn). However, the Quran's similarity to other prophets in the Abrahamic line confirms his revelation. This likeness is seen in its complex structure and its message of surrendering faith to the one God, Allah. This also shows that his revelation comes from God alone. He is the guardian of the Straight Path and the inspired messages and lives of other prophets, making the Quran fit perfectly with the belief in one God in Abrahamic traditions.

Prophets Mentioned in the Quran

All messengers mentioned in the Quran are also prophets, but not all prophets are messengers.

People Whose Prophethood is Discussed

To believe in God's messengers (Rusul) means to be sure that God sent special people to guide other humans and jinn (spiritual beings) to the truth.

Other People Mentioned

The Quran names 25 prophets. However, it also says that God sent many other prophets and messengers to all the different nations on Earth. Many verses in the Quran talk about this:

• "We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them, there are some whose story We have related to thee, and some whose story We have not related to thee...."
• "For We assuredly sent amongst every People a messenger, ..."

In the Quran

• Sons of Jacob: These men are sometimes not considered prophets by some, but most scholars believe they were prophets, citing sayings of Muhammad and their status in Judaism. Some doubt their prophethood because of their actions towards Joseph and lying to their father.
• Three persons of the town: These three unnamed people, sent to the same town, are mentioned in chapter 36 of the Quran.

In Islamic Writings

Many other people have been mentioned by scholars in Hadith (sayings of Muhammad) and other Islamic writings. These include:

• Abel (Hābīl)
• Shem (Sām)
• Joel (Yūʾīl)
• Zechariah, son of Berechiah (Zakariyyā ibn Barkhiyyā)
• Amos (ʿĀmūs)
• Hosea (Hūshiʿ)
• Nahum (Nāḥūm)
• Isaiah (Ishaʿyāʾ)
• Elizabeth (Alyaṣṣābāt)

See also

In Spanish: Profetas del islam para niños

• The Twelve Imams
• Succession to Muhammad
• Biblical and Quranic narratives
• List of people in both the Bible and the Quran
• Major prophets in the Bible
• Prophets in Judaism
• Prophets of Christianity
• Table of prophets of Abrahamic religions
• Twelve Minor Prophets
• Peace be upon him