Prophets

What does “prophet” mean? A prophet is a human being that the divine law has been revealed to, the term “messenger” is also used in the Quran. Muslims believe that prophets are always truthful and have the highest standard of character, morality, and intelligence. Human traits such as eating, drinking, hunger, thirst, exposure to heat and cold, fatigue and rest, sickness and health etc., are still possible for them. They get married, have children, and take on occupations like other human beings.

Muslims believe in a long line of prophets and messengers sent by God to guide humanity, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (may God’s peace and blessings be upon all of them). Each prophet conveyed God’s message in a way that was appropriate for their time. Muhammad is regarded as the "Seal of the Prophets," meaning he is the last prophet sent by God and his message completes previous revelations (Quran 33:40). Muslims believe that God supported them with clear signs and stunning miracles and that He sent them as a mercy and a favour from Him, giving glad tidings of reward for the righteous and warning of punishment for the wicked.

The number of prophets is not known for certain (Quran 40:78); those whose names have been mentioned in the Quran and agreed-upon amongst Muslim theologians are: Adam, Idris (Enoch), Noah, Hūd (Eber[1]), Ṣāliḥ, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Shu’ayb (Jethro), Moses, Aaron, Dhu’l-Kifl (Ezekiel), David, Solomon, Elijah/Elias, Elisha, Jonah, Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all). Eighteen of them are named together in Quran 6:83–86. The English names in brackets for Idris, Shu’ayb and Dhu’l-Kifl are commonly suggested identifications; as with Hūd, they are not certain.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is distinguished from all the other prophets with three main attributes:

Firstly: That he is the best of all prophets (Sahih Muslim 2278).

Secondly: That he was sent to the entire of humanity without exception (Quran 34:28; 21:107).

Lastly: That he is the last of the prophets, so no prophet will come after him.

[1]  This is not known for sure but the two stories in the Quran and Bible seem to correspond with each other, and Allah knows best.