Prophets

Introduction

In Islam, the prophets are people who have been chosen by Allah to communicate His will (His plan for humans and the world) and to be role models for others. Muslims believe that the prophets have received revelations from Allah, sometimes through an angel, and it is the role of prophets to pass this message on to others. They help people understand right and wrong, and how to live a life of faithful obedience to Allah’s commands.

Who are the prophets?

The Qur’an names twenty-five prophets, although Muslims believe that there have been many others who are not listed. One key message that the prophets have always communicated is Tawhid (the oneness of God). This has been the central theme of the prophets’ teachings, from Adam (the first prophet) to Muhammad (the final prophet).

Many of the messages that were given to the prophets were written down, and form the holy books of Islam. These include:

• Tawrat (Torah): given to the Jewish prophets, including Musa (Moses).

• Zabur (Psalms): given to Dawud (David).

• Injil (Gospel): given to Isa (Jesus). This refers to the message given to him, not the later Gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

• Qur’an: given to Muhammad. Muslims believe this is the final and complete revelation from Allah.

Why prophets matter

Prophets are important not only because they brought messages, but also because they lived out Allah’s guidance in their daily lives. They are examples of faith, honesty, patience, and courage. Muslims believe prophets were sent to all nations, showing that Allah’s care and guidance is for all people, everywhere.

Muhammad

Muhammad is called the Seal of the Prophets, meaning that he is the last prophet, and his message through the Qur’an completes and confirms all the earlier revelations. For Muslims, this makes the Qur’an the ultimate and final source of guidance.