Guide
What is prophethood?
Prophethood is Allah's guidance to humanity through people He chose. The Prophets conveyed Allah's commands, taught what is lawful and unlawful, reminded people of the Hereafter and embodied that guidance in their lives. In Islamic belief, Adam, peace be upon him, was both the first human and the first Prophet, and the chain of Prophets ended with Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
The chain of Prophets from Adam to Muhammad
The Quran names many Prophets and teaches that they all brought the same essential call: to worship Allah alone. Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon them, are among the central figures in this chain. The Quran does not state the total number of Prophets, but it explicitly names 25. It also says that Allah sent a warner to every community (Surah Fatir, 35:24).
The distinction between a messenger and a prophet
According to a widely held scholarly view, a prophet receives revelation from Allah, while a messenger is sent with a new law or scripture. Every messenger is also a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger. Scholars have discussed the precise distinction, and this common formulation helps explain their roles.
The Prophets of firm resolve
Five Prophets are commonly described as Ulul Azm, those of exceptional resolve: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon them. They are mentioned together in Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:7.
Belief in the Prophets
Belief in Allah's Prophets is one of the six articles of faith in Islam. Muslims believe in all of them without rejecting any (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:285). The Prophets were truthful, trustworthy and models of excellent character, and their stories are related in the Quran as lessons (Surah Yusuf, 12:111).