There are prophets and messengers 25 in Quran from Adam to Muhammad (pbut). However, several thousands existed in between them that are not mentioned. Here are some notable messengers
Prophet Ibrahim
Abraham was a born-activist. He acted on what was right like when as a child he broke the idols to prove his father that paganism is absurd, and what was divine when as an adult he was asked to leave his only son and mother of the son in the middle of the desert, which is now modern-day Makkah. Due to his belief in Divinity and following the concept of enjoining in good and forbidding evil, God accepted most of his prayers including having the lineage to the last prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who completed the message, and God officially gave him the title Friend of God (Khallillullah). In addition, one of the major religious holidays (Eid-ul-Adha) celebrates in part the devotional ritual of Abraham to God. Abraham is the second most mentioned prophet after Moses (69 times) in the Quran so that we can learn about activism and devotion through the stories of and prayers made by him.
Prophet Moses
If you look at Moses today, you would think of him as another jock or gangster, especially when he accidentally killed a man by slapping him to break-up a fight. However, he was more than a big, strong man who didn’t even know his own strength, but he was more so quite curious and very eager for knowledge and self-improvement as illustrated in his journey with Khidr and his leave from the people of Israelite for 40 days of divine devotion. God also bestowed him with knowledge of good judgment and high moral values. All this made Moses a man of great character, which was exemplified in the only marriage proposal story that is described in the Quran where a pious father asked on behalf of his devoted daughter even after knowing that Moses is a fugitive on the run because he accidentally killed a man. Several years after his marriage, he got Prophethood when stopping on a journey to look for firewood. God showed him miracles like changing his staff into a snake to ease the jitters of Propohethood. Moses (pbuh), who had speech impediment, along with his spokesman brother Aaron (pbuh) went to Pharaoh where he overcame the black magic with God’s miracle. After defeating Pharoah and rescuing the people of Israel, he established monotheism. However, due to the nature of the people, who have been so en-grained with slavery by a man for so many years, Moses had a hard time convincing them to obey and follow the commands of God, who will ensure their freedom and security, and to not to make any partnership with God. Due to their transgressions, they were stranded for 40 years wandering the lands. However, given the difficulties with many of his people, he still had larger number of followers of his teachings that will be comparable in numbers to that of followers of Prophet Muhammad’s teachings on the Day of Judgment. Moses (pbuh) is mentioned 136 times in the Quran because “history repeats itself” so God used the stories of Moses (pbuh) to be universal lessons of difficulties and perseverance in establishing Oneness of God for Prophet Muhammad, people of Arabia and subsequent generations across the world.
Prophet Isa
Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy ?
He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet,And hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and alms-giving so long as I remain alive,And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. Surah Mariam (Mary) 29-34
Muslims view Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) as one of the greatest prophets, the seal of the Israelite prophets and the messiah. A Muslim’s belief in his virgin birth is a necessity, as is the belief in the miracles which he performed by the Will of God. Just like every other prophet, Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) too preached in the Oneness of God.
Prophet Muhammad
“O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp.” Quran 33:45-46
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him) was born in 570 CE in the city of Makkah and passed away in 632 CE in the city of Madinah, both in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad PBUH is the final messenger, the last prophet sent by God to bring together the teachings of previous Prophets into a universal message. He was born as an orphan and had a difficult childhood filled with tragedies of familial deaths. As an adolescent, he worked as a shepherd, and later helped his uncle in his merchant business. Throughout the his life, God developed in him characteristics and taught him lessons that would later help him bear the heavy task of prophethood and the societal repercussions that came with spreading a seemingly new religion
The Quran was first revealed to the Prophet when he was 40 years old by the Angel Gabriel, who visited the Prophet as he was meditating in a cave. This marks the beginning of a series of Revelations, and the beginning of his task of spreading the message of monotheism among the pagan Arabs. He faced severe persecution in Makkah, and thus after 13 years, he moved to the city of Madinah, where he was accepted with open arms and established a community of believers that would later stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He brought peace to Madinah and served as a transformative social power in the Arabian Peninsula. The Prophet remains a transformative power in today’s world, with over one billion people worldwide committing to his teachings, as he was extremely successful on both the religious and secular level.Fourteen centuries after the Prophet’s birth, his influence is still felt across the globe and appreciated by both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. In twenty-three short years the Prophet Muhammad spread monotheism throughout the peninsula, unified warring tribes, taught the honor of women, and established that all people were equal in the sight of God. He elevated the low and lowered the arrogant that they might meet in that middle place known as brotherhood. He infused within people a love of learning, unleashing a creative power that would lead to some of the most extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in human history. He taught us that forbearance is greater than revenge; forgiveness more lofty than punishment; and compassion more effective than austerity. Above all, he taught us mercy. Indeed, Allah says in the Quran [about the Prophet]: “And We have not sent you except as a mercy to mankind.” Quran 21:107
To learn more, visit The Message page.
For definition of Islam, visit Islam page.
For more info, visit the Resources page.