The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name, from Adam, the first human, to Muhammad, the last prophet. Most of the prophets in the Quran are also figures in the Bible, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus, while a few, like Hud and Salih, are known mainly from the Quran. The Quran also makes clear that God sent many more messengers whose names are not given.
This guide gives a numbered list of the 25 prophets in the Quran with their biblical names and a key verse for each, explains how many prophets there were in total, and highlights the lessons and prayers (duas) of the prophets that Muslims still recite today.
Key takeaways
- The Quran names 25 prophets, and believing in all of them is part of Muslim faith.
- Around 20 of the 25 have a recognised biblical counterpart, such as Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus).
- The Quran says God sent a messenger to every nation and that it has not told the stories of all of them (4:164).
- Five prophets are traditionally regarded as the greatest: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.
- Muslims make no distinction in believing in the prophets, though the Quran says some were given special ranks.
How many prophets are in the Quran?
Twenty-five prophets are named in the Quran. Eighteen of them appear together in a single passage, Quran 6:83–86, which lists Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Zechariah, John, Jesus, Elias, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot. The remaining seven, Adam, Idris, Hud, Salih, Shuayb, Dhul-Kifl and Muhammad, are named elsewhere.
The total number of prophets God sent is far larger. The Quran says:
And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech.
A narration in Musnad Ahmad gives the number of prophets as 124,000, of whom 313 or 315 were messengers. Scholars differ on the authenticity of this report, so many prefer to say only that the exact number is known to God. "Allah," used throughout the Quran, is the Arabic word for God.
What is the difference between a prophet and a messenger?
Many scholars explain that a prophet (nabi) receives revelation from God, while a messenger (rasul) is a prophet sent with a message or law to deliver to a people. In this view every messenger is a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger. Scholars have offered other definitions too.
List of the 25 prophets in the Quran
Here is the list of the 25 prophets in the Quran in their traditional order, with the Arabic name, the English or biblical name and a key verse.
- Adam (Adam) – the first human, taught "the names" by God. Quran 2:31
- Idris (usually identified with Enoch) – "a man of truth and a prophet." Quran 19:56
- Nuh (Noah) – warned his people for centuries before the flood. Quran 71:1
- Hud (no clear biblical equivalent) – sent to the people of 'Aad. Quran 11:50
- Salih (no biblical equivalent) – sent to the people of Thamud. Quran 11:61
- Ibrahim (Abraham) – made "a leader for the people" and father of prophets. Quran 2:124
- Lut (Lot) – Abraham's nephew, sent to the people of Sodom. Quran 11:77
- Ismail (Ishmael) – Abraham's elder son, "true to his promise." Quran 19:54
- Ishaq (Isaac) – Abraham's younger son. Quran 37:112
- Yaqub (Jacob, also called Israel) – son of Isaac. Quran 19:49
- Yusuf (Joseph) – son of Jacob, whose story fills a whole surah. Quran 12:4
- Ayyub (Job) – a model of patience in illness and loss. Quran 38:41
- Shuayb (sometimes linked to Jethro, though this is debated) – sent to Madyan. Quran 7:85
- Musa (Moses) – to whom God spoke directly and gave the Torah. Quran 20:9
- Harun (Aaron) – brother and helper of Moses. Quran 19:53
- Dhul-Kifl (identity uncertain; some link him to Ezekiel) – praised for patience. Quran 21:85
- Dawud (David) – king and prophet, given the Psalms. Quran 38:17
- Sulayman (Solomon) – son of David, given knowledge and a great kingdom. Quran 27:15
- Ilyas (Elijah) – called his people away from the idol Baal. Quran 37:123
- Al-Yasa (Elisha) – named among "the outstanding." Quran 38:48
- Yunus (Jonah) – swallowed by a great fish after leaving his people. Quran 37:139
- Zakariya (Zechariah, father of John the Baptist) – guardian of Mary. Quran 19:7
- Yahya (John the Baptist) – given wisdom as a child. Quran 19:12
- Isa (Jesus) – the Messiah, born of the virgin Mary. Quran 19:30
- Muhammad – the final messenger and "last of the prophets." Quran 33:40
A few other figures, such as Luqman, Dhul-Qarnayn, Uzair and the wise servant Moses meets in Surah al-Kahf (known as al-Khidr), appear in the Quran, but scholars differ on whether they were prophets, so they are not usually counted among the 25. Some scholars likewise discuss whether Dhul-Kifl was a prophet or a righteous man, though most include him.
Prophets in the Quran and the Bible
Most of the 25 prophets in the Quran are familiar to readers of the Bible. The Quran and the Bible share stories such as Noah's ark, Abraham's journey away from idol worship, Joseph's rise in Egypt, Moses and Pharaoh, and the birth of John the Baptist to the elderly Zechariah. The details and emphasis often differ, and the Quran usually tells these stories to draw out a lesson rather than in a single historical sequence.
There are also important differences in how prophets are portrayed. In Islam, prophets are believed to be protected from major sins and are presented as moral examples. And while the Bible presents Jesus as the Son of God, the Quran presents him as a human prophet; see Jesus in the Quran for that comparison. For a wider look at the two scriptures, read Quran vs Bible.
Why the Quran tells the stories of the prophets
The stories of the prophets in the Quran are not told just as history. They are meant to teach, comfort and warn. Many were revealed when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his early followers faced rejection in Makkah, and the stories reminded them that earlier prophets had faced the same and been supported by God.
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
The core message of every prophet was the same: worship one God. The Quran repeats this in the words of Hud, Salih and Shuayb, each telling his people, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him." This is why Muslims see Islam as the continuation of their shared message, as explained in What is Islam.
Five prophets, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, are traditionally called ulul azm, "those of firm resolve," for the great trials they endured. They are mentioned together in Quran 33:7 and Quran 42:13.
Duas of the prophets in the Quran
The Quran preserves many prayers made by the prophets, and Muslims still use them in their own supplications today. Here are some of the best known.
Adam and Eve, after eating from the forbidden tree, prayed for forgiveness:
They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."
Yunus (Jonah) called out from the darkness inside the whale:
And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
In a hadith in Jami at-Tirmidhi, the Prophet Muhammad said that no Muslim calls on God with this prayer of Jonah for anything except that God answers him.
Musa (Moses) asked for confidence before facing Pharaoh:
[Moses] said, "My Lord, expand for me my breast [with assurance] And ease for me my task And untie the knot from my tongue That they may understand my speech.
Other well-known duas of the prophets in the Quran include:
- Ibrahim (Abraham): "My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication." (Quran 14:40)
- Ayyub (Job): "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful." (Quran 21:83)
- Musa (Moses), alone in Madyan: "My Lord, indeed I am, for whatever good You would send down to me, in need." (Quran 28:24)
- Zakariya (Zechariah): "My Lord, do not leave me alone [with no heir], while you are the best of inheritors." (Quran 21:89)
- Nuh (Noah): "My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women." (Quran 71:28)
Read the stories of the prophets on Quran Universe
To read the stories of the prophets in the Quran in their own words, start with Surah Yusuf, the Quran's longest single story, or Surah Maryam, which covers Zechariah, John, Mary, Jesus, Abraham, Moses and more. On Quran Universe each verse has the Arabic, the Sahih International translation, word-by-word meanings, a short verse card and Tafsir Ibn Kathir to explain the background.
Frequently asked questions
How many prophets are mentioned in the Quran?
The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name, from Adam to Muhammad. It also says God sent messengers whose stories it did not tell (4:164), so the total number of prophets is much larger. A narration in Musnad Ahmad gives 124,000, though scholars differ on its authenticity.
Who are the 25 prophets in the Quran?
They are Adam, Idris, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Ibrahim, Lut, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqub, Yusuf, Ayyub, Shuayb, Musa, Harun, Dhul-Kifl, Dawud, Sulayman, Ilyas, Al-Yasa, Yunus, Zakariya, Yahya, Isa and Muhammad. In English, most of these are known as Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Zechariah, John and Jesus.
Are the prophets in the Quran the same as in the Bible?
Most of them are. About 20 of the 25 prophets named in the Quran correspond to figures in the Bible, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah and Jesus. Hud, Salih and Muhammad do not appear in the Bible, and the identities of Shuayb and Dhul-Kifl are debated.
Who was the first prophet in Islam?
Adam is regarded as the first prophet in Islam, as well as the first human being. God taught him knowledge and forgave him after he repented, as described in Surah al-Baqarah (2:31–37). Noah is often described as the first messenger sent to a people who had turned to idol worship.
Who was the last prophet in the Quran?
Muhammad is the last prophet in Islam. The Quran calls him "the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets" (33:40). Muslims believe no prophet will come after him, though they believe Jesus, an earlier prophet, will return before the end of time.
What are some duas of the prophets in the Quran?
Well-known duas of the prophets include Adam's prayer for forgiveness (7:23), Jonah's prayer from inside the whale (21:87), Moses' prayer for an open heart and clear speech (20:25–28) and Abraham's prayer to be steadfast in prayer (14:40). Muslims recite these prayers in their own words of worship today.