December 13, 2023
How Many Prophets in Islam? A Journey Through Revelation
One of the foundational pillars of Islamic faith (Iman) is the belief in all the prophets and messengers sent by Allah (God). This belief, known as Risalah, forms an unbroken chain of guidance that began with the first man, Adam, and concluded with the final prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them all).
A common and natural question that arises from this belief is, “How many prophets in islam ?” It’s a question of numbers, but the answer opens up a profound understanding of Allah’s universal mercy and guidance for all humanity. This article will explore the answer to this question, the distinction between a prophet and a messenger, and the core figures mentioned in the Quran.
The Famous Number: 124,000
When Muslims and non-Muslims alike ask, “how many prophets are there in islam?” the most widely cited figure is 124,000 prophets.
This number comes from a well-known, though debated, hadith (a saying of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ). In one narration, recorded in Musnad Ahmad and other collections, the companion Abu Dharr asked the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ): “O Messenger of Allah, how many prophets were there?” The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “One hundred and twenty-four thousand (124,000), and from among them, three hundred and fifteen (315) were messengers.”
This hadith provides a fascinating and specific answer. However, it’s crucial to understand the scholarly view on this. Hadith specialists have classified this narration differently; some, like Ibn Kathir, have noted potential weaknesses in its chain of transmission, while others have accepted it as hasan (good) or at least illustrative.
So, what does this mean for a Muslim’s belief? The most important takeaway is that the exact number is not an article of faith. It is not a sin to be unaware of this number, nor is it a requirement to believe this specific figure dogmatically.
The core, obligatory belief is what Allah states clearly in the Quran:
“And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those We have not related to you…” (Quran 40:78)
This verse is the definitive answer. It confirms that many prophets were sent, so many that Allah only told us the stories of a select few. The wisdom in not knowing the exact number is that it prevents us from denying a prophet we haven’t heard of. We affirm our belief in every single prophet Allah sent, whether we know their name, their story, their time, or their place.
So, while the 124,000 figure is a popular and circulated answer to “how many prophets are in islam,” the more precise theological answer is “Only Allah knows the exact number, and we believe in all of them.”
Prophets vs. Messengers: A Key Distinction
The hadith of Abu Dharr brings up another critical question: “how many prophets and messengers in islam?” It gives two different numbers: 124,000 prophets (Nabi) and 315 messengers (Rasul). This implies a clear difference between the two titles.
What is that difference?
A Prophet (Nabi): A Nabi is an individual who receives revelation (Wahy) from Allah. They are chosen to guide people, often by confirming, upholding, and teaching the sacred law (Shari’ah) that was revealed to a messengerwho came before them. For example, many prophets of Bani Israel (the Children of Israel) after Musa (Moses), like Harun (Aaron) or Dhul-Kifl, were Nabiyeen who judged and ruled by the law of the Torah.
A Messenger (Rasul): A Rasul is also a prophet who receives revelation, but they are distinguished by being given a new or updated sacred law (Shari’ah) and are commanded to deliver this new message to a specific nation or, in the case of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), to all of humanity. They often bring a holy book. For example, Musa (Moses) was a Rasul who brought the Torah, ‘Isa (Jesus) was a Rasul who brought the Injil (Gospel), and Muhammad (ﷺ) was a Rasul who brought the Quran.
Therefore, we can understand the relationship like this: Every Messenger (Rasul) is also a Prophet (Nabi), but not every Prophet (Nabi) is a Messenger (Rasul).
This is why the number of messengers (315) is so much smaller than the total number of prophets (124,000). The messengers were the major figures who established new dispensations of divine law, while the prophets worked to preserve, teach, and revive that law among the people.
The 25 Prophets Named in the Quran
While the total number is a matter of the unseen, Allah, in His wisdom, has explicitly named 25 prophets in the Quran for us to know, study, and learn from. We are required to believe in each of these 25 by name.
Their stories are not simple fairy tales; they are powerful, real-life lessons in faith, patience, perseverance, and the unwavering message of Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah).
The 25 named prophets are:
Adam (Adam)
Idris (Enoch)
Nuh (Noah)
Hud (Hud)
Salih (Saleh)
Ibrahim (Abraham)
Lut (Lot)
Isma’il (Ishmael)
Ishaq (Isaac)
Ya’qub (Jacob)
Yusuf (Joseph)
Ayyub (Job)
Shu’ayb (Jethro)
Musa (Moses)
Harun (Aaron)
Dhul-Kifl (Ezekiel)
Dawud (David)
Sulayman (Solomon)
Ilyas (Elias)
Al-Yasa (Elisha)
Yunus (Jonah)
Zakariyya (Zechariah)
Yahya (John the Baptist)
‘Isa (Jesus)
Muhammad (Muhammad) (Peace and blessings be upon them all)
Among these, five are given the special title of Ulu al-‘Azm (The Possessors of Firm Will). They are singled out for their extraordinary patience and steadfastness in the face of immense hardship and opposition. They are: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, ‘Isa, and Muhammad.
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The Universal Purpose of Prophethood
Now we can return to the larger question: in islam how many prophets are there, and why so many?
The sheer number—whether 124,000 or simply “a great many”—points to a core tenet of Islam: Allah’s infinite justice and mercy. Allah would never hold a people accountable for their disbelief if He had not first sent them a guide.
The Quran confirms this universal guidance:
“…And there never was a nation but that a warner had passed among them.” (Quran 35:24)
This means that every nation, every tribe, and every community in the history of the world was sent a prophet. From the indigenous peoples of the Americas to the tribes of Africa, from the ancient civilizations of Asia to the first communities in Australia, Allah’s guidance was sent to them in their own language and in a way they could understand.
The core message of all 124,000 prophets was one and the same: “Worship Allah alone, and shun all false gods.”
The details of the law (like prayer, fasting, and prohibitions) may have changed over time to suit the people, but the central creed of Tawhid never did.
The Seal of the Prophets
The chain of prophethood, which began with Adam, reached its conclusion with the final messenger, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). He is known as Khatam an-Nabiyyin—the Seal of the Prophets.
His message, the Holy Quran, was not for just one tribe or one time. It was a universal message for all of humanity, confirming the truth in the previous scriptures and serving as the final, complete, and perfectly preserved guidance until the end of time. This is why no more prophets will come after him.
📚 Bring the Stories of the Prophets to Life for Your Children
Believing in the prophets is a pillar of our faith, but simply knowing their names is just the beginning. The real treasure lies in their stories—stories of courage, unwavering faith, and profound love for Allah.
Teaching these profound stories to our children is one of the most important duties we have as parents and educators. These are their true heroes. But how do we take these deep, complex stories and make them accessible, engaging, and inspiring for young minds?
That’s where WafaaKids.com comes in.
At WafaaKids.com, we understand the challenge of finding high-quality, authentic Islamic content for children. That’s why we have lovingly created a beautiful collection of Islamic ebooks designed to bring the stories of the prophets and the core tenets of Islam to life for your family.
Our ebooks are:
Theologically Sound: Carefully written to be accurate and respectful.
Engaging & Beautifully Illustrated: Capturing your child’s imagination.
Age-Appropriate: Breaking down big concepts into small, understandable lessons.
Don’t let the stories of Ibrahim’s faith, Yusuf’s patience, or Musa’s courage just be names in a list. Make them the bedtime stories that build your child’s character and strengthen their Islamic identity.
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