Let’s begin by reflecting on some verses from the Quran –
From these verses, you can observe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Prophet Musa (Moses, PBUH) were both described as prophets and messengers of Allah. However, Prophet Harun (Aaron, PBUH) is mentioned only as a prophet, not a messenger.
This distinction leads to an important question: What sets a prophet apart from a messenger in Islam? Let’s dive deeper into their roles and responsibilities.
Allah mentioned only 25 prophets in the Quran. However, a hadith is often quoted about the number of prophets and messengers but its exact reference is disputed among scholars. The hadith does not appear in the most authentic collections like Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim. Instead, it is found in secondary or less rigorously authenticated sources, such as Musnad Ahmad or other compilations of narrations. The hadith goes –
However, this narration is generally classified as weak (da’if) by scholars of hadith due to issues in its chain of transmission. While it is frequently quoted to emphasize the vast number of prophets sent to humanity, it should be understood as a traditional estimate rather than an exact number.
In Islamic teachings, prophets (Nabi) and messengers (Rasul) were chosen by Allah to guide humanity. They have shared missions but differ in their roles and responsibilities. Let’s explore their differences, characteristics, and examples.
Prophet (Nabi)
A prophet is someone who receives divine revelation from Allah to guide their people, but they do not bring a new law, scripture, or set of commandments. Instead, they uphold and continue the teachings of a previous messenger or scripture.
For example, Prophet Harun (Aaron) was sent to support his brother, Prophet Musa (Moses), in preaching the Torah and guiding their people. Similarly, Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) exemplified unwavering faith in Allah and guided his community by upholding the teachings of earlier prophets.
Messenger (Rasul)
A messenger is a prophet who is given a new set of laws, commandments, or a divine scripture to guide their people. Messengers were sent when existing teachings were corrupted or forgotten.
For example, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the final prophet and messenger, sent with the Quran as the ultimate guide for all humanity. Prophet Musa (Moses) was entrusted with the Torah and tasked with leading the Children of Israel out of oppression. Similarly, Prophet Isa (Jesus) was sent with the Injil (Gospel) to guide the people and correct the corrupted teachings of earlier scriptures.
List of Prophets Mentioned in The Quran
- Adam
- Idris (Enoch)
- Nuh (Noah)
- Hud (Heber)
- Salih – Messenger
- Ibrahim (Abraham)
- Lut (Lot)
- Ismail (Ishmael)
- Ishaq (Isaac)
- Yaqub (Jacob)
- Yusuf (Joseph)
- Shuayb (Jethro)
- Ayyub (Job)
- Dhulkifl (Ezekiel)
- Musa (Moses)
- Harun (Aaron)
- Dawud (David)
- Sulayman (Solomon)
- Ilyas (Elias)
- Al-Yasa (Elisha)
- Yunus (Jonah)
- Zakariya (Zachariah)
- Yahya (John the Baptist)
- Isa (Jesus)
- Muhammad
Both prophets and messengers share the mission of guiding people to the worship of Allah alone, warning against disobedience, and offering hope through repentance. Their efforts aim to establish justice, morality, and spiritual development among people. Every messenger is a prophet, but every prophet is not a messenger, highlighting the unique roles they play in fulfilling Allah’s divine plan for humanity’s guidance and spiritual growth.