How Many Prophets Are There in Islam?

Islamic prophets are the people that Allah (SWT) chooses to convey his teachings on Earth. As a result, all prophets in Islam were very charitable beings, investing a lot of their time into helping others. Expressing selflessness is the mark of a good Muslim, meaning that all Muslims should work to follow in the footsteps of the prophets and help the less fortunate. That’s where Muslim Aid comes in – we have a number of appeals that you can donate to and help those in need globally.

In Islam, How Many Prophets Are There?

In Islam, there are 25 prophets, beginning with Adam and ending with Muhammad (PBUH).

The Names of Prophets in Islam

The names of the prophets in Islam are as follows: 

1. Adam – Adam isn’t just the first Islamic prophet but also the first man on Earth.
2. Idris – Idris warned the people of Babylon not to commit sins, but when they didn’t listen, he and his followers headed to Egypt, where he preached, worshipped, and researched.
3. Nuh – Nuh built an ark for those who believed in Allah (SWT) as the only god and a pair of each type of animal to protect them from the Great Flood and preserve life.
4. Hud – Hud was the only one in ʿĀd who believed that Allah (SWT) was the only god. When everyone mocked him, Allah (SWT) created a thunderous storm to destroy ʿĀd. 
5. Saleh – Saleh preached Allah’s (SWT) teachings in Thamud. Allah (SWT) even gifted the people of Thamud a she-camel, which they hamstrung. Saleh warned them that there would be consequences to this, and Allah (SWT) punished them with an earthquake.
6. Ibrahim – Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in the name of Allah (SWT). Just as he was about to make the sacrifice, Allah (SWT) rewarded the pair for their devotion by putting a ram in the place of Ismal. This is why we carry out Qurbani sacrifices during Eid al-Adha.
7. Lut – Lut promoted monotheism in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of the cities didn’t listen to him, and this led to the cities being destroyed.
8. Ismail – Ismail was the son of Ibrahim and followed in his father’s footsteps by promoting Allah’s (SWT) teachings.
9. Ishaq – Ishaq was Ismail’s brother and Ibrahim’s son and continued to preach Allah’s (SWT) teachings like those before him.
10. Yaqub – Yaqub was the father of 12 tribes and viewed as a man of might.
11. Yusuf – Yusuf was the son of Yaqub, and his father loved him, leading his brothers to throw him in a well out of jealousy. Some people travelling found him and enslaved him before imprisoning him for a crime he didn’t commit. Even during this, his faith was unshaken.
12. Ayyub – Allah (SWT) harshly tested Ayyub for years, but He eventually rewarded him for his unwavering faith.
13. Shu-ayyb – Shu-ayyb spread Allah’s (SWT) teachings across the Midlanite community; they didn’t listen, and their community was destroyed.
14. Musa – Musa is mentioned more than any other person in the Qur’an, and it’s said that he and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shared many parallels.
15. Harun – Harun was the brother of Musa and the first high priest of the Israelites.
16. Dhu’l-Kifl – Dhu’l Kifl spread Allah’s (SWT) teachings throughout Iraq.
17. Dawud – Dawud was a soldier for King Jalut and defeated the giant, Jalut. He also received the Zabur (biblical psalms) and was one of very few prophets to have achieved this. 
18. Sulaiman – Sulaiman was the son of Dawud and took over his prophecy when he died. He was also the King of Israel, and it’s thought that he could communicate with animals and Jinn. 
19. Ilyas – Ilyas defended Allah (SWT) to the worshippers of the ancient god, Baal, in the northern kingdom of Israel. 
20. Al-Yasa – Al-Yasa was believed to have miraculous powers, such as being able to walk on water, revive the deceased, and cure the diseased. It’s also thought that Ilyas raised him.
21. Yunus – Yunus tried to teach idol worshippers in the city of Nineveh in North Iraq that Allah (SWT) is the only god. When they rejected him, he left against Allah’s (SWT) will. Allah (SWT) turned the sky red above Nineveh and brewed an awful storm, causing the people of the city to drop to their knees and beg for mercy, which Allah (SWT) granted. At the same time, Yunus was travelling by boat, and he knew this was his punishment for leaving, so he sacrificed himself for the sake of others. He dived into the sea and was swallowed by a whale; once he repented to Allah (SWT), he was allowed to return to Nineveh.
22. Zakariyya – Zakariyya was the father of Yahya, who became the guardian of Maryam, the mother of Isa.
23. Yahya – Yahya was the son of Zakariyyah, and Allah (SWT) told him of Isa’s arrival. Yahya was believed to be a merciful and gentle man who was committed to Allah (SWT) – he didn’t do a single thing against Allah’s (SWT) will in his life.
24. Isa – Isa guided the people of Israel, and Allah (SWT) revealed the gospel to him. 
25. Muhammad (PBUH) – Muhammad is the father of Islam, as Allah (SWT) revealed the Qur’an to him, which he shared the teachings of throughout his lifetime.

Family Tree of Islamic Prophets 

The family tree of prophets in Islam is as follows: 

Prophet Adam

• Spouse: Hawwa
• Children: 
• Sheeth: While he’s often not listed among the 25 prophets, Sheeth is considered a prophet and the main continuation of Adam’s lineage. 
• Qabil and Habil: Not prophets, but significant in Islamic tradition. 

Prophet Nuh 

• Direct descendant: From the lineage of Sheeth. 
• Children: 
• Ham, Shem, and Japheth: Only Shem’s lineage continues the prophetic line. 

Prophet Ibrahim 

• Direct Descendant: From the lineage of Shem. 
• Spouses: 
• Sarah: Mother of Prophet Ishaq. 
• Hajar (Hagar): Mother of Prophet Ismail. 
• Children: 
• Ismail: Ancestor of the Arab people and the lineage of Prophet Muhammad. 
• Ishaq: Ancestor of the Israelites and many other prophets. 

Prophets from the Line of Ishaq

• Prophet Yaqub: Son of Ishaq. 
• Also known as Israel, father of the twelve tribes of Israel. 
• Children: 
• Yusuf: A prophet among the twelve sons of Yaqub. 
• Prophet Musa: From the lineage of Yaqub, central to the story of the Exodus. 
• Prophet Harun: Brother of Musa, also a prophet. 
• Prophet Dawud: From the lineage of Yaqub, he became the King of Israel. 
• Prophet Sulaiman: Son of Dawud, known for his wisdom and rule. 

Prophets from the Line of Ismail

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): The final prophet in Islam, directly descended from Ismail through the lineage of Adnan, a key ancestor of the Prophet's tribe, the Quraysh. 

Other Notable Prophets

• Prophet Lut: Nephew of Ibrahim, sent to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. 
• Prophet Ayyub: Believed to be a descendant of either Ishaq or from a different line but within the family of Ibrahim. 
• Prophet Shu-ayyb: Possibly linked to the lineage of Ibrahim, though the exact connection is not clearly established. 
• Prophet Yunus: Believed to be from the line of Ibrahim, though the exact genealogical connection is unclear. 
• Prophet Zakariyya and Prophet Yahya: From the lineage of Yaqub. 
• Prophet Isa: Son of Maryam, who is from the lineage of Yaqub through her father Imran, making Isa a descendant of Ishaq. 

Follow in the Footsteps of the Prophets with Muslim Aid 

You can follow in the illustrious footsteps of the prophets by giving generously to Muslim Aid. Donate today, and we’ll make sure your donation reaches those who need it most.