Prophets in Islam

Allah settled Adam with his wife Hawwa (Eve) in the Garden, permitting everything except the fruit of one tree. Yielding to Shaytan's temptation, they tasted the forbidden — and were sent down to the earth as stewards (khalifas).

Unlike some other traditions, Islam teaches that Adam sincerely repented and Allah forgave him. So in Islam there is no notion of «original sin»: every child is born pure.

The story of Adam is about the dignity of the human being, freedom of choice, responsibility for one's own deeds, and the boundless mercy of Allah toward the one who sincerely repents.

According to the Qur'an, Nuh remained among his people «a thousand years less fifty» (surah 29:14), tirelessly calling them by day and by night, yet they stopped their ears and proudly rejected the call.

By Allah's command Nuh built an ark. When the great flood came, the believers and pairs of animals were saved, while the rest perished — even Nuh's own son refused to believe and drowned.

The story of Nuh is a model of long patience and steadfastness; it reminds us that the success of the call is from Allah, not in the number of followers.

In his youth Ibrahim reasoned his way to the Creator and rejected the idol-worship of his people. They tried to cast him into a fire, but Allah made the fire cool and safe for him (surah 21:69).

Together with his son Ismail he raised the foundations of the Kaaba in Mecca and called people to pilgrimage. His readiness to sacrifice his son as a sign of submission to Allah — and the replacement of the sacrifice with a ram — is remembered every year at the feast of Qurban Bayram (Eid al-Adha).

Ibrahim is honoured as the ancestor of many prophets: from his sons Ismail and Ishaq came lineages, among them the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

As an infant Ismail, with his mother Hajar, found himself in the waterless valley of Mecca. In search of water Hajar ran between the hills of Safa and Marwah — and Allah brought forth the spring of Zamzam, which flows to this day; in memory of this the pilgrims perform the rite of sa'y.

When he grew up, Ismail together with his father Ibrahim raised the foundations of the Kaaba. His patience and readiness for sacrifice out of submission to Allah became the source of the rite and feast of sacrifice.

Ismail is a model of obedience to parents and devotion to the will of Allah.

Envious brothers threw the young Yusuf into a well, and he ended up in slavery in Egypt. Through slander he found himself in prison, though he kept his honesty and chastity before temptation.

Allah granted Yusuf the ability to interpret dreams — and through this he became a close ruler who saved the land from famine. Meeting the brothers who had once betrayed him, Yusuf magnanimously forgave them and was reunited with his father.

The lesson of the surah is about patience, trust in Allah, purity amid temptation, and the greatness of forgiveness.

According to the creed, Allah spoke with Musa directly — which is why he is called «Kalimullah» (the one with whom Allah spoke). He was sent to Pharaoh, who considered himself a god.

Despite miraculous signs, Pharaoh persisted; in the end Musa led the people of Israel out of slavery — Allah parted the sea before them, and Pharaoh's army drowned.

The story of Musa in the Qur'an is about standing against tyranny, patience with a stubborn people, and faithfulness to the covenant with Allah.

In his youth Dawud, by tradition, overcame the giant Jalut (Goliath), and Allah granted him kingship and wisdom.

Allah granted Dawud a beautiful voice for singing praise — it is said that even the mountains and birds glorified Allah along with him (surah 34:10) — as well as the ability to soften iron with his own hands and the wisdom of a just judge.

A model of how to combine power, honest work of one's own hands, and sincere gratitude to the Creator.

According to the Qur'an, Sulayman understood the speech of birds and ants, and the wind and the jinn, who built structures for him, obeyed him.

There is a well-known account of his wise correspondence with the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis), whom by reason and kindness he led from the worship of the sun to monotheism.

Despite all his wealth and power, Sulayman remained a grateful servant of Allah — a model that the gifts of this world should serve faith, not pride.

At sea a great fish swallowed Yunus. In its darkness he turned to Allah with words that became a famous dua: «There is no god but You! Glory be to You! Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers» (surah 21:87).

Allah accepted Yunus's repentance and saved him, and his people, who had meanwhile sincerely believed, Allah pardoned — a rare case when a whole city was saved from punishment.

The lesson is about hope in Allah's mercy in the darkest moment, and about the power of sincere repentance.

By Allah's permission Isa worked miracles: he healed the sick, revived the dead, and spoke while still an infant in the cradle in defence of his mother's honour.

In Islam Isa is a revered prophet and a human being, not God and not a «son of God»; to ascribe to Allah a son or equals is the gravest error from the standpoint of tawhid. According to the creed, the Jews did not kill or crucify him, but Allah raised Isa up to Himself alive.

Muslims believe in the return of Isa at the end of times. About his mother Maryam — a righteous and pure woman — a whole surah (19) is named.

Orphaned early, he earned a reputation as an honest and reliable man with the byname «al-Amin». At about 40, secluding himself in the cave of Hira, he received through the angel Jibril the first revelation — the call «Read!» (surah 96); the revelations lasted about 23 years and made up the Qur'an.

For thirteen years he preached monotheism in Mecca despite persecution, and in 622 he made the Hijrah to Medina, where the first Muslim community-state arose.

His words, deeds, and tacit approvals (the Sunnah) are the second model for Muslims after the Qur'an. After his name one says ﷺ — «may Allah bless him and grant him peace».

The Qur'an mentions Yaqub most of all as the father of Yusuf. Having lost his beloved son through the scheming of the other sons, Yaqub bore his grief for years with dignity, saying that he resorted to «beautiful patience» (sabrun jamil) and did not lose hope in the mercy of Allah.

At the end of the story Allah restored to him both his sight and his son; the family was reunited in Egypt.

Yaqub is a model of steadfast faith, fatherly love, and patience without despair.

Lut long urged his people to abandon evil and return to Allah, but they arrogantly threatened to drive him out.

By Allah's command, angels in the form of guests led Lut and the believers out of his house by night, and a devastating punishment befell the wicked cities.

The story is about the limits of the permissible, the steadfastness of a prophet amid a corrupt environment, and God's justice.

Enduring for years, Ayyub did not complain or lose his gratitude to Allah, but humbly turned to Him: «Adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful!» (surah 21:83).

Allah accepted his supplication, healed him, and returned to him twice as much as he had lost.

The story of Ayyub teaches that after hardship comes relief, and patience with faith does not go without reward.

Already old, having despaired because of childlessness, Zakariya secretly begged Allah to grant him an heir of faith.

Allah announced to him the glad tidings of a son, Yahya, although Zakariya's wife was barren and he himself was in old age.

An example that for Allah nothing is impossible, and a sincere, tireless dua does not go without an answer.

Allah granted Yahya wisdom from childhood. The Qur'an describes him as gentle, God-fearing, pure, and respectful to his parents.

He confirmed the truth of Allah's word (the prophethood of Isa) and called people to righteousness.

Yahya is a model of purity, of piety from youth, and of love for one's parents.

He is usually placed in the times between Adam and Nuh.

By tradition, writing, knowledge, and wisdom are associated with Idris.

The Qur'an speaks of him briefly and with honour, so it is best not to add unnecessary details about him.

Hud called the people of Ad to monotheism and to gratitude to Allah for the strength given them, but they arrogantly rejected the call.

For their stubbornness and pride a punishment befell the people of Ad — a devastating cold wind that raged for several days — while Hud and the believers Allah saved.

The lesson is about the ruin of pride, ingratitude, and excessive confidence in one's own strength.

At the people's request, the sign from Allah was an extraordinary she-camel: she was not to be harmed, and the water was to be shared between her and the people in turn.

But the wicked hamstrung the she-camel and insolently rejected Salih's call — and within a few days a punishment befell them.

The story is about a test by a sign and the consequences of insolence before Allah.

The angels who were on their way to the people of Lut announced to Ibrahim and Sara the glad tidings of a son, Ishaq, despite their age and childlessness (surah 11:71).

From Ishaq came his son Yaqub (Israel), and after him many prophets of the line of Banu Israil.

The Qur'an mentions Ishaq among the righteous prophets, chosen and brought near to Allah.

When Allah sent Musa to Pharaoh, he asked: «And give me a helper from my family — Harun, my brother» — and Allah granted him this (surah 20:29).

Harun, together with Musa, stood against Pharaoh and supported his brother in the call to monotheism.

When Musa went up the mountain to Allah, part of the people began to worship the golden calf; Harun tried to restrain them and rebuked them, but they did not listen until Musa returned.

Shuayb called the people of Madyan to the worship of the one Allah and to honesty: to fill the measure in full, not to give short weight, and not to defraud people (in meaning, surah 26:181).

The people arrogantly rejected the call and threatened Shuayb; for their stubbornness and dishonesty a punishment befell them, while Shuayb and the believers Allah saved.

By tradition, it was in the lands of Madyan that Musa spent the years after his flight from Egypt. The story is about honesty in dealings as part of faith.

Ilyas reproached his people: do they call upon Ba'l and forsake Allah, the best of creators and the Lord of their forefathers (in meaning, surah 37:124).

The majority rejected his call, and only a few believed.

The Qur'an mentions Ilyas among the righteous messengers and conveys peace to him.

His name is mentioned alongside other prophets — Ismail, Idris, Dhul-Kifl — as those whom Allah raised above the worlds (surah 6:86; 38:48).

By tradition, he continued the call to monotheism after Ilyas.

The Qur'an speaks of him briefly, so it is best not to add unnecessary details.

His name stands alongside Ismail and Idris: all of them were among the patient, and Allah admitted them into His mercy, for they were of the righteous (in meaning, surah 21:85).

There are few reliable details of his life; some reports identify him with other righteous people, but this is not known for certain.

So of Dhul-Kifl one speaks with reserve: he was a patient and righteous prophet.