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The prophets named in the Quran

Twenty-five are named. The Quran is explicit that others were sent whose accounts were not related (4:164), so this is the list of those named rather than a list of all the prophets.

  1. Adam

    آدم

    Adam

    The first human being and the first prophet, taught the names of all things and tested by the whisper of Iblis.

  2. Idris

    إدريس

    Enoch

    Described in the Quran as truthful, a prophet, and raised to a high station.

  3. Nuh

    نوح

    Noah

    Called his people for centuries with almost no response, then built the ark on command.

  4. Hud

    هود

    Eber

    Sent to the people of ‘Ad, who were powerful and built monuments to themselves.

  5. Salih

    صالح

    Sent to Thamud, who carved homes into the mountains and demanded a sign.

  6. Ibrahim

    إبراهيم

    Abraham

    Called the friend of Allah, who reasoned his way past the stars and broke his people’s idols.

  7. Lut

    لوط

    Lot

    Sent to a people who had made public what every prior people kept hidden.

  8. Isma'il

    إسماعيل

    Ishmael

    The son who answered "do as you are commanded", and who raised the foundations of the Ka‘bah with his father.

  9. Ishaq

    إسحاق

    Isaac

    Given as glad tidings to Ibrahim and Sarah in old age, and made a prophet.

  10. Ya'qub

    يعقوب

    Jacob

    Father of Yusuf, who lost his sight to grief and never lost his certainty.

  11. Yusuf

    يوسف

    Joseph

    The subject of the most complete single narrative in the Quran, from the well to the treasury of Egypt.

  12. Ayyub

    أيوب

    Job

    Tested in body, wealth and family, and praised for how he bore it.

  13. Shu'ayb

    شعيب

    Jethro

    Sent to Madyan, who cheated in weights and measures.

  14. Musa

    موسى

    Moses

    Named more often than any other prophet in the Quran, sent to the most powerful ruler of his age.

  15. Harun

    هارون

    Aaron

    Brother of Musa, given as the helper Musa asked for, and more eloquent of speech.

  16. Dhul-Kifl

    ذو الكفل

    Ezekiel (traditionally)

    Named twice, among the patient and among the excellent.

  17. Dawud

    داود

    David

    Given the Zabur, a kingdom, and the ability to soften iron in his hands.

  18. Sulayman

    سليمان

    Solomon

    Given a kingdom unlike any other, and understanding of the speech of birds and ants.

  19. Ilyas

    إلياس

    Elijah

    Sent to a people worshipping Ba‘l, and greeted by name in the Quran.

  20. Al-Yasa'

    اليسع

    Elisha (traditionally)

    Named among the outstanding, alongside Isma‘il and Dhul-Kifl.

  21. Yunus

    يونس

    Jonah

    Left his people before permission was given, and called out from inside the whale.

  22. Zakariyya

    زكريا

    Zechariah

    Prayed quietly for an heir in old age, and was answered.

  23. Yahya

    يحيى

    John the Baptist

    Given wisdom as a child, and a name no one had carried before him.

  24. Isa

    عيسى

    Jesus

    Born to Maryam without a father, who spoke from the cradle and was raised to Allah.

  25. Muhammad

    محمد

    The final messenger, sent to all people, whose character the Quran calls exalted.