A prophet, also known as "nabi" or "rasul" in the Qur'an, means a person who gives news. In religious terms, it refers to special people chosen by Allah the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, to inform people about religious and worldly matters and to convey His commands and prohibitions. Prophets are the messengers of Almighty Allah.
Almighty Allah has shown people the right path through the prophets and the books He gave them. Allah has conveyed His commands and prohibitions, what is lawful (halal) and unlawful (haram), His advice and recommendations, and His religion to people through the prophets.
Almighty Allah has sent a prophet to every community:
The verse, 'There is no nation, without a warner having lived among them ( in the past)’ (Fatir 24), expresses this truth.
"The first prophet was Prophet Adam [alayhissalam], and the last prophet is Prophet Muhammad [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]. Between them, countless prophets, whose number is known only to Allah, have come and gone."
"Then We sent Our messengers in succession. Every time a messenger came to his people, they denied him, so We destroyed them one after another and made them into stories. So away with a people who do not believe." (Al-Mu’minun 44)
Every Muslim is required to believe in the prophethood of all the prophets sent by Allah, whether we know their names or not. Anyone who does not believe in one of the prophets sent by Allah cannot be considered a believer or a Muslim.
This matter is expressed in the Qur'an as follows:
"O you who have believed! Believe in Allah, His Messenger, the Book He has sent down upon His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His Books, His messengers, and the Day of Judgment, has certainly gone far astray." (Nisaa 136)
Prophethood is not something a person can achieve by their own effort. It is a blessing from Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu] for certain chosen servants. He gives it to whoever He wants.
This matter, stated in the verse: “That is the grace of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allah is the possessor of great grace.” (Jumu'ah 4)
Another verse explaining this matter says: Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu] states:
"Allah knows best to whom He will grant His prophethood." (Al-An'am 124)
Only some of the prophets' names are mentioned in the Qur'an. Almighty Allah says in the Qur'an:
“Indeed, We have 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. And it was not (possible) for any messenger to bring a Sign except by permission of Allah. But when the Command of Allah comes, it will be concluded in truth and justice, and those who choose falsehood will then lose." (Ghafir 78)
Prophets Mentioned in the Qur'an
From the first prophet, Prophet Adam [alayhissalam], to the last prophet, Prophet Muhammad [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam], many prophets have come and gone. There is no information in the Qur'an regarding the number of prophets sent. In a hadith, it is reported that the number of prophets is one hundred and twenty-four thousand. A believer should say, 'I believe in all the prophets sent from Prophet Adam [alayhssalam], to Prophet Muhammad [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam], and I accept that they are all true and rightful.
The prophets mentioned in the Qur'an are as follows:
Prophet Adam, Prophet Idris, Prophet Nuh (Noah), Prophet Hud, Prophet Salih, Prophet Lut, Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Ismail, Prophet Ishaq, Prophet Yaqub, Prophet Yusuf, Prophet Shu'ayb, Prophet Harun, Prophet Musa, Prophet Dawud, Prophet Sulayman, Prophet Ayyub, Prophet Zulkif, Prophet Yunus, Prophet Ilyas, Prophet Alyasa, Prophet Zakariya, Prophet Yahya, Prophet Isa [alayhimassalam], and Prophet Muhammad [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam]
Besides these, three other names are mentioned in the Qur'an. However, it is not specified in the Qur'an whether they are prophets or saints. These are Uzair, Luqman, and Zulqarnain.
