Discovering Islam04 · Prophethood

Messengers of God

Out of love for His creation, God sent prophets to teach people who He is and how to live. Muslims believe in all of them, and that Muhammad was the last.

Tasneem Institute · 2 min read

A chain of prophets from Adam to Muhammad

Noah · Nūḥ
Abraham · Ibrāhīm
Moses · Mūsā
Jesus · ʿĪsā
Muhammad · Muḥammad

Muslims believe God never left humanity without guidance. A well-known tradition counts 124,000 prophets, sent to every people in their own language. The Qur’an names 25, and highlights five who brought major messages and laws: Noah (Nūḥ), Abraham (Ibrāhīm), Moses (Mūsā), Jesus (ʿĪsā) and Muhammad (Muḥammad).

Why would God send messengers?

To show the way. Our minds can tell us God exists, but not exactly how to worship Him or live well. Prophets bring that guidance.
To be a living example. A book alone can be misread. A prophet shows what faith looks like in real life: at home, at work, in hardship.
To build justice. “We sent Our messengers with clear signs … so that people may uphold justice” (57:25).

Protected from sin and error

Protected messengers

Prophets are maʿṣūm: protected by God from sin and from mistakes in delivering the message. If a messenger could get the message wrong, no one could fully trust it.

The final messenger

The Qur’an calls Muhammad the “Seal of the Prophets” (33:40). His message completes and confirms those before him, and it is meant for all people, everywhere.

Muhammad (ṣ) at a glance

Even before revelation, Mecca called him al-Amīn, “the Trustworthy,” and the Qur’an praises his gentleness (3:159).

570 — Born in Mecca.
595 — Marries Khadīja.
610 — First revelation, at age 40.
622 — Migration to Medina (Hijra).
630 — Returns to Mecca peacefully.
632 — Farewell pilgrimage; passes away.

“We have not sent you except as a mercy to all the worlds.”
Qur’an 21:107 · meaning in English

Adapted from Discovering Islam by Sayyid Moustafa al-Qazwini.

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