Back to search

Are the twenty-five prophets mentioned in the Quran, some of them prophets only?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed on the distinction between a Prophet (Nabi) and a Messenger (Rasul). Some have held that a Messenger is one commanded to convey God's law to those who oppose it, while a Prophet is one commanded to convey God's law to those who are already convinced by it. Accordingly, Adam would be a Prophet, not a Messenger, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Adam was a Prophet spoken to." This is supported by the Hadith of Intercession, where people say to Noah: "O Noah, you are the first of the Messengers to the people of the earth."

It has also been said: A Messenger is one sent with a new law, and a Prophet is one sent to renew a law that preceded him. Accordingly, Ishmael, Isaac, Solomon, and most of the prophets of the Children of Israel would be Prophets, not Messengers, because they were sent with the religion of Abraham or called to what was revealed to Moses in the Torah.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy