How Many Prophets Were There in Islam? What the Quran Teaches
Quick Answer: There is no single confirmed number given in the Quran for how many prophets were there in islam. Islamic belief, based on the Quran’s descriptions, is that Allah sent messengers to every people, and many prophets are named while others are not. Thus, the emphasis is on believing in all messengers, not counting them precisely.
Many people ask how many prophets were there in islam because they want a clear list and a clear number. The Quran, however, often guides believers toward something deeper: faith in Allah’s messengers and a respectful understanding that Allah’s guidance reached many communities across time. According to mainstream Islamic teaching, we affirm that Allah sent prophets and messengers, sometimes naming specific individuals, and sometimes mentioning that there were others whose stories were not detailed. The Quran also stresses that believers make no distinction between Allah’s messengers in terms of faith. In other words, the heart of the message is not only “how many,” but “how to believe.” Let’s explore what the Quran says, why it matters, and how to apply this understanding in daily spiritual life.
At a Glance — Verses in This Article
Quran 2:136
Quran 2:285
Quran 3:84
Quran 4:163-164
Quran 5:19
Quran 6:83-86
Quran 10:72
Quran 16:36
Quran Verses
Quran 2:136 (Saheeh International)
“Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."”
It highlights belief in multiple prophets and explicitly says believers make no distinction among them.
Quran 2:285 (Saheeh International)
“The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers, [saying], "We make no distinction between any of His messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination."”
It reinforces that the Messenger and believers affirm all messengers, emphasizing unity in faith.
Quran 3:84 (Saheeh International)
“Say, "We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [submitting] to Him."”
It repeats the commitment to believe in Allah’s revelation to earlier prophets and messengers without favoritism.
Quran 4:163-164 (Saheeh International)
“Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the book [of Psalms]. And [We sent] messengers about whom We have related [their stories] to you before and messengers about whom We have not related to you. And Allah spoke to Moses with [direct] speech.”
It lists many prophets and also mentions that some messengers’ stories were not told in detail.
Quran 5:19 (Saheeh International)
“O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger to make clear to you [the religion] after a period [of suspension] of messengers, lest you say, "There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner." But there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is over all things competent.”
It speaks about a gap in messengers and the purpose of sending guidance as good tidings and warning.
Quran 6:83-86 (Saheeh International)
“And that was Our [conclusive] argument which We gave Abraham against his people. We raise by degrees whom We will. Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing. And We gave to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – all [of them] We guided. And Noah, We guided before; and among his descendants, David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do We reward the doers of good. And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias – and all were of the righteous. And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot – and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds.”
It names a group of righteous prophets and shows Allah’s patterned guidance through generations.
Quran 10:72 (Saheeh International)
“And if you turn away [from my advice] then no payment have I asked of you. My reward is only from Allah, and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims."”
It reminds that prophets’ guidance is for Allah’s reward and that turning away does not change the mission’s purpose.
Quran 16:36 (Saheeh International)
“And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut." And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.”
It teaches that Allah sent messengers into every nation, which implies many were sent beyond those named.
Why the Quran does not give a single “number”
When searching for how many prophets were there in islam, it’s natural to expect a count. Yet the Quran’s approach is not arithmetic; it is spiritual and relational. Across several passages, the Quran centers belief in Allah, His revelation, and His messengers—paired with a principle of making no distinction between messengers in faith.
In Quran 2:136 and Quran 2:285, believers are taught to affirm what was revealed to Muhammad and also what was revealed to earlier prophets, without ranking them. Quran 3:84 repeats the same theme. This matters because it shifts the focus: the goal is not to compile a complete roster, but to recognize Allah’s guidance as one continuous thread across history.
Further, Quran 4:163-164 both names many prophets and explicitly indicates that Allah sent messengers whose stories we have not been told to us in full. That single statement naturally leads to the conclusion that any attempt to produce a precise, universal number would be speculative beyond what the Quran reports.
So, mainstream Islamic understanding often frames the answer this way: Allah sent prophets and messengers to many communities, some are named clearly, and others are not detailed, which means the Quran does not confirm a single fixed total for “prophets.” Instead, it confirms the reality of prophethood and the obligation to believe in it.
In short: the Quran tells us what to believe and how to relate to messengers—rather than giving a comprehensive census.
What we can say confidently: prophets, messengers, and universal guidance
The Quran provides two key building blocks. First, it asserts that messengers reached humanity broadly. Quran 16:36 says Allah sent into every nation a messenger calling people to worship Allah and avoid Taghut. Second, it teaches that some prophets were named while others were not.
Quran 4:163-164 illustrates this in a balanced way: it enumerates prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, Solomon, and also mentions that Allah gave David the book (of Psalms). At the same time, it says there are messengers whose stories were “related to you before” and others “about whom We have not related to you.” That means the Quran presents a selection, not an exhaustive list.
Quran 6:83-86 continues the pattern. It names Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Zechariah, John, Jesus, Elias, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot—each described among the righteous. Again, while these are significant examples, the passage’s theme is that Allah guides by degrees and that righteous prophets come through generations.
Meanwhile, Quran 5:19 speaks about a period when messengers had been suspended, and how Allah still ensured guidance arrives with both good tidings and warning. Quran 10:72 reminds us that prophets’ call is ultimately connected to Allah’s command and reward, which adds another dimension: the mission is consistent even when the names or details are not.
Putting these verses together, a respectful and accurate conclusion is: the Quran confirms many prophets and messengers were sent, with many names provided, and more acknowledged than listed. The Quran’s emphasis is belief without discrimination, not counting every prophet.
How believers should respond: faith first, not guessing counts
Because the Quran highlights belief in all messengers, many Muslims understand the practical response as: trust Allah’s message as a whole, and let the Quran’s framing guide the heart. Quran 2:136 and Quran 2:285 teach believers to affirm Allah’s revelation to all prophets and to make no distinction between any of His messengers. Quran 3:84 repeats that commitment.
This is not just a theological statement—it shapes everyday attitudes. If you see a list of “prophets in Islam,” you’re likely encountering a subset of those named in the Quran and commonly taught in education. But the Quran’s language in Quran 4:163-164 implies there were additional messengers with stories not included. Therefore, it’s better to avoid arguing about completeness or treating named individuals as if they were the only ones.
At the same time, named prophets are not “less important”; they are highlighted so people can learn lessons. Quran 6:83-86 describes many righteous examples, and these narratives encourage patience, reliance on Allah, and integrity.
So, rather than trying to compute a total, an Islamic approach is to practice faith in the principle: believe in Allah’s prophets and messengers, honor the guidance they carried, and internalize the moral and spiritual lessons from the Qur’anic examples.
In this way, the Quran answers the deeper question behind the search term: not “how many,” but “how should a person relate to prophets?” The Quran’s consistent answer is: with trust, submission, and fairness in belief.
Practical ways to benefit from prophets’ stories (without needing a count)
If you’re asking about the number of prophets, you can turn that curiosity into meaningful worship. Start by anchoring your belief in the Quran’s principle: believe in all messengers and make no distinction between them in faith. This protects your heart from turning prophethood into a trivia exercise.
Next, choose one or two prophets named in the Quran each week (for example, Moses, Jesus, Abraham, or Jonah) and do a simple reflection cycle: (1) What was the prophet’s relationship with Allah? (2) What challenge did they face? (3) What trait stands out—patience, courage, sincerity, or repentance? This aligns with the Quran’s presentation of many prophets as “righteous,” shown in Quran 6:83-86.
Third, connect guidance to your own life. Quran 16:36 reminds that messengers come to call people back to worship Allah and to avoid false powers (Taghut). So when you read about prophets, ask: Where do I need to return to sincere worship, truthfulness, and moral restraint?
Finally, remember the Quran’s humility: some messengers’ stories are not detailed for us. That should reduce pride and increase gratitude. Instead of asking, “Did I include every prophet name?” ask, “Am I responding to Allah’s guidance faithfully?”
This way, your learning stays Quran-centered, and your practice becomes spiritually fruitful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Quran say about how many prophets were there in islam?
The Quran does not provide a single confirmed total number for how many prophets were there in islam. Instead, it teaches that Allah sent messengers to many communities, that some prophets are named, and that others’ stories were not detailed.
How many prophets are mentioned in the Quran?
Many prophets are named across the Quran, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others in passages such as 4:163-164 and 6:83-86. However, the Quran also indicates that not all messengers’ stories are related to us, so the named list is not necessarily exhaustive.
Do Muslims make distinctions between prophets?
According to Quranic instruction, believers affirm all messengers and **make no distinction between Allah’s messengers** in terms of faith. The focus is on recognizing the shared truth of Allah’s guidance and submitting to Him, not ranking prophets.
Why does the Quran mention some messengers but not all?
Quran 4:163-164 explicitly mentions messengers whose stories were related to the Prophet earlier and others whose stories were not related. This suggests purposeful selection—enough to guide faith and teach lessons—without implying that unnamed messengers did not exist.
Key Takeaway: The Quran does not confirm a specific count of prophets, but it clearly teaches belief in all messengers and highlights righteous examples while acknowledging that some messengers’ stories are not fully related.
This article offers general information for educational purposes
and reflects mainstream Islamic teaching. It is not a religious ruling (fatwa). For guidance on
your specific situation, consult a qualified local scholar or imam.
