Stories of the Prophets

Allah sent prophets to every nation with one core message: “We sent to every nation a messenger: ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods’” (16:36). A messenger (Rasul) brought a new law and scripture; a prophet (Nabi) called people to an existing law. Twenty-five are named in the Quran, and many more are not (40:78). All were human, chosen, truthful and protected in delivering the message, and we believe in them all without distinction (2:285).

Allah created Adam from clay, breathed into him of His spirit, taught him the names of things, and told the angels to prostrate to him. All did except Iblis, who refused out of pride (7:11-12). Adam and his wife lived in Paradise, but were tempted by Satan to eat from the forbidden tree. They realised their mistake, repented and Allah forgave them; then they were sent to earth. The lesson: everyone errs; the best of us are those who repent quickly, and pride is what ruined Iblis. Adam's words of repentance are a Dua to say when we fall short:

Nuh called his people to worship Allah alone for 950 years (29:14), day and night, in public and in private. Only a few believed; his own son refused. By Allah's command he built the Ark, while the people mocked him. Then the flood came, the believers and pairs of animals were saved, and the deniers drowned. The Ark rested on Mount Judi (11:44). The lesson: keep calling with patience even when few respond; salvation is only through obeying Allah, not through family ties.

Hud was sent to the people of Ad, strong and proud of their buildings, who said: “Who is stronger than us?” They denied him, and a fierce wind destroyed them (69:6-7). Salih was sent to Thamud, who carved homes in the mountains. Allah sent a she-camel as a sign, to drink water on her day, but they hamstrung her, and a great cry took them (7:73-79). The lesson: strength, wealth and buildings do not protect from Allah; the true sign of gratitude is humility and obedience.

Ibrahim reasoned his way to Allah alone, and challenged his people's idols; when he smashed them and left the largest, he asked them to ask it (21:57-63). They threw him into a great fire, and Allah said: “O fire, be coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (21:69). He left his wife Hajar and infant Ismail in the barren valley of Makkah, trusting Allah; Zamzam sprang up (Bukhari). Later, he was tested with the command to sacrifice his son, and both submitted; Allah ransomed the child with a ram (37:102-107). Together with Ismail he raised the foundations of the Kaaba (2:127). The lesson: complete trust and submission, and Allah does not waste those who obey Him.

Ismail, Ibrahim's son, is praised as “true to his promise” (19:54), and is the ancestor of the Arabs from whom the last Prophet ﷺ came. Ishaq, born to the aged Sarah as good news from the angels (11:71-72), fathered Yaqub, also called Israel, whose sons became the twelve tribes; his advice to them on his deathbed was to worship Allah alone (2:132-133). Lut, Ibrahim's nephew, warned his people against a shameful, widespread sin; they mocked him and were destroyed by a rain of stones, and only his family (except his wife) were saved (7:80-84). The lesson: faith is passed on by teaching and example, and standing for what is right is never wasted.

Yusuf, a boy loved by his father Yaqub, dreamed of eleven stars, the sun and the moon bowing to him. His jealous brothers threw him in a well and lied about it. Sold as a slave in Egypt, he served in a noble house and resisted temptation, saying “I seek refuge in Allah” (12:23), yet was wrongly imprisoned. In prison he interpreted dreams, was freed, and became minister in charge of the storehouses, saving the land from famine. When his brothers came, he forgave them: “No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you” (12:92). Allah calls it “the best of stories” (12:3). The lesson: patience, purity and forgiveness lead to honour.

Ayyub was a rich, thankful man, and Allah tested him with the loss of his wealth, children and health, for many years. He never complained against Allah, and turned only to Him. When he called on his Lord, Allah told him to strike the ground, and a spring came out for washing and drinking; he was healed, and given his family and more, as a mercy from Allah (38:41-44). Allah praised him as “an excellent servant, always turning back to Him” (38:44). The lesson: real patience is not silence about pain but never losing hope in Allah. His Dua:

Musa is the prophet mentioned most in the Quran. Born when Pharaoh was killing Israelite baby boys, he was put in a basket on the Nile by his mother, and raised in Pharaoh's own palace (28:7-9). After he killed a man by mistake he fled to Madyan, where he married and shepherded. On his return, at the blessed valley, Allah spoke to him and made him a messenger (20:11-14), with the staff and the shining hand as signs. He asked for his brother Harun as helper. They called Pharaoh to Allah, who refused; Allah told Musa to leave at night with the Israelites, parted the sea for them, and drowned Pharaoh and his army (26:63-66). The lesson: no tyrant can stop Allah's plan, and He prepares His servants from childhood. Musa's Dua before facing Pharaoh:

Dawud, a young shepherd, defeated the tyrant Jalut in battle (2:251), was given kingship and the Zabur, and iron was softened for him to make armour (34:10-11). He was known for worship: the Prophet ﷺ said the most beloved fast to Allah is Dawud's, fasting every other day (Bukhari and Muslim). His son Sulayman inherited his knowledge and was given a great kingdom: control of the wind, the jinn and the ability to understand animals and birds (27:16-19). When he saw his throne brought before him, he said: “This is by the favour of my Lord, to test whether I will be grateful or ungrateful” (27:40). The lesson: greatness is a trust, and the best use of power is gratitude and justice.

Yunus called the people of Nineveh, but they did not respond, so he left in anger without Allah's permission, boarded a ship, and was cast into the sea, and swallowed by a great fish. In the darkness of the night, the sea and the fish's belly, he called out with the words below, and Allah rescued him (21:87-88; 37:139-148). When he returned, his people had believed, and they were spared. The Prophet ﷺ said: “No Muslim ever calls upon Allah with the words of Dhun-Nun in any matter but Allah answers him” (Tirmidhi). The lesson: turn to Allah in the deepest darkness; no situation is too dark for His mercy.

Zakariyya, an elderly prophet whose wife was barren, called on Allah in secret for a righteous heir (19:2-6). Allah answered with the good news of a son, Yahya (John), given wisdom as a child, gentle, pure and dutiful to his parents (19:7-15). Zakariyya cared for Maryam in the temple and saw provision with her that he could not explain (3:37). The lesson: never think it is too late to ask Allah, and a private Dua made with a humble heart is heard.

Maryam, dedicated to Allah by her mother, was chosen above the women of the worlds (3:42). The angel Jibril gave her the news of a son, Isa, the Messiah, born to her by Allah's command without a father, as Adam was created without parents (3:45-47, 3:59). As an infant, in her arms, he spoke: “I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet” (19:30). By Allah's permission he healed the blind and the leper and gave life to the dead, and he confirmed the Tawrat and brought the Injil. He was neither killed nor crucified; Allah raised him to Himself (4:157-158), and he will return near the end of time (see Signs of the Last Hour). The lesson: Isa is a mighty prophet and servant of Allah, not divine, and Maryam is a model of purity and trust.

Allah completed the line of prophets with Muhammad ﷺ, sent as “a mercy to the worlds” (21:107) with the Quran, the final and preserved revelation. The Prophet ﷺ said: “My example and that of the prophets before me is like a man who built a house and perfected it except for the place of one brick; people walked around it and admired it, saying: ‘If only this brick were placed!’ I am that brick, and I am the last of the prophets” (Bukhari and Muslim). His life, in order, is in the guide “The Prophet ﷺ & His Companions”.

Common lessons from all their stories:

• One message: worship Allah alone, and be good to people.
• Patience: every prophet was tested, and none gave up.
• Trust in Allah: when help seemed impossible, Allah opened a way (fire, sea, well, whale).
• Repentance: Adam, Yunus and others turned back and were forgiven.
• Humility and gratitude: the greater the blessing, the greater the thankfulness (Sulayman).
• The end belongs to the God-fearing: “The best outcome is for the righteous” (28:83).