Aaron [Harun] (PBUH)

Harun Also referred to as Aaron, Harun was the first high priest of the Israelites and was the brother of Musa.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Abraham [Ibrahim] (PBUH)

Ibrahim is one of the most highly regarded prophets, and it is his devotion to Allah (SWT) that is revered at Qurbani, celebrated during the festival of Eid. Ibrahim was commanded by Allah (SWT) to sacrifice the thing he held dearest – his son, Ismail. Ibrahim discussed the command with Ismail, and it was agreed as an act of obedience to Allah (SWT). At the very last moment, Allah (SWT) swapped Ismail for a ram and spared his life, revealing the whole thing to be a test.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Adam [Adam] (PBUH)

Prophet Adam was the first man alive as is known as the “Father of Humankind”. He then had two sons: Qabil (Cain) and Habil (Abel). Both sons were due to marry. Allah (SWT) then revealed to Prophet Adam (AS) that both his sons should offer a sacrifice. Whoever’s sacrifice was virtuously accepted would be able to marry the female they were both interested in. This was the first sacrifice. Habil, a shepherd, offered a healthy ram as his best sacrifice. Whereas Qabil, a farmer, was not willing to give his best and offered some crops from his land. Allah (SWT) accepted Habil’s sacrifice and rejected Qabil’s. Qabil then killed his brother out of jealousy. He’d committed the first murder on Earth. From this story, we learn that sacrifice has long been a tradition in Islam starting from the time of Prophet Adam (AS).

source: islamic-relief.org.uk

David [Dawud] (PBUH)

Dawud (also known as David) was a soldier for King Talut and defeated the giant Jalut (Goliath). He is a notable figure because he received the Zabur – biblical psalms – and was one of only a handful of prophets to have done so.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Elias [Ilyas] (PBUH)

Occasionally spelt as Elijah or Elias, Ilyas resided in the northern kingdom of Israel, which was, at the time, inhabited by people who worshipped the ancient God, Baal. Ilyas spoke to the worshippers of Baal and told them about Allah (SWT). He defended Allah’s (SWT) name and remained loyal to the one true God.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Elisha [Al-Yasa](PBUH)

Al-Yasa (Elisha) succeeded Ilyas as one of Allah’s (SWT) elected prophets. He is mentioned briefly in the Qur’an but is regarded as having miracle powers, including being able to walk on water, revive the deceased and cure the diseased. He was said to have been raised by Ilyas.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Enoch [Idris](PBUH)

Idris (also called Enoch) was born in Babylon. He adhered to the rules and teachings of Prophet Seth, and when he came of age, he received the Revelation, and Allah (SWT) bestowed prophethood upon him. Idris left Babylon after he witnessed the people committing sins despite his warnings not to. Some people joined Idris, and they left Babylon, arriving in Egypt. Idris spent a great deal of time preaching, worshipping, and researching his ancestors, Adam and Eve. He is believed to have possessed great wisdom and was the first man to use a pen to write.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Hud [Hud](PBUH)

Hud lived in ʿĀd and was devoted to Allah (SWT) as the only deity, but at this time, he was alone in his views. He tried desperately to get people to listen to him when he said that there was only one God, but the people of ʿĀd refused to listen, instead mocking Hud and Allah’s (SWT) message. Eventually, after all the mocking, Allah (SWT) imparted a thunderous storm and destroyed ʿĀd.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

lsaac [Ishaq](PBUH)

Ishaq (also called Isaac) was the son of Ismail and, like his father, Ismail, continued on the path to spreading the name of Allah (SWT).

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Ishmael [Isma’il](PBUH)

Ismail was the son of Ibrahim and followed in his father’s footsteps, promoting the word of Allah (SWT). 

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Jacob [Ya’qub](PBUH)

Yaqub (also known as Jacob) is an important prophet and is mentioned 16 times in the Qur’an. He is the father of the 12 tribes and is revered as a man of might.

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Jesus [Isa](PBUH)

For those wondering, ‘Is Jesus a prophet in Islam?’ he is, but in the Qur’an, his name is spelt as Isa. He was the penultimate prophet, and Allah (SWT) sent him to guide the people of Israel on the straight path. Isa differs from Jesus in the Christian Bible because in the Qur’an, he is not considered the son of God, nor was he crucified. Isa holds much significance in Islam because he is mentioned 93 times in the Qur’an. It is said that Allah (SWT) revealed the Gospel to Isa.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Job [Aiyub](PBUH)

Aiyub (also called Job) was sorely tested by Allah (SWT) for many years, but he did not relinquish his faith in the Almighty and was rewarded for his unwavering belief and obedience.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

John the Baptist [Yahya](PBUH)

The son of Zachariah, Yahya was told by Allah (SWT) about the arrival of Isa (Jesus). He was known as a merciful man who was committed to Allah (SWT), and he was described as a gentle being – so much so that it is said he did not do one thing against the will of Allah (SWT) in his life.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Jonah [Yunus](PBUH)

Yunus was sent to the city of Nineveh in north Iraq by Allah (SWT) as the city was resided in by idol worshippers. Allah (SWT) is the only God, and Yunus was sent to inform the people of Nineveh of this and to guide them on the right path. He was met with rejection and, against Allah’s (SWT) will, Yunus left Nineveh in search of a community that would accept Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) turned the sky red above Nineveh, and a fierce storm brewed. The people of the city dropped to their knees and begged for mercy, which Allah (SWT) granted. Meanwhile, Yunus was travelling by boat, and a storm came. One man had to be sacrificed for the sake of the others, and Yunus knew this was Allah’s (SWT) punishment for leaving Nineveh, so he dived in and was swallowed by a whale. He repented to Allah (SWT) and spat out to return to Nineveh.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Joseph [Yusuf](PBUH)

Yusuf (sometimes referred to as Joseph) was the son of Yaqub. His father loved him dearly, and this caused jealousy amongst his brothers, so they threw him in a well. He was picked up by travellers and used as a slave, finally being imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Despite his hardship, he did not give up his faith in Allah (SWT). 

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Lot [Lut](PBUH)

Lut was sent by Allah (SWT) to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to promote monotheism and to inform the people of how homosexuality and acts of violent lust are sinful. He warned the people of the city about how they were sinning, but they did not listen, and as such, the two cities were destroyed.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Moses [Musa](PBUH)

Musa is also known as Moses and is mentioned more than any other person in the Qur’an. He and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are said to have shared a number of parallels.

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Muhammad [Muhammad](PBUH)

The Prophet was born in Mecca in the year 570 C.E. His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six years old. As he grew up, he acquired the epithet ‘the trustworthy’. Muhammad had long detested the idolatry, social injustice and corruption found in society. At the age of forty, he received the first revelation of the Quran from God through the angel Gabriel. Since the Prophet could not read or write, he had scribes write down passages over the course of their revelation. The Quran was also memorized word for word by the Prophet and many of his companions. Although the Prophet performed many miracles, such as the splitting of the moon (54:1), water gushing out from between his fingers, multiplying food, still the Quran is his greatest miracle.

Just like many previous prophets, Muhammad and his early followers were persecuted — and some were even killed for advocating revolutionary ideas such as social justice and women’s rights. As the persecution grew fierce, the Prophet and many of his companions emigrated to the city of Medina, 260 miles to the north of Mecca. This emigration (Hijrah) marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, Mecca ultimately surrendered peacefully to Muhammad who issued a universal amnesty.

Before the Prophet passed away at the age of sixty-three, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula had become Muslim and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the west and as far east as China. The rapid spread of Islam (especially to territories previously occupied by the Byzantine and Persian empires) was mostly because of its simple teachings and social justice.

source: The clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab

Noah [Nuh](PBUH)

Nuh (also called Noah) received the message from Allah (SWT) that unless people started to recognise Him as the one true God, a great disaster would happen. Nuh dutifully spread the word of Allah (SWT) and attempted to warn people that if they continued to worship several gods, they would be punished. The people didn’t listen, so in an attempt to preserve life – including those who did eventually listen to him – Nuh built an ark. He admitted a pair of each type of animal and awaited the arrival of the Great Flood, which Allah (SWT) warned would happen, and it did.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Salih [Salih](PBUH)

Salih was sent by Allah (SWT) to spread His teachings and preach against the Shirk’s wealth and selfishness in Thamud. The people of Thamud refused to believe him until he performed a miracle. Allah (SWT) gifted the people of Thamud a she-camel, but the people of Thamud hamstrung the camel, and Saleh warned them that as a consequence of their actions and disbelief, Allah (SWT) imparted punishment in the form of an earthquake.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Shu’aib [Shu’aib](PBUH)

Shuaib was sent to the Midianite community as a prophet and spread the word of Allah (SWT), warning the people that if they did not change their fraudulent ways, they would be punished. When the people did not listen, their community was destroyed. Shuaib is revered as the most eloquent prophet. 

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Solomon [Sulaiman](PBUH)

Sulaiman (Solomon) was the son of Dawud and took over his prophecy when he died. Sulaiman was the king of Israel, and it is said he could communicate with animals and jinn. He is hailed as one of the greatest rulers of all time, and it is said that no king before or after him was able to reach his level.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Zachariah [Zakariya](PBUH)

Zakariya (or Zachariah) fathered Yahya (John the Baptist), who went on to become the guardian of Mary, the mother of Isa. 

source: orphansinneed.org.uk

Zul-Kifl [Zul-Kifl](PBUH)

After Harun came to Zul-Kifl, who is the Islamic equivalent of Ezekiel, although he is sometimes associated with Isaiah, Joshua, or Obadiah instead of Ezekiel. Zul-Kifl was mentioned twice in the Qur’an and preached the word of Allah (SWT) extensively throughout Iraq.

source: orphansinneed.org.uk