The Messengers of Allah
A Golden Chain of Guidance to Humanity
Belief in the Messengers of Allah is a fundamental pillar of the Islamic faith. Throughout history, Allah did not leave mankind to wander in the dark; He sent prophets and messengers to every single nation to guide them to the truth.
From the very first human being to the final prophet, they all brought the exact same core message: to worship the One True God (Allah) alone and to associate no partners with Him.
“And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid false deities.'”
— The Quran (16:36)
Adam (آدم)
Adam was the first human being and the first prophet. Allah created him with His own hands, breathed life into him, and taught him the names of all things. Adam and his wife, Eve (Hawa), lived in Paradise but were tested with a forbidden tree.
Satan (Iblis) deceived them, and they slipped and ate from the tree. However, unlike Satan who was arrogant in his disobedience, Adam and Eve immediately recognized their mistake, felt deep remorse, and begged Allah for forgiveness. Allah, the Most Merciful, forgave them and chose Adam as a prophet to guide his descendants on Earth.
“Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.” (Quran 2:37)
Noah (نوح)
Noah (Nuh) was sent to a nation that had deviated into idol worship. He preached to his people patiently for a staggering 950 years—day and night, in public and in private—urging them to return to the worship of the One God.
Despite his tireless efforts, only a few believed. When the people became overwhelmingly hostile and mocked him, Allah commanded Noah to build an Ark. A great flood cleansed the earth of disbelief, saving only Noah, the believers, and the animals on the Ark.
“We certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.'” (Quran 7:59)
Abraham (إبراهيم)
Abraham (Ibrahim) is known as the “Friend of Allah” (Khalilullah) and the patriarch of monotheism. From a young age, he rejected the idol worship of his father and his people. Using pure logic and his observation of the stars, moon, and sun, he concluded that the Creator must be eternal and unseen.
He faced immense trials, including being thrown into a massive fire by a tyrant king, but Allah commanded the fire to be cool and safe for him. He later travelled to Mecca, where he and his son Ishmael (Ismail) built the Kaaba—the first house on Earth dedicated to the worship of the One God.
“And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, ‘Worship Allah and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.'” (Quran 29:16)
Jacob (يعقوب) & Joseph (يوسف)
Jacob (Yaqub), also known as Israel, was a prophet and the grandson of Abraham. He faced the immense grief of losing his beloved son, Joseph (Yusuf), due to the intense jealousy of Joseph’s brothers.
Joseph’s story is detailed in a single, breathtakingly beautiful chapter in the Quran. He was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, and unjustly imprisoned. Throughout these trials, Joseph maintained impeccable character. Even in the darkness of a prison cell, he called his fellow inmates to the worship of the One God.
“[Joseph said], ‘You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers… He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.'” (Quran 12:40)
Moses (موسى)
Moses (Musa) is the most frequently mentioned prophet in the Quran. He was sent to the tyrannical Pharaoh of Egypt to demand the freedom of the Children of Israel and to call Pharaoh to worship Allah alone.
Allah granted Moses powerful miracles, including his staff turning into a serpent and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. After escaping Egypt, Moses received the Torah (Tawrat) on Mount Sinai, where Allah spoke to him directly, emphasizing the ultimate core message of monotheism.
“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.” (Quran 20:14)
David (داود) & Solomon (سليمان)
David (Dawud) was a powerful prophet and a righteous king. As a young man, he defeated the tyrant giant Goliath (Jalut). Allah granted him wisdom, a beautiful voice to recite the Psalms (Zabur), and the miraculous ability to mold iron with his bare hands.
His son, Solomon (Sulayman), inherited his prophethood and kingdom. Allah granted Solomon a magnificent kingdom unlike any other, giving him control over the wind, the ability to understand the language of animals, and command over the Jinn. Despite their immense power, fame, and wealth, both were deeply humble, grateful, and devoted servants of Allah.
“And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, ‘Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants.'” (Quran 27:15)
Jesus (عيسى)
Jesus (Isa), the son of Mary (Maryam), is a highly revered prophet and the Messiah in Islam. He was born miraculously without a human father by the direct command of Allah. He even spoke from the cradle as an infant to defend his mother’s honor.
He was given the Gospel (Injeel) and performed many profound miracles by Allah’s permission, such as healing the blind, curing the leper, and bringing the dead back to life. In Islam, Jesus was not crucified; rather, Allah raised him up to Himself, and he will return before the Day of Judgment to restore justice. He taught the exact same message as all the prophets before him: to worship Allah alone.
“[Jesus said], ‘I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them as long as I was among them…'” (Quran 5:117)
The Completion of the Message
This golden chain of prophethood culminated with the arrival of the final Messenger, Muhammad (ﷺ). He was sent not just to a specific nation, but to all of mankind, bringing the final revelation—the Quran—which confirms the truth of the prophets before him and serves as a timeless guide for humanity.
Read the Final Revelation Today
Our outreach team distributes over 800 English Qurans every single month to people just like you who are searching for the truth. We would love to send you one, completely free of charge.
Prefer to talk in person? Come say hello! We have dedicated teams available for a chat at our permanent spots at the Birmingham and Coventry universities. We also travel to a different UK city every Saturday doing street dawah—perhaps we’ll be in your town next!