How Many Prophets Are Mentioned in the Quran?

Key Takeaways

The Quran mentions exactly 25 prophets and messengers by name, confirmed by classical Islamic scholarship.

Eighteen of the 25 prophets appear together in a single passage in Surah Al-An’am (verses 83–86).

Prophet Musa (AS) is the most mentioned prophet in the Quran, named 136 times across multiple surahs.

Seven prophets — Adam, Idris, Hud, Salih, Shu’ayb, Dhul-Kifl, and Muhammad — appear outside the Al-An’am passage.

Allah explicitly states that many more prophets were sent but are not named in the Quran.

Every Muslim knows that Allah sent prophets to guide humanity — but how many does the Quran actually name? This is one of the most searched questions in Islamic studies, and the answer is precise, not approximate.

The Quran mentions 25 prophets and messengers by name. Eighteen of them are gathered in a single extraordinary passage in Surah Al-An’am, while the remaining seven are named across other surahs. Allah also makes clear that countless other prophets existed whose names were not revealed to us.

How Many Prophets Are Mentioned in the Quran?

The Quran names exactly 25 prophets and messengers. This number is agreed upon by classical Islamic scholars based on a careful reading of the entire Quran. Allah gathered 18 of the prophets names in Surah Al-An’am (verses 83–86) in a single connected passage, while the other 7 prophets — Adam, Idris, Hud, Salih, Shu’ayb, Dhul-Kifl, and Muhammad (SAW) — are named in other surahs.

Allah also reminds us in Surah Ghafir that the list of 25 is not exhaustive of all prophets sent:

مِنْهُم مَّن قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُم مَّن لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ

“… minhum man qasasna ‘alayka wa minhum man lam naqsus ‘alayk…”

“…Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you.…” (Ghafir 40:78)

This verse is a foundational reminder: the Quran’s 25 named prophets represent only those whose names Allah chose to reveal. The total number of prophets sent throughout history is known only to Allah.

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The 18 Prophets Mentioned Together in Surah Al-An’am

Surah Al-An’am contains one of the most remarkable passages in the entire Quran — 18 prophets named consecutively across four verses (83–86). This passage begins with Ibrahim (AS) and spans prophets from multiple eras and lineages.

وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ ۚ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيمٌ ۞ وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ ۚ كُلًّا هَدَيْنَا ۚ وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَىٰ وَهَارُونَ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ۞ وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَإِلْيَاسَ ۖ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ ۞ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

“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. (83) 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. (84) And Zechariah and John and Jesus and Elias – and all were of the righteous. (85) And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot – and all [of them] We preferred over the worlds. (86)” (Al-An’am 6:83–86)

These 18 prophets are: Ibrahim, Ishaq, Yaqub, Nuh, Dawud, Sulayman, Ayyub, Yusuf, Musa, Harun, Zakariyya, Yahya, Isa, Ilyas, Isma’il, Al-Yasa’, Yunus, and Lut (peace be upon them all).

List of Prophets Mentioned in the Quran

The following is the complete list of all 25 prophets mentioned in the Quran, with the key verses in which each name appears. Each prophet’s entry links to a primary Quranic reference for that name.

1. Adam (آدم)

Adam (AS) is the first human and the first prophet. His story — including his creation, his placement in Paradise, and his descent to earth — is one of the most repeated narratives in the Quran.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

“And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority…'” (Al-Baqarah 2:30)

2. Idris (إدريس)

Idris (AS) is mentioned twice in the Quran — in Surah Maryam and Surah Al-Anbiya. He is described as truthful and a prophet whom Allah raised to a high station.

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِدْرِيسَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا ۞ وَرَفَعْنَاهُ مَكَانًا عَلِيًّا

“And mention in the Book, Idris. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet. And We raised him to a high station.” (Maryam 19:56–57)

3. Nuh (نوح)

Nuh (AS) is one of the most mentioned prophets in the Quran, with an entire surah — Surah Nuh — dedicated to his story. He preached to his people for 950 years.

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرْ قَوْمَكَ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

“Indeed, We sent Nuh to his people, [saying], ‘Warn your people before there comes to them a painful punishment.'” (Nuh 71:1)

4. Hud (هود)

Hud (AS) was sent to the people of ‘Aad. He is one of the Arab prophets, and Surah Hud gives an extensive account of his mission and his people’s destruction.

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ

“And to the people of ‘Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.'” (Hud 11:50)

5. Salih (صالح)

Salih (AS) was sent to the people of Thamud. His story, including the miracle of the she-camel, appears in multiple surahs including Hud, Al-A’raf, and Al-Qamar.

وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَالِحًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ

“And to the Thamud [We sent] their brother Salih. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah.'” (Hud 11:61)

6. Ibrahim (إبراهيم)

Ibrahim (AS) is one of the most mentioned prophets in the Quran, named 69 times. He is the father of monotheism and the ancestor of both Isma’il and Ishaq (AS).

وَإِذِ ابْتَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ رَبُّهُ بِكَلِمَاتٍ فَأَتَمَّهُنَّ

“And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with commands and he fulfilled them.” (Al-Baqarah 2:124)

7. Lut (لوط)

Lut (AS) was a nephew of Ibrahim (AS) and was sent to the people of Sodom. His story is mentioned in Surah Hud, Al-A’raf, Al-Anbiya, and Al-An’am among others.

وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُم بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنَ الْعَالَمِينَ

“And [We sent] Lut, when he said to his people, ‘Do you commit such immorality as no one has preceded you with from among the worlds?'” (Al-A’raf 7:80)

8. Isma’il (إسماعيل)

Isma’il (AS), the elder son of Ibrahim (AS), is associated with the building of the Ka’bah and is considered an ancestor of the Arab peoples and of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ الْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولًا نَّبِيًّا

“And mention in the Book, Isma’il. Indeed, he was true to his promise, and he was a messenger and a prophet.” (Maryam 19:54)

9. Ishaq (إسحاق)

Ishaq (AS), the younger son of Ibrahim (AS) and father of Yaqub (AS), was given as a glad tiding to Ibrahim and his wife. His mention appears across several surahs.

وَبَشَّرْنَاهُ بِإِسْحَاقَ نَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصَّالِحِينَ

“And We gave him good tidings of Ishaq, a prophet from among the righteous.” (As-Saffat 37:112)

10. Yaqub (يعقوب)

Yaqub (AS), also known as Israel, was the son of Ishaq (AS) and the father of the twelve tribes. His story is deeply intertwined with that of his son Yusuf (AS) in Surah Yusuf.

أَمْ كُنتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ الْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن بَعْدِي

“Or were you witnesses when death approached Yaqub, when he said to his sons, ‘What will you worship after me?'” (Al-Baqarah 2:133)

11. Yusuf (يوسف)

Yusuf (AS) has an entire surah dedicated to his story — Surah Yusuf — which Allah describes as “the best of stories.” It covers his trials, his time in Egypt, and his reunion with his family.

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ

“We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Quran.” (Yusuf 12:3)

12. Shu’ayb (شعيب)

Shu’ayb (AS) was sent to the people of Madyan and is known for his emphasis on economic justice and honest trade. His story is narrated in Surah Hud and Surah Al-A’raf.

وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ

“And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu’ayb. He said, ‘O my people, worship Allah.'” (Hud 11:84)

13. Ayyub (أيوب)

Ayyub (AS) is the prophet of patience. His story of prolonged suffering and unwavering faith is mentioned in Surah Al-Anbiya and Surah Sad, and his name appears in the Al-An’am passage as well.

وَأَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَسَّنِيَ الضُّرُّ وَأَنتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

“And [mention] Ayyub, when he called to his Lord, ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.'” (Al-Anbiya 21:83)

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14. Dhul-Kifl (ذو الكفل)

Dhul-Kifl (AS) is mentioned twice in the Quran — in Surah Al-Anbiya and Surah Sad — alongside other prophets, praised for his patience and righteousness. His exact identity is not specified in the Quran itself.

وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِدْرِيسَ وَذَا الْكِفْلِ ۖ كُلٌّ مِّنَ الصَّابِرِينَ

“And [mention] Isma’il and Idris and Dhul-Kifl; all were of the patient.” (Al-Anbiya 21:85)

15. Musa (موسى)

Musa (AS) is the most mentioned prophet in the Quran, named 136 times. His story spans dozens of surahs, covering his birth, his prophethood, the Exodus from Egypt, and the revelation of the Torah.

إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي

“Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.” (Ta-Ha 20:14)

16. Harun (هارون)

Harun (AS), the brother and companion of Musa (AS), was appointed as a prophet and assistant to support Musa in his mission to Pharaoh. He is mentioned 20 times in the Quran.

وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ مِن رَّحْمَتِنَا أَخَاهُ هَارُونَ نَبِيًّا

“And We gave him out of Our mercy his brother Harun as a prophet.” (Maryam 19:53)

17. Dawud (داوود)

Dawud (AS) was a prophet, king, and warrior to whom Allah gave the Zabur (Psalms). An entire surah — Surah Sad — centers largely on his wisdom and prophethood.

وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا

“And to Dawud We gave the Zabur [i.e., the Psalms].” (An-Nisa 4:163)

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18. Sulayman (سليمان)

Sulayman (AS), son of Dawud, was given dominion over humans, jinn, wind, and animals. His story — including the Queen of Sheba — appears prominently in Surah An-Naml and Surah Sad.

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ عِلْمًا

“And We had certainly given to Dawud and Sulayman knowledge.” (An-Naml 27:15)

19. Ilyas (إلياس)

Ilyas (AS) was sent to the people of Ba’labakk in the Levant and called them away from idol worship. He is praised in Surah As-Saffat alongside other prophets.

وَإِنَّ إِلْيَاسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ۞ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

“And indeed, Ilyas was among the messengers. When he said to his people, ‘Will you not fear Allah?'” (As-Saffat 37:123–124)

20. Al-Yasa’ (اليسع)

Al-Yasa’ (AS) is mentioned twice in the Quran — in Surah Al-An’am and Surah Sad — among the prophets preferred over the worlds. He succeeded Ilyas (AS) in his prophetic role according to Islamic tradition.

وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَالْيَسَعَ وَيُونُسَ وَلُوطًا ۚ وَكُلًّا فَضَّلْنَا عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ

“And Isma’il and Al-Yasa’ and Yunus and Lut — and all of them We preferred over the worlds.” (Al-An’am 6:86)

21. Yunus (يونس)

Yunus (AS), also called Dhul-Nun (the Companion of the Whale), has an entire surah named after him. His story of being swallowed by a whale and his supplication from within it are among the most moving narratives in the Quran.

وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ

“And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him.” (Al-Anbiya 21:87)

22. Zakariyya (زكريا)

Zakariyya (AS) was the guardian of Maryam (AS) and the father of Yahya (AS). His prayer for a child in old age and Allah’s miraculous answer are described in Surah Maryam and Surah Al-Anbiya.

ذِكْرُ رَحْمَتِ رَبِّكَ عَبْدَهُۥ زَكَرِيَّآ 

“[This is] a mention of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah'” (Maryam 19:2)

23. Yahya (يحيى)

Yahya (AS) was the son of Zakariyya (AS), born miraculously. He is praised in the Quran for his wisdom granted from childhood, his devoutness, and his purity.

يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْحُكْمَ صَبِيًّا

“[He was told], ‘O Yahya, take the Scripture with determination.’ And We gave him judgment [while yet] a boy.” (Maryam 19:12)

24. Isa (عيسى)

Isa (AS), son of Maryam, is one of the most mentioned prophets and is given numerous titles in the Quran — Ruhullah, Kalimatullah, and Masih. Surah Maryam and Surah Al-Imran describe his miraculous birth.

إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَىٰ مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِّنْهُ

“The Messiah, Isa, the son of Maryam, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Maryam and a soul [created at a command] from Him.” (An-Nisa 4:171)

25. Muhammad (محمد)

Muhammad (SAW) is the final prophet and messenger, the Seal of the Prophets. His name appears four times in the Quran, and one of his titles — Ahmad — appears once in Surah As-Saf.

مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ

“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and the seal [i.e., last] of the prophets.” (Al-Ahzab 33:40)

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Which Prophet Is Mentioned the Most in the Quran?

Musa (AS) is mentioned the most in the Quran, appearing 136 times across dozens of surahs. Ibrahim (AS) is the second most mentioned, named 69 times. The table below shows the most frequently mentioned prophets by name count.

Prophet	Arabic Name	Times Mentioned
Musa	موسى	136
Ibrahim	إبراهيم	69
Nuh	نوح	43
Lut	لوط	27
Isa	عيسى	25
Adam	آدم	25
Yusuf	يوسف	27
Isma’il	إسماعيل	12

The frequency of Musa’s mention reflects the enormous depth of his story — his confrontation with Pharaoh, the Exodus, the revelation of the Torah, and his direct conversations with Allah are spread across dozens of surahs. 

In our teaching at Buruj Academy, we find that students who read the Quran for the first time are often surprised to discover how much of the Quran is dedicated to the stories of the prophets.

What Is the Difference Between a Nabi and a Rasul in the Quran?

The Quran uses two terms for those Allah sent to guide humanity — Nabi (نبي) meaning prophet, and Rasul (رسول) meaning messenger. Every Rasul is a Nabi, but not every Nabi is a Rasul. A Rasul was given a new divine scripture or law (shari’ah) to deliver to a people, while a Nabi followed and upheld an existing message.

Among the 25 named in the Quran, those widely regarded as Rasul (messengers with a new shari’ah) include Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, and Muhammad (peace be upon them all). 

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Conclusion

The Quran names exactly 25 prophets and messengers — a number grounded in precise Quranic scholarship, not estimation. From Adam (AS), the first, to Muhammad (SAW), the last and final, each prophet’s story carries lessons of patience, faith, and divine guidance that remain as relevant today as when they were revealed.

What makes the Quran’s treatment of the prophets remarkable is not just the number named, but the depth and purpose of each narrative. Reading these stories in their original Arabic — with proper understanding of the language and context — transforms how a Muslim connects with the Quran. That connection begins with learning to read it well, and we at Buruj Academy are here to help every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prophets Mentioned in the Quran