From Ādam
to Muḥammad ﷺ.
The 25 prophets named in the Qurʾan, in chronological order — each linked to Ibn Kathir's Stories of the Prophets where the full narrative is recorded, and to any surah that bears their name.
16 prophets have a full audio narrative in the Joyful Muslims library.
- 01
Ādam
آدم"Adam"
The beginning · Paradise, then EarthAbū al-Bashar (Father of Humanity)Ṣafī Allāh (The Chosen)The first human and the first prophet. Allah created him from clay, taught him the names of all things, and commanded the angels to prostrate to him.
- 02
Idrīs
إدريس"Enoch"
Pre-flood antiquity · Traditional Babylon / EgyptTaught the pen, astronomy, and the stitching of clothThe Qurʾan says Allah raised Idrīs to a high station. The classical commentators transmitted that he was the first to write with a pen and to read the stars.
- 03
Nūḥ
نوح"Noah"
Before the great flood · Traditional MesopotamiaUlū al-ʿAzm (Of Steadfast Resolve)Called his people to tawḥīd for 950 years. They rejected him. The flood came. He built the ark by Allah's command; everything outside it perished.
- 04
Hūd
هودAfter the flood · al-Aḥqāf (southern Arabia)Sent to the people of ʿĀd — a civilization of towering builders. They rejected him. A scorching wind erased them for seven nights and eight days.
- 05
Ṣāliḥ
صالحAncient Arabia · al-Ḥijr (between the Hejaz and Tabūk)Sent to Thamūd, who carved cities into mountains. They demanded a sign; Allah brought a she-camel from the rock. They hamstrung her. The earth seized them.
- 06
Ibrāhīm
إبراهيم"Abraham"
c. 2000 BCE traditional · Ur → al-Shām → MakkahKhalīl Allāh (The Friend of Allah)Ulū al-ʿAzmImām al-ḤunafāʾArgued with his idol-carving father, shattered the idols, was thrown into the fire, survived; took his family to the wilderness of Makkah and raised the Kaaba with his son Ismāʿīl.
- 07
Ismāʿīl
إسماعيل"Ishmael"
c. 2000 BCE traditional · MakkahDhabīḥ Allāh (The Sacrifice of Allah)The son Ibrāhīm was asked to sacrifice and who agreed. The ram was sent. Together they raised the Kaaba. From his descendants came the Prophet ﷺ.
- 08
Isḥāq
إسحاق"Isaac"
c. 1900 BCE traditional · CanaanSon of Ibrāhīm and Sarah, born when both were past the age of bearing children. A prophet and the father of the prophets of the Banū Isrāʾīl.
- 09
Yaʿqūb
يعقوب"Jacob"
c. 1800 BCE traditional · Canaan → EgyptIsrāʾīlSon of Isḥāq. Father of twelve sons — the tribes of Banū Isrāʾīl. Grieved for his lost son Yūsuf until their reunion in Egypt.
- 10
Yūsuf
يوسف"Joseph"
c. 1700 BCE traditional · Canaan → EgyptBetrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, imprisoned falsely, elevated to the highest office in Egypt through a dream interpretation. The most complete prophetic biography in the Qurʾan, told in a single surah.
- 11
Ayyūb
أيوب"Job"
Ancient · al-ShāmTested with the loss of his wealth, his children, and his health for eighteen years. The single word the Qurʾan records him saying: "Harm has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful." He was restored.
- 12
Shuʿayb
شعيبAfter Ibrāhīm · Madyan (northwest Arabia)Khaṭīb al-Anbiyāʾ (The Orator of the Prophets)Sent to a nation that cheated in trade. He called them to justice in weights and measures — a mission the Qurʾan details. They rejected him; a tremor seized them.
- 13
Mūsā
موسى"Moses"
c. 1400 BCE traditional · Egypt → Sinai → ShāmKalīm Allāh (The One Who Spoke With Allah)Ulū al-ʿAzmReceived: The Torah (Tawrāh)
The prophet the Qurʾan mentions by name more than any other. Raised in Pharaoh's palace, fled to Madyan, returned with his brother Hārūn to free his people. The sea parted.
- 14
Hārūn
هارون"Aaron"
c. 1400 BCE traditional · Egypt → SinaiBrother of Mūsā, granted prophethood on Mūsā's request. His role was to speak — the Qurʾan calls him "more eloquent of tongue." He stayed with the people while Mūsā went to the mountain.
- 15
Yūshaʿ
يوشع"Joshua"
c. 1300 BCE traditional · CanaanCompanion of Mūsā, then his successor. Led Banū Isrāʾīl into the Holy Land after forty years in the wilderness. The sun, classical sources say, was held back for him to complete a battle on a Friday.
- 16
Dāwūd
داود"David"
c. 1000 BCE traditional · JerusalemKhalīfahReceived: The Zabūr (Psalms)
King of Banū Isrāʾīl, defeated Jālūt (Goliath) as a young man with a stone. Given the Zabūr. His voice, the traditions say, moved mountains.
- 17
Sulaymān
سليمان"Solomon"
c. 970 BCE traditional · JerusalemSon of Dāwūd. Given a kingdom no one would equal after him, and understanding of the speech of birds and ants. Met the Queen of Sabaʾ; received her submission to Allah.
- 18
Ilyās
إلياس"Elijah"
c. 900 BCE traditional · BaʿlbekSent to a people who worshipped the idol Baʿl. They drove him out. Allah sent famine on them, then rain when they repented through his prayer.
- 19
al-Yasaʿ
اليسع"Elisha"
c. 850 BCE traditional · al-ShāmSuccessor of Ilyās among the prophets. Continued the work of calling the people back to tawḥīd.
- 20
Dhū al-Kifl
ذو الكفلAncient · Traditional al-ShāmThe Qurʾan praises him among the patient. The classical sources transmit little beyond his name — a prophet known for fulfilling a specific kafālah (guarantee).
- 21
Yūnus
يونس"Jonah"
c. 750 BCE traditional · NinevehDhū al-Nūn (The Companion of the Whale)Sent to Nineveh. Left his people before the promised punishment was lifted. Boarded a ship. Was thrown into the sea. A whale swallowed him. In its darkness he cried the words that the Qurʾan preserves — and he was spared.
- 22
Zakariyyā
زكريا"Zechariah"
c. 1 BCE traditional · JerusalemAn elderly priest who had never had a son. He saw Maryam in her prayer chamber, found fruit out of season, and made duʿāʾ for an heir of his own. He was given Yaḥyā.
- 23
Yaḥyā
يحيى"John the Baptist"
c. 1 CE traditional · JerusalemSayyid wa-Ḥaṣūr (A Leader and Chaste)Son of Zakariyyā, given wisdom in his youth. The Qurʾan greets him with peace on three days: the day he was born, the day he died, and the day he will be raised.
- 24
ʿĪsā
عيسى"Jesus"
c. 0 CE traditional · Jerusalemal-Masīḥ (The Messiah)Rūḥ Allāh (A Spirit from Allah)Ulū al-ʿAzmReceived: The Injīl (Gospel)
Born of Maryam without a father. Spoke from the cradle. Healed the blind and raised the dead by Allah's permission. Raised to Allah; will return before the Day.
- 25
Muḥammad ﷺ
محمد"Muhammad"
570–632 CE · Makkah → MadinahKhātam al-Nabiyyīn (The Seal of the Prophets)Raḥmatun lil-ʿĀlamīnUlū al-ʿAzmReceived: The Qurʾan
The final messenger. Born in Makkah, orphaned young, received revelation at forty. Emigrated to Madinah, returned to Makkah in victory without a drop of blood shed. Died in 632 leaving the religion complete.
The Five of Steadfast Resolve
The Qurʾan distinguishes five prophets by the depth of their endurance — the pillars of the prophetic tradition.
Hear every story, in the voice of Ibn Kathir.
The full Stories of the Prophets is in the app — twenty-two hours of classical narrative, in English.