We will now read the verses of the Qura’n with all humility.

Verse 78 of Surah Mumin says:

“Indeed We have sent messengers before you And We have related the stories about some of them.”

This tells us about the absence of the names of many prophets in the Qura’n

(At least in the Surahs revealed before the revelation of Surah Mumin) (1) Indeed their numbers are greater. This fact is confirmed by verse 164 of Surah Nisaa that says:

“And the Messengers We have already mentioned to you earlier and the messengers We have not mentioned and God spoke to Moses directly in words” (2)

There is no source of confirmation of the numbers of the prophets other than the Qura’n but some of the verses tell us that their numbers are great. In verse 24 of Surah Fatir we read:

“Verily! We have sent you with the truth the bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner, There was never a nation but a warner had come to it.”

The term “Carrier of glad tidings” and “A Warner” has come for the Last Messenger. The word “Nazeer” in the verse may mean many prophets and messengers. The common interpretation is that a Warner came to warn each nation. Some people have given the word “Nazeer” vast connotations and it includes the common jurists and scholars who warn the people but this goes against the meaning of the verse.

According to the Qura’n the number of the prophets is unconfirmed.

A Question:

The Question raised here is: How can we account for the numbers as mentioned in the above and other verses addressed to the Holy Messenger?

God in verse 44 of Surah Saba says:

“And We have not given them s c r i p tures they could study nor sent them any warner before you.”

In verses 5 and 6 of Surah Ya-Sin God says:

“ (This is) a revelation sent down by the all-mighty, most merciful in order that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned , so they are heedless.” (3)

The Answer

It is evident that the word “Nazeer” in these verses refers to the great prophets special the elite ones who have spread their message everywhere. Moreover there are intellectual and recorded proofs for the seeker of knowledge in all times.  

The period between our Messenger and apostle Jesus seems to be static and this is because of the absence of the great prophet and not due to the absence of God’s guidance.

Hazrat Imam Ali has spoken about this and said: “God appointed Mohammad and there is no one among the Arabs who reads a book and no one has claimed to be a prophet.”(4)

We find that the number of the prophets in this great history of mankind is vast.

Qura’n mentions only 26 prophets and they are : Adam, Noah, Idris, Saleh, Huod, Abraham,, Ishmael, Isaac, Joseph, Lot, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Shuaib, Zachariah, John the Baptist, David, Solomon, Elias, Isias, Isaiah , Job, Jonah, Enoch, and Mohammad (SAW)

Verses 83 to 86 of Surah Anam say:

“That was the proof WE gave Abraham against his people. We exalt whoever We please; verily your Lord is Wise and all Knowing. We gave him Isaac and Jacob; and we guided them both, and We guided Noah before them, and among his progeny are David and Solomon, Job and Joseph, Moses and Aaron, thus we do reward those who do god deeds. And Zachariah, John, Jesus, and Elias are all in the ranks of the righteous. And Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah and Lot; We exalted each over the world.”

Verse 85 of Surah Anbiya says:

“And Remember Ishmael and Enoch, Isaiah, all were among the forbearing ones.”

Surah Huod mentions two other i.e. Huod and Saleh: Verse 89 says:

“O my people! Do not opposition to me cause you to suffer the fate similar to that of Noah, Huod, and Saleh? The people of Lot are not far of from you.”

Verse 36 of Surah Ankabut mentions Shuaib. It says:

“And to Madyan We sent their brother Shuaib”

Verse 30 of Surah Taubah mentions Ezra:

“The Jews say Ezra is the son of god.”

Verse 33 of Surah Al Imran says:

“God chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham and the Family of Imran over mankind and Jinns.”

The last verse of Surah Fath mentions the Last Messenger by name:

“Mohammad is the Messenger of God”

There are 26 other prophets whom the Qura’n has not named like Samuel who is spoken about in verse 247 of Surah Baqarah:

“And their prophet (Samuel) said to them that God has appointed Saul”

Then there is Joshua who is mentioned in verse 60 [NOT 6 AS IN THE BOOK] of Surah Kahf Though most commentators believe that is Joshua son of Nun: “Behold Moses said to his young servant…”

Then there is Jeremiah who is mentioned in verse 259 of Surah Baqarah:

“Or like the one who passed by a town and it had tumbled over its roofs.

Some people have taken it to mean Aziz or the wandering Jew Khizr. Imam Mohammad Baqir has said that it is Jeremiah who has been spoken about.

Khizr (The Wandering Jew) has been mentioned in many verses of Surah Kahf one verse speaks about “Abdan min I’badina” Though he has not been mentioned specifically but it is well known that he too was an apostle of God. Various verses of Surah Kahf speak about him.

The prophets of Israel are mentioned in verse 163 of Surah Nisaa:

“ Verily We have revealed to you as We have revealed to Noah and the messengers after him; and We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Jesus, Job , Aaron and the tribes; and Solomon and We bestowed the Psalms on David.”

The word “Alasbatu” is the plural of “Sibtun” and it means the tribes of Bani Israel. Each one of them had its own prophet. In short the total number of prophets mentioned in the Qura’n is 26 for that is the number mentioned.

1. According to this statement Surah Mumin is the 57th Surah to be revealed to the Messenger.

2. According to the hadith Surah Nisaa is the 92nd Surah to be revealed to the Messenger.

3. According to the great commentators the word “Ma” in “Maa Unzira Aabaauhum” denotes negation for the words “Fahum Ghaafiluun”. The words in verse 3 of Surah Sajdah “To whom no warner has come before you; in order that they may be rightly guided” are ample proof. Some people think that the word “Ma” is the originating word or conjunctive but both these explanations seem very weak. We have discussed it in the view of the first meaning only.

4. Nahjul Balagha Sermon No 33 and 104

5. Some people have said that his name was “Joshua” and other say that his name was Samuel but the commentator believe that it was Samuel. (Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol.1and 2 page 25.