Number of Prophets, Messengers and those of determination amongst them
Fatwa No: 18480

Question

How many Prophets, Messengers and those of determination amongst them?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

 

The number of Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, is mentioned in a narration on the authority of Abu Tharr in which he asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about the first Prophet and the number of Messengers. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied that the first prophet was ’Aadam and the number of Messengers was 313 to 319. [Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan]

In another narration on the authority of Abu Umaamah that Abu Tharr asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about the number of Prophets and he  replied that they were 124 thousand among whom were 315 messengers. [At-Tabreezi]

As for the number of Messengers of strong determination, they were five, and they are mentioned in the Saying of Allaah (which means): {And [mention, O Muhammad], when We took from the prophets their covenant and from you and from Nooh (Noah) and Ibraaheem (Abraham) and Moosaa (Moses) and ‘Eesaa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary); and We took from them a solemn covenant. } [Quran 33:7]

Allaah Knows best.

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