Stories Of The Prophets In The Qur'an

Allah has sent all communities throughout history prophets to communicate them His religion. As Allah emphasises in the Qur'an, all acts and moral qualities of these prophets set an example for believers. Allah has advised believers to take prophets as their role models:

You have an excellent model in the Messenger of Allah, for all who put their hope in Allah and the Last Day and remember Allah much. (Surat al-Ahzab, 21)

For that reason every believer should carefully examine all the information given in the Qur'an about the prophets, learn about their lives, their practice of moral excellence and the deep devotion they showed to Allah. In this way he can seek the high morality of the most worthy people who ever lived on the face of the earth...

In addition, every event Allah narrates in the Qur'an regarding the prophets is surely enlightening and instructive for the lives of all believers. That is because believers who follow the prophets will go through similar experiences to what the prophets and their followers went through, as Allah stated in His verse 'or did you suppose that you would enter the Garden without facing the same as those who came before you?...'. (Surat al-Baqara, 214)

Therefore a careful examination of the life styles of the prophets Allah narrates in the Qur'an will benefit believers. Allah states in the Qur'an that there are lessons in the stories of the prophets for 'people of intelligence':

There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence. This is not a narration which has been invented but confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe. (Surah Yusuf, 111)

A MESSENGER has been sent TO EVERY COMMUNITY

We have sent you with the truth bringing good news and giving warning. There is no community to which a warner has not come. (Surah Fatir, 24)

We sent a Messenger among every people saying: 'Worship Allah and keep clear of all false gods.' Among them were some whom Allah guided but others received the misguidance they deserved. Travel about the earth and see the final fate of the deniers. (Surat an-Nahl, 36)

We have never destroyed a city without giving it prior warning. (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 208)

EVERY COMMUNITY has been sent A MESSENGER speakIng the language of Its people

We have not sent any Messenger except with the language of his people so he can make things clear to them. Allah misguides anyone He wills and guides anyone He wills. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surah Ibrahim, 4)

THE PURPOSE OF SENDING PROPHETS

We do not send the Messengers except to bring good news and to give warning. As for those who believe and put things right, they will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-An'am, 48)

That was because their Lord would never have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were unaware. (Surat al-An'am, 131)

We only sent you for the whole of mankind, bringing good news and giving warning. But most of mankind do not know it. (Surah Saba', 28)

Messengers bringing good news and giving warning, so that people will have no argument against Allah after the coming of the Messengers. Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. (Surat an-Nisa', 165)

OBEDIENCE TO PROPHETS AND ITs REWARD

You who believe! Have fear of Allah and believe in His Messenger. He will give you a double portion of His mercy and grant you a Light by which to walk and forgive you. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Hadid, 28)

Obey Allah and the Messenger so that hopefully you will gain mercy. (Surah Al 'Imran, 132)

... Allah has sent down a reminder to you, a Messenger reciting Allah's Clear Signs to you to bring those who believe and do right actions out of the darkness into the Light. Whoever believes in Allah and acts rightly, We will admit him into Gardens with rivers flowing under them remaining in them timelessly, for ever and ever. Allah has provided for him excellently! (Surat at-Talaq, 10-11)

The reply of the believers when they are summoned to Allah and His Messenger so that he can judge between them, is to say, 'We hear and we obey.' They are ones who are successful. All who obey Allah and His Messenger and have awe of Allah and heed Him, they are the ones who are victorious. (Surat an-Nur, 51-52)

Children of Adam! If Messengers come to you from among yourselves, recounting My Signs to you, those who guard against evil and put things right, will feel no fear and will know no sorrow. (Surat al-A'raf, 35)

Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the Prophets and the loyal persons, the martyrs and the righteous. What excellent company such people are! (Surat an-Nisa', 69)

OBEDIENCE TO THE PROPHET IS OBEDIENCE TO Allah

Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. If anyone turns away, we did not send you to them as their keeper. (Surat an-Nisa', 80)

THE PROPHETS DID NOT ASK PEOPLE FOR ANY recompense

They are the ones Allah has guided, so be guided by their guidance. Say, 'I do not ask you for any wage for it. It is simply a reminder to all beings.' (Surat al-An'am, 90)

But most people, for all your eagerness, are not believers. You do not ask them for any wage for it. It is only a reminder to all beings. (Surah Yusuf, 103-104)

A man came running from the far side of the city, saying, "My people! Follow the Messengers! Follow those who do not ask you for any wage and who have received guidance." (Surah Ya Sin, 20-21)

We sent you only to bring good news and to give warning. Say: 'I do not ask you for any wage for it – only that anyone who wants to should make his way towards his Lord.' (Surat al-Furqan, 56-57)

Say: "I exhort you to do one thing alone: to stand before Allah in pairs and on your own and then reflect. Your companion is not possessed. He is only a warner come to you ahead of a terrible punishment." Say: "Whatever reward I might have asked of you is yours. My reward is the affair of Allah only. He is witness over all things." (Surah Saba', 46-47)

VERSES ADVISING THE PROPHETS TO BE STEADFAST In the face of THE DIFFICULTIES THEY ENCOUNTER

Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and fair admonition, and argue with them in the kindest way. Your Lord knows best who is misguided from His way. And He knows best who are guided. If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be patient. Be patient. But your patience is only by Allah. Do not be grieved by them and do not be constricted by the plots they hatch. (Surat an-Nahl, 125-127)

Perhaps you may destroy yourself with grief, chasing after them, if they do not believe in these words. (Surat al-Kahf, 6)

And were it not for a prior word from your Lord, and a specified term, it would inevitably have already taken place. So be steadfast in the face of what they say and glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting. And glorify Him during part of the night and at both ends of the day, so that hopefully you will be pleased. (Surah Ta Ha, 129-130)

So do not let their words distress you. We know what they keep secret and what they divulge. (Surah Ya Sin, 76)

We know that what they say distresses you. It is not that they are calling you a liar; the wrongdoers are just denying Allah's Signs. (Surat al-An'am, 33)

Do not grieve over them and do not let the plots they make distress you. (Surat an-Naml, 70)

So put your trust in Allah. You are clearly on a path of truth. You will not make dead men hear and you will not make deaf men hear the call when they turn their backs in flight. You will not guide blind men out of their error. You will not make anyone hear except for those who believe in Our Signs and so are Muslims. (Surat an-Naml, 79-81)

Those are the Signs of the Clear Book. Perhaps you will destroy yourself with grief because they will not become believers. If We wished We could send down a Sign to them from heaven, before which their heads would be bowed low in subjection. (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 2-4)

O Messenger! Do not be grieved by those who rush headlong into disbelief among those who say 'We believe' with their tongues when their hearts contain no faith. And among the Jews are those who listen to lies, listening to other people who have not come to you, distorting words from their proper meanings, saying, 'If you are given this, then take it. If you are not given it, then beware!' If Allah desires misguidance for someone, you cannot help him against Allah in any way. Those are the people whose hearts Allah does not want to purify. They will have disgrace in this world and in the hereafter they will have a terrible punishment. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 41)

Be steadfast in the face of what they say and cut yourself off from them – but courteously. (Surat al-Muzzammil, 10)

Proclaim what you have been ordered to and turn away from the idolaters. We are enough for you against the mockers, those who set up another god beside Allah. They will soon know! We know that your breast is constricted by what they say. So glorify your Lord with praise and be one of the prostrators. And worship your Lord until what is Certain comes to you. (Surat al-Hijr, 94-99)

DISOBEDIENCE to the PROPHETS AND ITS penalty

Those who reject Allah and His Messengers and desire to cause division between Allah and His Messengers, saying, "We believe in some and reject the others," wanting to take a pathway in between, such people are the true disbelievers. We have prepared a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers. (Surat an-Nisa', 150-151)

Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be subdued and overcome as those before them were also subdued and overcome. We have sent down Clear Signs. The disbelievers will have a humiliating punishment. (Surat al-Mujadala, 5)

How many cities spurned their Lord's command and His Messengers! And so We called them harshly to account and punished them with a terrible punishment. (Surat at-Talaq, 8)

As for those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and overstep His limits, We will admit them into a Fire, remaining in it timelessly, for ever. They will have a humiliating punishment. (Surat an-Nisa', 14)

Then We sent Our Messengers one after another, at intervals. Each time its Messenger came to a community they called him a liar so We made them follow one another too and turned them into myths and legends. Away with the people who do not believe! (Surat al-Mu'minun, 44)

PROPHETS ALLAH CITED IN THE QUR'AN

1. Prophet Adam (as)

2. Prophet Idris (as)

3. Prophet Nuh (as)

4. Prophet Hud (as)

5. Prophet Salih (as)

6. Prophet Ibrahim (as)

7. Prophet Lut (as)

8. Prophet Isma'il (as)

9. Prophet Ishaq (as)

10. Prophet Ya'qub (as)

11. Prophet Yusuf (as)

12. Prophet Ayyub (as)

13. Prophet Dhu'l-Kifl (as)

14. Prophet Shu'ayb (as)

15. Prophet Musa (as)

16. Prophet Harun (as)

17. Prophet Dawud (as)

18. Prophet Sulayman (as)

19. Prophet Ilyas (as)

20. Prophet Al-Yasa' (as)

21. Prophet Yunus (as)

22. Prophet Zakariyya (as)

23. Prophet Yahya (as)

24. Prophet 'Isa (as)

25. Prophet Muhammad (saas)

THE STORY OF the PROPHET ADAM (AS)

Creation of Prophet Adam (as)

The likeness of 'Isa in Allah's sight is the same as Adam. He created him from earth and then He said to him, "Be!" and he was. (Surah Al 'Imran, 59)

Allah taught the Prophet Adam (as) the Names of Things

When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am putting a overlord on the earth,' they said, 'Why put on it one who will cause corruption on it and shed blood when we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your purity?' He said, 'I know what you do not know.' He taught Adam the names of all things. Then He arrayed them before the angels and said, 'Tell me the names of these if you are telling the truth.' (Surat al-Baqara, 30-31)

The Obedience of Angels to Allah

They said, 'Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.' He said, 'Adam, tell them their names.' When he had told them their names, He said, 'Did I not tell you that I know the Unseen of the heavens and the earth, and I know what you make known and what you hide?' (Surat al-Baqara, 32-33)

When I have formed him and breathed My Spirit into him, fall down in prostration in front of him!' Then the angels prostrated all together, every one of them – except Iblis. He disdained to be one of the prostrators. (Surat al-Hijr, 29-31)

The Disobedience of Iblis (Diabolis)

When We said to the angels, 'Prostrate yourselves to Adam' They prostrated, except for Iblis. He said 'What! Am I to prostrate to one You have created out of clay?' He said, 'Do you see this creature you have honoured over me? If You reprieve me till the Day of Rising, I will be the master of his descendants except for a very few.' (Surat al-Isra', 61-62)

He said, 'Iblis, what is it that prevents you being among the prostrators?' He said, 'I will not prostrate to a human being whom You have created out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud.' He said, 'Get out from here, you are accursed. The curse will be on you till the Day of Reckoning.' (Surat al-Hijr, 32-35)

He said, 'What prevented you from prostrating when I commanded you to?' He replied, 'I am better than him. You created me from fire and You created him from clay.' He said, 'Descend from Heaven. It is not for you to be arrogant in it. So get out! You are one of the abased.' (Surat al-A'raf, 12-13)

The Insistence of Satan on Disobedience

He said, 'My Lord, grant me a reprieve until the Day they are raised again.' He said, 'You are among the reprieved until the Day whose time is known.' (Surat al-Hijr, 36-38)

He said, 'Grant me a reprieve until the day they are raised up.' (Surat al-A'raf, 14)

Whoever is guided is only guided to his own good. Whoever is misguided is only misguided to his detriment. No burden-bearer can bear another's burden. We never punish until We have sent a Messenger. (Surat al-Isra', 15)

Satan's Oath

He said, 'By Your misguidance of me, I will lie in ambush for them on your straight path. Then I will come at them, from in front of them and behind them, from their right and from their left. You will not find most of them thankful.' (Surat al-A'raf, 16-17)

The Influence of Satan

He said, 'My Lord, because You misled me, I will make things on the earth seem good to them and I will mislead them all, every one of them, except Your servants among them who are sincere.' He said, 'This is a Straight Path to Me. (Surat al-Hijr, 39-41)

'But as for My servants, you will not have any authority over them.' Your Lord suffices as a guardian. (Surat al-Isra', 65)

'You have no authority over any of My servants except for the misled who follow you.' Hell is the promised meeting-place for all of them. (Surat al-Hijr, 42-43)

Satan is Driven Out

He said, 'Go! And as for any who follow you, your repayment is Hell, repayment in full! Stir up any of them you can with your voice and rally against them your cavalry and your infantry and share with them in their children and their wealth and make them promises! The promise of Satan is nothing but delusion. (Surat al-Isra', 63-64)

He said, 'Get out of it, reviled and driven out. As for those of them who follow you, I will fill up Hell with every one of you.' (Surat al-A'raf, 18)

The Testing of the Prophet Adam (as)

'Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat of it wherever you like. But do not go near this tree lest you become wrongdoers.' (Surat al-A'raf, 19)

We said, 'Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat freely from it wherever you will. But do not approach this tree and so become wrongdoers.' (Surat al-Baqara, 35)

We said, 'Adam, this is an enemy for you and your wife, so do not let him expel you from the Garden and thus make you miserable. You will not go hungry in it or suffer from nakedness. You will not go thirsty in it or burn in the sun.' (Surah Ta Ha, 117-119)

We made a contract with Adam before, but he forgot. We did not find that he had a firm resolve. (Surah Ta Ha, 115)

Following Satan and Its Reward

Then Satan whispered to them, disclosing to them their private parts that had been concealed from them. He said, 'Your Lord has only forbidden you this tree lest you become angels or among those who live for ever.' He swore to them, 'I am one of those who give you good advice.' So he enticed them to do it by means of trickery. Then when they tasted the tree, their private parts were disclosed to them and they started stitching together the leaves of the Garden in order to cover themselves. Their Lord called out to them, 'Did I not forbid you this tree and say to you, "Satan is an outright enemy to you"?' (Surat al-A'raf, 20-22)

But Satan whispered to him, saying, 'Adam, shall I show you the way to the Tree of Everlasting Life and to a kingdom which will never fade away?' So the two of them ate from it and their private parts were disclosed to them and they started stitching together the leaves of the Garden to cover themselves. Adam disobeyed his Lord and became misled. (Surah Ta Ha, 120-121)

The Story of the Prophet Nuh (AS)

Prophet Nuh (as) was Sent to His People as a Messenger

We sent Nuh to his people and he said, 'My people, worship Allah! You have no other god than Him. I fear for you the punishment of a dreadful Day.' (Surat al-A'raf, 59)

The Prophet Nuh (as) Calls His People to Religion

We sent Nuh to his people: 'I am a clear warner to you. Worship none but Allah. I fear for you the punishment of a painful day.' (Surah Hud, 25-26)

We sent Nuh to his people: 'Warn your people before a painful punishment comes to them.' (Surah Nuh, 1)

We sent Nuh to his people and he said, 'My people, worship Allah. You have no god other than Him. So will you not guard against evil?' (Surat al-Mu'minun, 23)

We sent Nuh to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; yet the Flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 14)

The people of Nuh denied the Messengers. When their brother Nuh said to them, 'Will you not guard against evil? I am a faithful Messenger to you so have fear of Allah and obey me. I do not ask you for any wage for it. My wage is the responsibility of no one but the Lord of all the worlds. So have fear of Allah and obey me.' (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 105-110)

The Attitude of Unbelievers towards the Prophet Nuh (as)

They said, 'Why should we believe you when the vilest people follow you?' He said, 'What do I know about what they have been doing? Their reckoning is the concern of my Lord alone if you were but aware. I am not going to chase away the believers. I am only a clear warner.' (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 111-115)

The ruling circle of those of his people who were disbelievers said, 'This is nothing but a human being like yourselves who simply wants to gain ascendancy over you. If Allah had wanted He would have sent angels down. We never heard of anything like this among our ancestors, the earlier peoples. He is nothing but a man possessed so wait a while and see what happens to him.' (Surat al-Mu'minun, 24-25)

They said, 'Nuh, if you do not desist you will be stoned.' (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 116)

The Prophet Nuh's (as) Perseverance in Communicating Religion

He said, 'My people, I am a clear warner to you. Worship Allah, have fear of Him and obey me. He will forgive you your wrong actions and defer you until a specified time. When Allah's time comes it cannot be deferred, if you only knew.' He said, 'My Lord, I have called my people night and day but my calling has only made them more evasive. Indeed, every time I called them to Your forgiveness, they put their fingers in their ears, wrapped themselves up in their clothes and were overweeningly arrogant. Then I called them openly. Then I addressed them publicly and addressed them privately. I said, "Ask forgiveness of your Lord.Truly He is Endlessly Forgiving. He will send heaven down on you in abundant rain and reinforce you with more wealth and sons, and grant you gardens and grant you waterways. What is the matter with you that you do not hope for honour from Allah, when He created you by successive stages? Do you not see how He created seven heavens in layers, and placed the moon as a light in them and made the sun a blazing lamp? Allah caused you to grow from the earth then will return you to it and bring you out again. Allah has spread the earth out as a carpet for you so that you could use its wide valleys as roadways."' (Surah Nuh, 2-20)

The Prophet Nuh's (as) Attitude Towards His People

The ruling circle of those of his people who were disbelievers said, 'We do not see you as anything but a human being like ourselves. We do not see anyone following you but the lowest of us, unthinkingly. We do not see you as superior to us. On the contrary, we consider you to be liars.' He said, 'My people! What do you think? If I were to have clear evidence from my Lord and He had given me a mercy direct from Him, but you were blind to it, could we force it on you if you were unwilling? My people! I do not ask you for any wealth for it. My wage is the responsibility of Allah alone. I will not chase away those who believe. They are surely going to meet their Lord. However, I see you as ignorant people. My people! Who would help me against Allah if I did drive them away? So will you not pay heed? I do not say to you that I possess the treasuries of Allah; nor do I know the Unseen; nor do I say that I am an angel; nor do I say to those who are vile in your eyes that Allah will not give them any good. Allah knows best what is in their hearts. If I did, I would certainly be one of the wrongdoers.' (Surah Hud, 27-31)

The ruling circle of his people said, 'We see you in flagrant error.' He said, 'My people, I am not in error at all but rather am a Messenger from the Lord of all the worlds, transmitting my Lord's Message to you and giving you good counsel, and I know from Allah what you do not know. Or are you astonished that a reminder should come to you from your Lord by way of a man among you, to warn you and make you guard against evil so that hopefully you will gain mercy?' (Surat al-A'raf, 60-63)

They said, 'Nuh, you have argued with us and argued much so bring us what you have promised us if you are telling the truth.' He said, 'Allah will bring it to you if He wills and you will not be able to prevent it. My counsel will not benefit you, for all my desire to counsel you, if Allah desires to lead you into error. He is your Lord and you will return to Him.' (Surah Hud, 32-34)

Recite to them the story of Nuh when he said to his people, 'My people, if my standing here and reminding you of Allah's Signs has become too much for you to bear, know that I have put my trust in Allah. So decide, you and your gods, on what you want to do and be open about it. Do with me whatever you decide and do not keep me waiting. (Surah Yunus, 71)

It was revealed to Nuh: 'None of your people are going to believe except for those who already believe, so do not be distressed at what they do. (Surah Hud, 36)

The Destruction of the People of Nuh: Building the Ark

We revealed to him: 'Build the Ship under Our supervision and as We reveal. When Our command comes and water bubbles up from the earth, load into it a pair of every species, and your family – except for those among them against whom the word has already gone ahead. And do not address Me concerning those who do wrong. They shall be drowned. (Surat al-Mu'minun, 27)

Build the Ark under Our supervision and as We reveal and do not address Me concerning the wrongdoers. They shall be drowned.' He began to build the Ark and every time some nobles of his people passed him by, they ridiculed him. He said, 'Though you ridicule us now, we will certainly ridicule you as you do us. You will soon know who will receive a punishment which disgraces him and find unleashed against himself an everlasting punishment.' (Surah Hud, 37-39)

The Embarkation of Believers in the Ark

So when Our command came, and water bubbled up from the earth, We said, 'Load into it a pair of every species, and your family – except for those against whom the Word was preordained – and all who believe.' But those who believed with him were only few. He said, 'Embark in it. In the name of Allah be its voyage and its landing! Truly my Lord is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.' (Surah Hud 40-41)

The Flood

So We opened the gates of heaven with torrential water and made the earth burst forth with gushing springs. And the waters met together in a way which was decreed. We bore him on a planked and well-caulked ship, which ran before Our eyes –a reward for him who had been rejected. (Surat al-Qamar, 11-14)

The Prophet Nuh's (as) Talk with His Son

It sailed with them through mountainous waves, and Nuh called out to his son, who had kept himself apart, 'My son! Come on board with us. Do not stay with the disbelievers!' He said, 'I will take refuge on a mountain; It will protect me from the flood.' He said, 'There is no protection from Allah's command today except for those He has mercy on.' The waves surged in between them and he was among the drowned. (Surah Hud, 42-43)

The Advice of Allah to the Prophet Nuh (as)

Nuh called out to his Lord and said, 'My Lord, my son is one of my family and Your promise is surely the truth and You are the Justest of Judges.' He said, 'Nuh, he is definitely not of your family. He is someone whose action was not righteous. Do not, therefore, ask Me for something about which you have no knowledge. I admonish you lest you should be among the ignorant.' He said, 'My Lord, I seek refuge with You from asking You for anything about which I have no knowledge. If You do not forgive me and have mercy on me, I will be among the lost.' (Surah Hud, 45-47)

The End of The Flood

It was said, 'Earth, swallow up your water!' and, 'Heaven, hold back your rain!' And the water subsided and the affair was concluded and the Ark came to land on al-Judi. And it was said, 'Away with the people of the wrongdoers!' (Surah Hud, 44)

The Rescue of the Believers who were in the Ark

It was said, 'Nuh, descend with peace from Us and with blessings on you and on the nations which will issue from those who are with you. But there are nations to whom we will give enjoyment and then a painful punishment from Us will afflict them.' (Surah Hud, 48)

So We rescued him and those with him in the loaded ship. (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 119)

We rescued him and the occupants of the Ark and made that into a Sign for all the worlds. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 15)

Nuh called out to Us and what an excellent Responder We are! We rescued him and his family from the terrible plight and made his descendants the survivors; and We left the later people to say of him: 'Peace be upon Nuh among all beings!' (Surat as-Saffat, 75-79)

And say: "My Lord, land me in a blessed landing-place. You are the best Bringer to Land."' There are Signs in that. We are always putting people to the test. Then We raised up another generation after them. (Surat al-Mu'minun, 29-31)