Prophets Family Tree

Adam (peace be upon him) is the first human being and the first prophet in Islam. Created by Allah from clay, he was taught the names of all things and was placed in Paradise before being sent to Earth. He is the father of all humanity.

Idris (peace be upon him) is known for his truthfulness and patience. He was the first to write with a pen and was raised to a high station by Allah. He is mentioned in the Quran as a truthful prophet.

Nuh (Noah, peace be upon him) is one of the five Ulul Azm (Prophets of Determination). He preached to his people for 950 years, calling them to worship Allah alone. When they rejected him, Allah commanded him to build an ark, and the Great Flood destroyed the disbelievers.

Hud (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of 'Ad, a powerful civilization in southern Arabia. He called them to abandon their idols and worship Allah alone. When they refused, Allah destroyed them with a furious wind.

Salih (peace be upon him) was sent to the Thamud people. Allah gave them a she-camel as a miraculous sign, but they hamstrung it in defiance. As a result, they were destroyed by a mighty blast.

Ibrahim (Abraham, peace be upon him) is one of the greatest prophets and one of the five Ulul Azm. Known as Khalilullah (Friend of Allah), he destroyed idols, was thrown into a fire that became cool, built the Kaaba with his son Ismail, and is the patriarch of both the Ishmaelite and Israelite prophetic lines.

Azar is mentioned in the Quran as the father (or uncle) of Prophet Ibrahim. He was an idol maker and worshipper who refused Ibrahim's call to monotheism. His story illustrates that prophetic lineage does not guarantee faith.

Lut (Lot, peace be upon him) was the nephew of Ibrahim who was sent as a prophet to the people of Sodom. He warned them against their immoral practices, but they refused to listen. Allah destroyed their cities by raining stones upon them.

Ismail (Ishmael, peace be upon him) is the firstborn son of Ibrahim through Hajar. He was left as an infant in the barren valley of Makkah where the well of Zamzam miraculously sprang. He helped his father build the Kaaba and willingly submitted to the command of sacrifice. He is the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).

Ishaq (Isaac, peace be upon him) is the second son of Ibrahim, born to Sarah in their old age as a miracle from Allah. He is the father of Yaqub (Jacob) and the ancestor of the Israelite prophets.

Yaqub (Jacob, peace be upon him), also known as Israel, was the son of Ishaq. He had twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. He is known for his patience during the long separation from his beloved son Yusuf.

Yusuf (Joseph, peace be upon him) is known for his exceptional beauty and his incredible story of patience. Thrown into a well by jealous brothers, sold into slavery in Egypt, falsely imprisoned, he eventually rose to become the minister of Egypt and reunited with his family.

Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Madyan. He called them to honest trade and fair dealing, as they were known for cheating in weights and measures. When they refused, they were destroyed by an earthquake.

Ayyub (Job, peace be upon him) is renowned for his extraordinary patience during severe trials. He lost his wealth, health, and family, yet never complained to anyone but Allah. Allah eventually restored everything to him and more.

Dhul-Kifl (peace be upon him) is mentioned twice in the Quran among the righteous and the patient. Scholars differ on his identity — some say he was Ezekiel, others that he was a righteous man who took upon himself a pledge to fast daily and pray at night.

Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) is the most frequently mentioned prophet in the Quran. One of the five Ulul Azm, he was raised in Pharaoh's palace, received the Torah on Mount Sinai, parted the Red Sea, and led the Israelites out of Egypt. He is known as Kalimullah — the one who spoke directly to Allah.

Imran is mentioned in Islamic tradition as the father of Musa and Harun. The family of Imran (Aal Imran) is honored in the Quran with an entire chapter named after them. Note: scholars distinguish between two Imrans — one the father of Musa and one the father of Maryam.

Dawud (David, peace be upon him) was both a prophet and a king of Israel. He defeated the giant Jalut (Goliath) as a young man, was given the Zabur (Psalms), and was known for his beautiful voice in praising Allah. Mountains and birds would join him in glorifying Allah.

Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) inherited the kingdom from his father Dawud and was given extraordinary powers by Allah. He could speak to animals and birds, commanded the jinn, and controlled the wind. His kingdom was the greatest ever seen.

Ilyas (Elijah, peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Baalbek who worshipped an idol called Baal. He called them back to worshipping Allah alone, but most of them rejected him.

Al-Yasa' (Elisha, peace be upon him) succeeded Ilyas as a prophet. He continued calling the people to monotheism. He is mentioned in the Quran as among the best of creation.

Yunus (Jonah, peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Nineveh. When he despaired of their response, he left without Allah's permission and was swallowed by a great whale. He called upon Allah from the belly of the whale and was saved. His people ultimately believed.

Zakariya (Zechariah, peace be upon him) was the guardian of Maryam (Mary). In his old age, seeing Allah's provision for Maryam, he prayed for a son. Allah granted him Yahya (John), despite his old age and his wife's barrenness.

Yahya (John, peace be upon him) was the son of Zakariya, born miraculously to elderly parents. He was given wisdom as a child and was the first to be given the name Yahya. He confirmed the word of Allah (Isa) and was known for his piety and compassion.

Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) is one of the five Ulul Azm prophets. Born miraculously to Maryam (Mary) without a father, he spoke from the cradle, healed the sick, and raised the dead by Allah's permission. He was given the Injil (Gospel). Muslims believe he was not crucified but raised to heaven alive and will return before the Day of Judgment.

Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the final prophet and messenger of Allah, the Seal of the Prophets. Born in Makkah in 570 CE, he received the first revelation of the Quran at age 40 in the Cave of Hira. He established the Muslim community, migrated to Madinah, and completed the message of Islam. He is a mercy to all of creation.