Islam Religion Prophets
Islam recognizes many prophets, with 25 explicitly named in the Quran, including Adam, Idris, Nuh (Noah), Hud, Salih, Ibrahim (Abraham), Lut (Lot), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob), Yusuf (Joseph), Shu'aib (Jethro), Ayyub (Job), Dhulkifl (Ezekiel), Musa (Moses), Harun (Aaron), Dawud (David), Sulayman (Solomon), Ilyas (Elijah), Alyasa (Elisha), Yunus (Jonah), Zakariya (Zachariah), Yahya (John the Baptist), Isa (Jesus), and the final prophet, Muhammad (Peace be upon them all). They are seen as brothers delivering the same core message of monotheism (Tawhid).
Key Prophets Mentioned in the Quran
Adam (Adam): The first human and prophet.
Nuh (Noah): Known for the Ark.
Ibrahim (Abraham): A revered patriarch, father of Ismail and Ishaq.
Musa (Moses): Received the Torah.
Isa (Jesus): Born of the Virgin Mary, received the Gospel.
Muhammad (PBUH): The final prophet, bringing the Quran.
Other Prominent Prophets
Idris (Enoch): Taught writing and astronomy.
Dawud (David): Received Psalms and wisdom.
Sulayman (Solomon): Son of David, known for his kingdom and wisdom.
Yunus (Jonah): The "Man in the Whale".
Yahya (John the Baptist): Foretold the coming of Jesus.
The Concept of Prophets
Universal Message: All prophets preached submission to one God (Allah).
Family of Prophets: Muslims view them as spiritual brothers, sharing the same faith.
Not Divine: Prophets are revered humans, not gods, with Jesus being a respected prophet, not the son of God.
Christian Prophets and claimed prophets:
Prophets in Christianity are figures who are widely recognized as prophets who are mentioned in the Old Testament and New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is believed that prophets are chosen and called by the one God.
The first list below consists of only those individuals that have been clearly defined as prophets, either by explicit statement or strong contextual implication, (e.g. the purported authors of the books listed as the major prophets and minor prophets) along with the biblical reference to their office. The second list consists of those individuals who are recorded as having had a visionary or prophetic experience, but without a history of any major or consistent prophetic calling. The third list consists of unnamed prophets. The fourth list contains the names of those described in the Bible as prophets, but who are presented as either misusing this gift or as fraudulent. The final list consists of post-biblical individuals regarded as prophets and of post-biblical individuals who are claimed to have had visionary or prophetic experience.
Main list
Torah / Pentateuch
The Rest of Tanakh and the New Testament
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D
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G
H
I
J
Horace Vernet, Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem (1844)
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M
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Unnamed prophets
A prophet (2 Chronicles 25:15–16)
Biblical people with claimed prophetic experiences
Men of God
A man of God (2 Chronicles 25:7–9)
False prophets and prophets of Baal
Main article: False prophet
Jezebel (Revelation) (Revelation 2:20) (not to be confused with the Jezebel of the Old Testament)
The false prophet of the Book of Revelation (16:13, 19:20, 20:10)
The false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:13–40)
Claimed post-biblical prophets
The following persons are considered by some Christians to be prophets, or to have had prophetic experiences.
Ammia of Philadelphia (fl. late 1st–early 2nd century AD)
Quadratus of Athens (2nd century, sometimes considered one of the seventy apostles)
Montanus, Prisca, and Maximilla (2nd century, founders of Montanism)
Quintilla (3rd century, founder of an offshoot movement from Montanism)
Iarlaithe mac Loga (6th century, founder of the School of Tuam)
Merlin (6th century, likely invented by Geoffrey of Monmouth from older legends, first appears in the Prophetiae Merlini)
Palladius of Embrun (6th century, Bishop of Embrun)
Columba (521–597, credited with spreading Christianity in Scotland)
Saint Malachy (1094–1148, Archbishop of Armagh and author of Prophecy of the Popes)
James Salomoni (1231–1314)
Joan of Arc (1412–1431)
Nostradamus (1503–1566)
Justus Velsius (1510–1571, Dutch faith healer who debated against John Calvin)
Eleanor Davies (poet) (1590–1652)
Ann Bathurst (17th century, member of the Philadelphians)
Martha Hatfield (17th century, Puritan)
John Bull (prophet) and Richard Farnham (17th century, claimed to be the two witnesses of the Book of Revelation)
Margareta i Kumla (17th century, claimed to have seen angels and demons fight over her soul)
John Robins (prophet) (17th century, Ranter rescued from Roundhead recourse by recanting his revelations)
Anne Wentworth (prophetess) (17th century, persecuted by Baptists)
John Reeve (religious leader) (1608–1658, co-founder of Muggletonianism)
Lodowicke Muggleton (1609–1698, co-founder of Muggletonianism)
Mary Cary (prophetess) (1621–1653, supporter of the Fifth Monarchists)
Eva Margareta Frölich (1650–1692) (Millennialist, pietist author and critic of the Church of Sweden)
Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772, founder of Swedenborgianism)
Joanna Southcott (1750–1814, author of prophecies kept in a box to be opened in times of national crisis, claimed judgement day would happen in 2004)
Public Universal Friend (1752–1819, preacher who claims to have died and been reborn without gender)
George Rapp (1757–1847, founder of the Harmony Society)
John Ward (prophet) (1781–1837, claimed successor of Joanna Southcott)
William Miller (preacher) (1782–1849, founder of Adventism)
John Wroe (1782–1863, founder of the Christian Israelite Church)
Bernhard Müller (1788–1834, founder of an offshoot from the Harmony Society, that would later start the Germantown Colony)
Helena Ekblom (1790–1859, Swedish preacher who was put in an asylum for refusing to comply with the Church of Sweden's doctrines)
Joseph Smith (1805–1844, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement)
Hong Xiuquan (1814–1864, founder of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom)
John Bosco (1815–1888, founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco)
Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910, founder of Christian Science)
Ellen G. White (1827–1915, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church)
John Alexander Dowie (1847–1907, founder of the Christ Community Church)
Nona L. Brooks (1861–1945, founder of the Church of Divine Science)
William Irvine (Scottish evangelist) (1863-1947), co-founder of the Two by Twos movement
Siener van Rensburg (1864–1926, advisor to Koos de la Rey, influenced the Suidlanders)
E. W. Kenyon[1] (1867–1948, possible line of transmission between the New Thought and Word of Faith movements)
Helena Konttinen (1871–1916, a "Sleeping preacher" who started a revivalist movement)
Felix Manalo (1886–1963, founder of the Iglesia ni Cristo)
Padre Pio (1887–1968, Catholic saint, purportedly predicted the papacy of John Paul II)
William M. Branham (1909–1965, influence on televangelism)
A. A. Allen[2] (1911–1970, Pentecostal evangelist and faith healer)
Kenneth Hagin[3] (1917–2003, pioneer of the Word of Faith movement)
Oral Roberts[4] (1918–2009, considered the godfather of the charismatic movement, founder of the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University)
T. L. Osborn[5] (1923–2013, Pentecostal evangelist and musician)
Pat Robertson (1930–2023, chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network, host of The 700 Club, noted for controversial statements)
David Wilkerson (1931–2011, author of The Cross and the Switchblade and founder of the Teen Challenge)
Reverend Ike[6] (1935–2009, noted for his slogan "You can't lose with the stuff I use!")
Kenneth Copeland[7] (born 1936, televangelist noted advocate of prosperity theology, and for claiming to have ended the COVID-19 pandemic)
Robert Tilton[8] (born 1946, televangelist noted for his prosperity theology infomercials and questionable fundraising practices).
Roch Thériault (1947–2011, founder of a polygamous doomsday cult called the Ant Hill Kids)
John Paul Jackson (1950–2015, author noted for dream interpretation)
Benny Hinn (born 1952, televangelist noted for faith healing and prosperity theology)
David Koresh (1959–1993, leader of the Branch Davidians during the Waco siege)
Creflo Dollar (born 1962, televangelist noted for prosperity theology)
T. B. Joshua (1963–2021, televangelist and founder of Synagogue, Church of All Nations)
Joshua Iginla (born 1969, televangelist, prosperity theology preacher, and megachurch pastor)
Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin (born 1972, founder of the Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry, criticized for flamboyant ministry)
Daniel Obinim (born 1977, minister noted for controversial actions and statements)
Asian Prophets:
Asian prophets are numerous across faiths, including figures like Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) and Mahavira in Dharmic traditions, Laozi and Confucius in Chinese thought, and many mentioned in Abrahamic faiths (Islam, Judaism, Christianity) such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, and Muhammad, who are considered prophets in Asia. The concept of prophet varies, but generally involves receiving divine messages, with figures like Hong Xiuquan also emerging as prophets in modern China.
Abrahamic Faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
Many prophets revered in the West are also considered Asian, originating from the Middle East and West Asia.
Early Prophets: Adam, Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Isaac (Ishaq), Jacob (Yaqub).
Israelite Prophets: Moses (Musa), Aaron (Harun), David (Dawud), Solomon (Sulaiman).
Later Prophets: Jesus (Isa), John the Baptist (Yahya), Muhammad.
Arabic Prophets (Islam): Hud, Saleh, Shu'aib, Ismail, Muhammad.
Dharmic Religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism)
Hinduism: Figures like Rama, Krishna, and ancient sages (Rishis) are revered as divine manifestations or prophets.
Buddhism: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) is a central spiritual leader and enlightened being, often seen as a prophet or guide.
Jainism: Mahavira is the last Tirthankara, a spiritual teacher who rediscovered the path to liberation.
Chinese Religions/Philosophies
Taoism: Laozi (Lao Tzu), the supposed author of the Tao Te Ching, is revered as a sage and spiritual guide.
Confucianism: Confucius (Kong Fuzi), a philosopher and teacher whose ethical teachings profoundly influenced East Asian culture, is seen as a sage or prophet figure.
Modern Prophet: Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Rebellion, proclaimed himself the younger brother of Jesus Christ and a prophet in 19th-century China.
Zoroastrianism: Zarathustra (Zoroaster) is the prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism, a major religion in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran).
African Prophets:
African prophets are spiritual leaders, both historical and contemporary, who claim divine insight to foretell the future, perform miracles, and guide their communities, ranging from traditional seers like Kenya's Mugo wa Kibiru, who warned of colonizers, to modern Pentecostal figures like Shepherd Bushiri (Malawi) or Uebert Angel (Zimbabwe), who lead large charismatic churches and offer spiritual and prosperity guidance, often with significant social and political influence.
Traditional & Historical Prophets
Mugo wa Kibiru (Kenya): A revered prophet from the Kikuyu people who foretold the arrival of white strangers (colonialists) and offered guidance for future self-rule.
William Wadé Harris (Liberia/Côte d'Ivoire): A prophet-healer who, after a divine visitation, spread Christianity in West Africa in the early 20th century.
Alice Lenshina (Zambia): Led the Lumpa Church, addressing witchcraft fears and offering moral cleansing and community renewal in the 1950s.
Modern Pentecostal Prophets (Examples)
Shepherd Bushiri (Malawi): Known as "Major 1," he leads the Jesus Nation Church, performing large-scale gatherings and claiming miraculous healings.
Emmanuel Makandiwa (Zimbabwe): Head of the United Family International Church (UFIC), known for massive congregations and prophecies.
Prophet Joshua (Nigeria): A well-known figure who gained fame for healing claims and philanthropic work, alongside controversies.
Uebert Angel (Zimbabwe/UK): Founder of the Spirit Embassy (GoodNews Church), focusing on prosperity gospel and wealth.
Roles & Characteristics
Miracles & Healing: Perform perceived miracles, healing diseases, changing fortunes, and bringing wealth.
Political & Social Influence: Hold significant sway in post-colonial nations, influencing politics and offering spiritual solutions to modern problems.
Prosperity Gospel: Many modern prophets preach that God desires wealth for believers, encouraging donations (tithes).
Community Leaders: Address existential fears and offer new identities, from combating witchcraft to critiques of political corruption.
Hindu "Prophets" and Religious Leaders:
Hinduism doesn't have "prophets" in the Abrahamic sense (founders or divine messengers bringing new laws) but recognizes enlightened sages (Rishis) who received divine knowledge (Vedas) and spiritual teachers (Gurus, Avatars) who guide humanity, like Krishna or Shiva, with figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Vivekananda seen as modern reformers reviving ancient truths. Key figures include the Vedic Rishis (Vashishta, Vishvamitra) and Avatars (Rama, Krishna) who reveal dharma, making Hinduism a path of continuous spiritual realization rather than a single revelation through one prophet.
Key Figures in Hinduism
Rishis (Sages):
Seers who heard and revealed the Vedic hymns, such as Kashyapa, Atri, Vashishta, and Vishvamitra.
Avatars (Incarnations):
Divine beings who descend to Earth to restore dharma, including Krishna and Rama.
Enlightened teachers who guide disciples, like Sankara (Adi Shankara) and Ramakrishna.
Modern figures who revitalized Hindu thought, such as Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi.
Key Concepts
No Single Founder:
Hinduism is considered "Sanatana Dharma" (eternal law) and evolved over millennia from various sources, lacking a specific starting point or prophet.
Revelation vs. Prophecy:
The Vedas are considered apauruṣeya (unauthored), revealed directly by God to the Rishis, not delivered through a single prophetic figure.
Multiple Paths:
Hinduism embraces diverse spiritual paths and perspectives, recognizing many enlightened beings rather than one exclusive messenger.
In Summary
Instead of prophets, Hinduism honors Rishis (seers), Avatars (divine manifestations), and Gurus (teachers) who reveal eternal truths, making it a religion of wisdom traditions rather than a prophet-centered faith.
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