Characteristics of Prophets

Prophets are chosen servants of Allah, sent to guide humanity. They are tasked with showing people the right path, conveying Allah’s message, and leading exemplary lives. With Allah’s permission, prophets perform miracles and invite people to the true religion. They are the finest examples for humanity.

Table of Contents

Characteristics of Prophets
Core Attributes of Prophets
Other Attributes of Prophets
Belief in Prophets
Final Word

Characteristics of Prophets

Prophets are chosen and special servants of Allah, sent as a mercy to humanity. They guide people to the right path, convey Allah’s message, and lead exemplary lives. These blessed individuals perform miracles with Allah’s permission and invite people to the true religion. They are the finest examples for humanity.

Core Attributes of Prophets

Prophets possess certain fundamental attributes that distinguish them from other people and enhance trust in them. These attributes are:

Truthfulness (Sidq): Prophets always speak the truth and never lie. Their words and actions are always consistent.”And mention, in the Book, Abraham. Indeed, he was a man of truth and a prophet.” (Quran, Maryam 19:41)وَٱذْكُرْ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا
Trustworthiness (Amanah): Prophets protect any trust given to them in the best possible way and never betray it. They are always reliable individuals.”When their Lord said to them, “Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.” (Quran, Ash-Shu’ara 26:107-108)إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌ
Conveying the Message (Tabligh): Prophets deliver the revelation they receive from Allah to people completely and accurately. They experience no hesitation or fear in this regard.”O Messenger, convey that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.” (Quran, Al-Ma’idah 5:67)يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Intelligence and Wisdom (Fatanah): Prophets possess a superior intellect and wisdom. They find the best solutions to the problems they face and are successful in persuading people.(While this attribute is not explicitly stated in the Quran, it is evident in the lives of the prophets and the events they encountered.)
Infallibility (Ismah): Prophets are under Allah’s protection and are safeguarded from major sins. They do not commit sins and are always on the right path.(While this attribute is not explicitly stated in the Quran, according to Sunni belief, prophets are protected from major sins.)
Justice: Prophets fulfill Allah’s commands in the most accurate and just manner. They judge people with fairness and never act unjustly.

Other Attributes of Prophets

In addition to these core attributes, prophets possess other qualities:

Being Human: Prophets, like other people, eat, drink, sleep, and marry. They possess all the characteristics of being human.”And We did not make them [i.e., the prophets] bodies that did not eat food, nor were they immortal [i.e., not subject to death].” (Quran, Al-Anbiya 21:8)وَمَا جَعَلْنَا لِبَشَرٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ٱلْخُلْدَ ۖ أَفَإِي۟ن مِّتَّ فَهُمُ ٱلْخَـٰلِدُونَ
Being Male: All the prophets sent were men.(While this attribute is not explicitly stated in the Quran, it can be inferred from the fact that all the prophets sent were men.)
Receiving Revelation: Prophets receive revelation from Allah. This revelation occurs sometimes directly as a voice, sometimes through an angel, and sometimes through dreams.”And it was not [given] to any human being that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a barrier or that He sends a messenger and he reveals, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.” (Quran, Ash-Shura 42:51)وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
Performing Miracles: Prophets perform miracles with Allah’s permission. These miracles prove their prophethood and influence people.(Every prophet performed different miracles. For example, the staff of Prophet Moses, the healing of the sick and raising the dead by Prophet Jesus, and the Quran and the events of Isra and Mi’raj of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all).)
Possessing Supreme Morality: Prophets are individuals with the most beautiful character. They serve as examples for people and guide them to the right path.”There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” (Quran, Al-Ahzab 33:21)لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
Being Patient and Resilient: Prophets faced many difficulties while fulfilling their duties. However, they were always patient and resilient.(The lives of the prophets are full of examples of the difficulties they faced and the patience they displayed. For instance, the patience of Prophet Job in the face of his illness, and the patience of Prophet Joseph despite being thrown into a well and unjustly imprisoned.)
Being Courageous and Determined: Prophets displayed great courage and determination in spreading Allah’s religion and inviting people to the right path. No difficulty or threat deterred them from their path.

Belief in Prophets

As Muslims, we believe in all the prophets sent by Allah. We make no distinction between them. However, we give special importance to the last prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the Quran he brought. This is because the Quran has abrogated or partially abrogated the rulings of previous holy books and has been sent for all of humanity.

“Say, “We have believed in Allah and in what was revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Descendants, and in what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” (Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:136)
قُولُوا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِۦمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ

Final Word

Prophets are a mercy and guide for humanity. Their lives and teachings are the finest examples for us. Believing in them, loving them, and following their path brings us closer to Allah and leads us to happiness in this world and the hereafter. With the hope of attaining their intercession…

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