Joshua (Ar., Yūshaʿ b. Nūn) is not mentioned in the Qurʾān, but, according to some exegeses, certain verses must allude to him. Most of the sources, beginning with the early commentaries, have identified Joshua as the servant (Ar. fatā ) of Moses mentioned in Q 18:60, 62, in the…
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Job (Ar., Ayyūb) is mentioned in two extended passages in the Qurʾān, 21:83–4 and 38:41–4; he is also mentioned, along with other prophets, in two other verses (Q 4:163, 6:84). The first of the long passages (Q 21:83–4) mentions Job’s invocation to God and the fact that God reli…
Islamic tradition and literature give various versions of the name of Jeremiah (Ar., Irmiyā/Irmiyāʾ, Armiyā, Urmiyā) and tell his story in various episodes. In some of these, his story overlaps with accounts of such figures as Ezra, Daniel, and Nebuchadnezzar. The name Jeremiah,…
Japheth is not mentioned in the Qurʾān. The Qurʾān mentions the story of Noah in several passages but offers little regarding his family. There is reference to a wicked wife (Q 66:10) and an impious son (Q 11:40–6), the latter usually identified in later traditions as Canaan or …
Jacob was a prophet mentioned in several Qurʾānic verses. He is mentioned along with Abraham, for what they recommended to his sons (Q 2:132). His name appears after the names of Abraham, Ishmael, and Isaac (Q 2:136, 140, 3:84, 4:163) and, in some passages, before the names of o…
The angel Isrāfīl (Seraphiel), who will blow the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection, is not named in the Qurʾān but is treated at length in eschatological treatises and books. In fact, of all the angels, Muslim traditions show a peculiar preference for four in particular: Gabrie…
Ishmael (Ismāʾīl), the biblical and Qurʾānic son of Abraham and Hagar, is mentioned in twelve Qurʾānic passages. In most of them he is simply named along with the other prophets, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Q 2:133, 136, 140; 3:84; 4:163), or, alternatively and in differe…
Isaac (Isḥāq), the biblical and Qurʾānic son of Abraham and Sarah, is mentioned in sixteen Qurʾānic verses and particularly in listings of prophets quoted in the Qurʾān to better define Muḥammad’s prophethood and message. The name of Isaac appears, alternatively, along with thos…
The angels Hārūt and Mārūt are mentioned in one brief, enigmatic verse in the Qurʾān, after Solomon is quoted: “The Satans disbelieved, teaching the people sorcery and that which was sent down to Babylon’s two angels, Hārūt and Mārūt; they taught no man without saying, ‘We are o…
Hāmān is mentioned six times in the Qurʾān, in connection with Moses. He is mentioned along with Pharaoh “and their soldiers” (Q 28:6, 8, in Arberry’s translation) and again, when Pharaoh, in addressing his council, says, “Kindle me, Hāmān, a fire upon the clay, and make me a to…
Hūd is the name of an Arabian prophet cited in the Qurʾān. His name gives the title to sūra 11. Four Qurʾānic passages (Q 7:65–72, 11:50–60, 26:123–40, and 46:21–6) repeat his story and mention him as the “Brother of the ʿĀd.” The dramatic confrontation between the ʿĀd and Hūd, …
Hagar (Ar. Hājar) was the Egyptian servant girl of Abraham (Ar. Ibrāhīm) who gave birth to Ishmael (Ar., Ismāʿīl). Although the Qurʾān makes no reference to her, later traditions mention Hagar by her name or as the “Mother of Ishmael” (Umm Ismāʿīl), or in a general connection wi…
The events of the life of Noah, his family, and his people leading up to the Flood and what took place during and just after it are mentioned in ten Qurʾānic passages. God ordered Noah to build the Ark ( al-fulk , Q 11:38, al-safīna , Q 29:15), and his people passed by and laugh…
Eve (Ḥawwāʾ), although never mentioned by name in the Qurʾān, is alluded to in a number of passages in relation to Adam. Her creation is attested in various passages where the Qurʾān states that God “created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate ( zawjahā )” (Q 4:1;…
Elisha (Ar. al-Yasaʿ) is considered a prophet in Muslim tradition and is mentioned twice in the Qurʾān among the upright and just men, in verses that also mention other prophetic figures. In Q 6:84, David and Solomon, Job and Joseph, and Moses and Aaron are mentioned among the d…
Daniel (Dāniyāl) is not included among the pre-Islamic patriarchs and prophets that are mentioned or alluded to in the Qurʾān. Later religious, historical, and geographical literature does, however, preserve various confusing reports about at least two characters named Daniel, o…
Cain and Abel (Ar. Qābīl wa-Hābīl) are the two sons of Adam and Eve hinted at in a Qurʾānic passage exhorting the Prophet to recite the story of two sons of Adam (Q 5:27). Each brother offered a sacrifice, but the offering of only one of them was accepted, because the other was …
Benjamin (Binyāmīn) is the youngest brother of Joseph. The name is not mentioned in the Qurʾān, where he appears simply as “brother” in a few places in the sūra of Joseph (Q 12). At the beginning, all the other brothers state that Joseph and his brother were dearer to their fath…
Baal (baʿl) is the name of a pagan deity or idol that is mentioned in the Qurʾān in connection with the story of Elijah (Q 37:125). Elijah was sent by God to eradicate from amongst his people the worship of the idol Baal, and this brief allusion to Baal and its story in the Qurʾ…