[Q 715] Specifying the Number of Prophets

Question

I am asking this because today whilst watching an Ijtima live from home in the UK, the Mubaligh said “124,000 Prophets” without any extra information like “Approximately”

The total Number of Prophets is known by Allah عزوجل. So where did the number 124,000 come from?

Further I believe placing this number in books like Fundamentals of Islam etc with “approximately” next to it isn’t a good thing. This is because many people will only concentrate on the Number and leave out the important extra explanation. And then this No. Of 124,000 Prophets will be spread instead of the teaching of leaving it to Allah عزوجل as He عزوجل knows best.

If this can be done on a global level then in my opinion it would be beneficial, better and bring safety.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

To be a Muslim, it is obligatory to believe in the prophethood of all Prophets, may peace be upon them.

Regarding the number of Prophets, may peace be upon them, various narrations have been mentioned. Among these, one number stated is 124,000, but these narrations do not reach a degree where a specific number can be determined from them. For this reason, the esteemed scholars have stated that specifying a definite number of Prophets is impermissible and a sin, as there is a possibility of considering a non-prophet as a prophet, or excluding a prophet from prophethood.

Therefore, either the phrase “approximately” or “more or less” should be used with 124,000, or no number should be stated at all, and the word “all” should be used.

However, if someone, by coincidence or forgetfulness, mentions a specific number stated in a narration, and that specific number is not his belief, then such a person, although not sinful or outside the fold of Islam, should be informed to exercise caution in this matter and not to mention a specific number. This ruling applies to both speaking and writing.

It is stated in Bahar-e-Shariat:
“It is not permissible to specify any particular number for the Prophets, because the narrations in this regard are divergent, and believing in a specific number carries the risk of considering a Prophet to be outside prophethood, or considering a non-prophet to be a prophet, and both these matters are disbelief (kufr). Therefore, one should hold the belief that we have faith in every Prophet of Allah عزوجل.”

(Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, part 1, p. 52, Maktabat-ul-Madinah, Karachi)

It is stated in the margin of Bahar-e-Shariat:

فی ’’ المسامرۃ بشرح المسایرۃ ‘‘ ، ص ۲۲۵:( أمّا المبعوثون، فالإیمان بہم واجب، من ثبت شرعاً تعیینہ منہم وجب الإیمان بعینہ، ومن لم یثبت تعیینہ کفی الإیمان بہ إجمالًا ( ولا ینبغي في الإیمان بالأنبیاء القطع بحصرہم في عدد ) إذ لم یرد بحصرہم دلیل قطعي ( لأنّ ) الحدیث  الوارد في ذلک ) أي في عددہم ( خبر واحد ) لم یقترن بما یفید القطع ( فإن وجدت فیہ الشروط ) المعتبرۃ للحکم بصحتہ ( وجب ظن مقتضاہ، مع تجویزنقیضہ ) بَدَلَہ ( وإلا ) أي : وإن لم یصح ( فلا ) یجب ظن مقتضاہ، وعلی کل من التقدیرین ( فیؤدي ) أي : فقد یؤدي حصرہم في العدد الذي لا قطع بہ ( إلی أن یعتبر فیہم من لیس منہم ) بتقدیر کون عددہم في نفس الأمر أقل من الوارد ( أو یخرج ) عنہم ( من ہو منہم ) بتقدیر أن یکون عددہم في نفس الأمر أزید من الوارد )۔

(Al-Musamara bi Sharh Al-Musayarah, p. 225)

(Bahar-e-Shariat, vol. 1, p. 52, Maktabat-ul-Madinah)

Answered by: Mubashir Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 7th September 2026