This is an incomplete comparative table of prophets and messengers recognized across the Abrahamic religions and several related traditions.
Prophetic categories by tradition
Judaism: The Hebrew Bible designates a canon of prophetic books (Nevi'im), but rabbinic literature (Talmud, Midrash) recognizes additional figures as prophets. The rabbis listed 48 male and 7 female prophets by name. Samaritanism: Samaritanism strictly recognizes Moses as the only "nabi" (law giving prophet). While patriarchal figures from Adam to Moses are venerated as recipients of a "pure chain" of divine wisdom and secrets, subsequent leaders like Joshua, Phinehas, or the scholar sage Marqah are regarded as authoritative guides and custodians of the Law, but do not hold the same legislative prophetic rank as Moses.Crane (1890), pp. 130, 146.Gaster (1927), pp. 150, 155. Christianity: Prophetic recognition varies by denomination. While most traditions accept the Hebrew Bible prophets, the New Testament itself names additional prophets (Agabus, Anna the Prophetess, etc.). Some modern movements (e.g., Latter Day Saints) recognize a continuing line of prophets. Islam: Islamic theology distinguishes between a Nabi (who receives news from God) and a Rasul (a messenger sent with a specific law or book to a nation). Every rasul is a nabi, but not every nabi is a rasul. Traditionally, there are 124,000 nabis, of whom 313 are rusul.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wal-Muluk, Vol. 1, p. 151 (Hadith of Abu Dharr).Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim, Commentary on Surah 17:130 and 89; online edition.Al-Tabari, Jami' al-bayan, Commentary on Surah 22:52 (definitions on p. 610) and Surah 23:51 (p. 59); online check.Ibn Abi al-Izz, Sharh al-Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah, p. 117; online check.Al-Taftazani, Sharh al-Aqa'id al-Nasafiyyah, p. 121; online check. The Quran names 25 prophets; others are mentioned in Hadith or as Isra'iliyyat. Mandaeism: Mandaeism venerates a specific collection of chief prophets Adam, Shitil (Seth), Anōš (Enosh), Noah (Nú), Sam (Shem), and John the Baptist (Yahya). These figures are seen as protectors of the successive world ages.Häberl, Charles G.; McGrath, James F. (2020). The Mandaean Book of John: Text and Translation. De Gruyter. online PDF. While these "Light Prophets" are honored, Mandaeism explicitly rejects figures like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus as "false prophets" (kadabiiia) or "deceivers" who deviated from the true Gnostic path (Nasiruta).Buckley (2002), pp. 22, 150, 168. Druze: The Druze tradition venerates a universal chain of spiritual guidance that includes biblical/Quranic prophets alongside Greek philosophers and other "immortal sages" (al ashraf), who are regarded as bearers of the same divine truth.Rasa'il al-Hikma (Epistles of Wisdom), Band 1, Ausgabe 1986, pp. 17, 62, 136; online archive.Nejla M. Abu-Izzeddin, The Druzes: A New Study of their History, Faith and Society, Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1984, pp. 103, 112, 115–117, 129; online edition.Philip K. Hitti, The Origins of the Druze People and Religion, pp. 39, 52–53; online PDF. Baháʼí Faith: The Baháʼí Faith views religions as part of a "progressive revelation" by Manifestations of God "Divine Educators" who reflect God's light like mirrors. This series includes Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad.Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán (The Book of Certitude), pp. 2, 24, 37 ("I am all the Prophets"), 43.‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, pp. 8–10, 64; online edition.Peter Smith, An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith, pp. 106–107, 125–129; online check. Rastafari: The movement interprets the Hebrew Bible through an Afrocentric lens, viewing the African diaspora as the reincarnation of ancient Israel. Figures like Marcus Garvey are regarded as prophets, and Haile Selassie as a divine avatar called Jah.In Judaism and Islam the classification of some people as prophets includes those who are not explicitly called so in the Hebrew Bible or Quran. Judaism also uses religious texts other than the Hebrew Bible to define prophets. Orthodox rabbis and Islamic scholars use different criteria for classifying someone as a prophet. The New Testament may call someone a prophet even though they are not so classified in the Hebrew Bible; for example, Abel, Daniel, and Enoch are described in the New Testament as prophets.
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