Stories of the Prophets

Stories of the Prophets presents an English rendering of Ibn Kathīr’s renowned Qasas Al-Anbiyāʾ, a major Islamic work devoted to the lives, missions, trials, and lessons of Allah’s Prophets.Drawing upon Qur’ānic narratives, Hadith reports, and classical Islamic transmission, the book follows the prophetic line from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other noble Prophets, concluding with the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. The manuscript emphasizes that the Prophets called humanity to worship Allah alone, abandon falsehood, uphold truth, and remain steadfast before rejection and hardship.This edition highlights key themes of faith, repentance, patience, moral discipline, Divine guidance, rejection and deliverance, miracles, persecution, migration, covenant, and the completion of Prophethood. It also presents the stories not as entertainment alone, but as lessons, reminders, and examples for reflection, family instruction, and spiritual formation.The work is suitable for students of Islamic studies, readers of Qur’ānic history, mosque and madrasah libraries, family reading, and general audiences seeking a structured introduction to the prophetic narratives in the Islamic tradition.Stories of the Prophets stands as a classical Islamic narrative work, presented in English for readers seeking an accessible yet serious engagement with Qur’ānic prophetic history and its moral teachings.Table of ContentEditor’s Foreword • Translator’s Notes • Notes About the Translation • Transliteration of Arabic Words and Names • Biography of Ibn Kathīr (700-774 AH)Early Prophetic NarrativesAdam (Aadam): Creation, Eve, repentance, Paradise, traditions concerning Adam, Abel and Kane, deathEnoch (Idrīs)The Early Messengers and Their PeoplesNoah (Nūh): call, rise of idolatry, the Ark, the Flood, deliverance and aftermathHud (Hūd): call, rejection, punishmentSaalih: call, the she-camel, punishment and conclusionThe Abrahamic LineAbraham (Ibrahim): call to monotheism, debates with his people, migration, family, Makkah, sacrifice, Sacred House, virtues and deathLot (Lūt): call, angelic visit and destructionShuʿaib (Jethro): call, rejection, punishment and salvationIshmael (Ismāʿīl)Isaac (Isḥāq) and Jacob (Yaʿqūb)Joseph and the Path of TrialJoseph (Yūsuf): vision, betrayal, Egypt, imprisonment, interpretation, reunion and fulfillmentProphets of Patience and ReflectionJob (Ayyūb): illness, patience and reliefDhul KiflDestroyed Nations • Companions of the Rass • People of the VillageJonah (Yūnus): repentance and the whaleMoses and the Children of IsraelMoses (Mūsā): birth, mission to Pharaoh, miracles, Exodus, revelation, wilderness, calf episode, Sinai, Korah, Al-Khadir, commandments, merits and deathLater Prophets of IsraelJoshua (Yūshaʿ) • Ezekiel (Hizqīl) • Elijah • Elisha • SamuelDavid (Dāwūd): life and deathSolomon (Sulaimaan): kingdom, signs and deathEzra (ʿUzair): destruction and restoration of JerusalemZechariah (Zakariyyah) and John (Yahya)Jesus (ʿĪsa)Mary, birth, signs, Divine revelation, the table spread, ascension, return and virtuesThe Story of Muhammad ﷺLineage and childhood • Early life • Revelation and Prophethood • Public call and opposition • Migration and major events of Makkah • Hijrah and Madīnah • Brotherhood and community formation • Major battles and treaties • Conquest of Makkah • Final pilgrimage • Departure to his Heavenly Abode