Is there any evidence in Qur'an or Hadith which states that there were 124,000 Prophets/Messengers of Islam?
The belief in the existence of 124,000 prophets is supported by various Islamic sources, including hadith and interpretations of verses from the Qur'an. A relevant hadith states that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: Indeed, the first guardian appointed on the earth was Hibbat Allah, son of Adam. No prophet passed away except that he had his guardian. All the prophets were one hundred twenty thousand, among them five were the resolute: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them)
Al-Kafi 4:172. This narration, although graded as weak (Da'if), reflects a widely accepted belief among scholars regarding the number of prophets.
In addition to the hadith, the Qur'an mentions several prophets, affirming the continuity of divine guidance. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah states: Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms;
4:163. This verse highlights the connection between Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and previous prophets, underlining that he is part of a long line of messengers sent to humanity.
While the Qur'an does not explicitly state the total number of prophets, the tradition of 124,000 is derived from hadith and reflects the Islamic understanding of the vastness of divine guidance sent to humanity through various messengers.
Sources
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4:163 · An-Nisaa
4:163 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
۞ إِنَّآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ كَمَآ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ نُوحٍۢ وَٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ ۚ وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَىٰ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَٰرُونَ وَسُلَيْمَٰنَ ۚ وَءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ زَبُورًۭا
Lo! We inspire thee as We inspired Noah and the prophets after him, as We inspired Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms;
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Al-Kafi 4:172
Al-Kafi · Book 4, Hadith 172
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said: Indeed, the first guardian appointed on the earth was Hibbat Allah, son of Adam. No prophet passed away except that he had his guardian. All the prophets were one hundred twenty thousand, among them five were the resolute: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them). Indeed, Ali ibn Abi Talib was the Hibbat Allah for Muhammad and inherited the knowledge of the successors and the knowledge of those before him. Muhammad inherited the knowledge of those prophets and messengers before him. On the foundation of the Throne is written: Hamza, the Lion of Allah and Lion of His Messenger and master of the martyrs. At the pinnacle of the Throne is Ali, Commander of the Faithful. This is our proof against anyone who denies our right and rejects our inheritance. Nothing prevents us from speaking—certainty is before us. So what evidence can be more eloquent than this? — OR — Among the severe tests that break the back is a bad neighbor: if he sees a good deed, he conceals it; but if he sees a bad deed, he exposes it. — OR — He raised it and said: On the Day of Resurrection, three individuals will be on elevated pulpits of musk; one of them is a mu'adhdhin who gave the Adhan sincerely. — OR — Regarding the lower lip, six thousand dirhams; and regarding the upper lip, four thousand dirhams, because the lower lip retains water.
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