Were the Prophets of the Previous Scriptures Muslims? 

A Detailed Analysis

The claim that all prophets—from Adam to Jesus—were Muslims is a cornerstone of Islamic theology. Islam teaches that these prophets submitted to the will of Allah and preached the message of monotheism (Tawhid), thereby aligning with the Islamic definition of a Muslim. However, when scrutinized in light of the exclusive definition of a Muslim as someone who submits to the Quran, believes in Allah as its source, and acknowledges Muhammad as the final messenger, this claim begins to unravel. Here is a detailed analysis of why the prophets of the previous scriptures cannot be considered Muslims in the Quranic sense.

---

1. They Were Not Muslims (by the Quranic Definition)

A Muslim, as defined by Islamic theology after the revelation of the Quran, must:

• Submit to the teachings of the Quran.
• Believe in Allah as the one true God as described in the Quran.
• Acknowledge Muhammad as the final prophet and messenger of Allah.

The prophets of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses) and the Christian New Testament (e.g., John the Baptist, Jesus) do not meet these criteria:

• They did not receive or follow the Quran: The Quran did not exist during their lifetimes, and they operated under entirely different revelations and covenants.
• They did not acknowledge Muhammad as the final prophet: Muhammad’s prophethood came centuries after their time, and there is no evidence in their scriptures that they were aware of or predicted his coming in a way that aligns with Islamic claims.
• They submitted to God as revealed in their own scriptures: These prophets believed in and worshiped the God described in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, whose attributes and nature differ significantly from the God of the Quran.

Conclusion: By the valid definition of a Muslim established after the Quran’s revelation, these prophets cannot be considered Muslims.

---

2. They Were Adherents of Their Own Covenants

The prophets of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament were faithful to the revelations and covenants of their respective times. Each prophet operated under distinct divine mandates tailored to their historical and cultural contexts:

• Abraham: Abraham followed the covenant God made with him, which included circumcision as a sign of the covenant (Genesis 17). He worshipped YHWH, the God of Israel, not the Allah of the Quran.
• Moses: Moses delivered the Law (Torah) to the Israelites and upheld the Mosaic covenant (Exodus 24). His teachings, including the Ten Commandments and Levitical laws, form the foundation of Jewish practice, which differs markedly from Sharia.
• Jesus: Jesus preached the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and introduced the New Covenant through His life and teachings (Matthew 26:28). His message centered on grace, love, and salvation through Him, concepts that Islam explicitly rejects.

Conclusion: These prophets were adherents of their own covenants and revelations, not followers of the Quranic message or Islam.

---

3. Islam’s Claim Is Theologically Inconsistent

Islam claims that all previous prophets were Muslims and preached Islam. However, this assertion faces significant theological challenges:

• Historical and Scriptural Contradictions:

  • The Hebrew Bible and New Testament portray these prophets as worshiping and serving a God whose attributes and nature differ fundamentally from the God of the Quran.
  • Their teachings often contradict Quranic doctrines, such as the nature of God, the means of salvation, and the role of sacrifice.

• Acknowledgment of Distinct Laws:

  • The Quran itself acknowledges that earlier prophets brought their own laws and guidance for their people (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:44). This admission undermines the claim that they all preached the same Islamic message.

Conclusion: The claim that all previous prophets were Muslims imposes a retroactive Islamic framework onto figures who clearly followed distinct revelations and practices.

---

4. They Were Followers of Monotheism, but Not Islam

While the prophets preached monotheism and submission to God, their understanding of God and their religious practices were specific to their respective revelations:

• Abraham: Practiced sacrifices and circumcision as signs of the covenant, which are not part of Quranic rituals.
• Moses: Delivered the Torah, which includes dietary laws, Sabbath observance, and a detailed sacrificial system, none of which align with Sharia.
• Jesus: Preached the Gospel, focusing on love, grace, and salvation through Him, a message that Islam explicitly rejects.

Conclusion: These prophets were monotheists, but their teachings and practices align with their own scriptures, not Islam as defined by the Quran.

---

Final Analysis

The prophets of the previous scriptures:

• Were not Muslims as Islam defines the term after the Quran’s revelation.
• Were faithful to their own revelations, which were distinct from the Quranic message.
• Cannot be claimed by Islam without contradicting the theological and historical context of their teachings.

Islam’s claim that all previous prophets were Muslims is not supported by the evidence of their own scriptures. Instead, these prophets worshipped and submitted to the God of their respective covenants, whose nature and teachings differ fundamentally from the God of the Quran. This highlights a significant flaw in the Islamic assertion and underscores the theological and historical divergence between Islam and the previous Abrahamic faiths.

---