Start with the Prophet stories that are easy to picture: Nuh and the Ark, Ibrahim and the fire, Musa and the parted sea, Yunus and the whale, Isa’s birth, and the kindness of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Tell one story at a time, keep to the Qur’an and authentic hadith, and end with one lesson.
Why tell children the Prophets’ stories?
Because Allah tells us they are for learning from. He says, “In their stories there is truly a lesson for people of understanding” (12:111), and much of the Qur’an is told as story. The Prophets give children heroes who were brave, honest and patient, and whose strength came from trusting Allah. They also answer children’s big questions in a way they can hold onto: Does Allah hear me? What do I do when I’m scared? What if everyone laughs at me?
Which Prophet story should I tell first?
Begin with a story that has one clear picture in it: an Ark, a fire, a sea or a whale. Nuh and the Ark is the usual first story because toddlers already love animals and boats. Then move to Ibrahim, Musa, Yunus, Isa and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them.
| Prophet | The picture children remember | One lesson | Qur’an |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuh | Building the Ark; animals in pairs | Keep doing right even when people laugh | 11:25–48; Surah Nuh (71) |
| Ibrahim | The broken idols; the fire made cool | Be brave and trust Allah | 21:51–70 |
| Yusuf | The dream, the well, forgiving his brothers | Patience and forgiveness | Surah Yusuf (12) |
| Musa | The baby on the river; the parted sea | Allah makes a way out | 28:7–13; 26:52–67 |
| Sulayman | The ant and the hoopoe | Be thankful and kind to creatures | 27:15–44 |
| Yunus | Inside the great fish | Turn to Allah in any darkness | 21:87–88; 37:139–148 |
| Isa | Maryam under the palm tree; the baby who spoke | Allah can do anything | 19:16–36; 3:45–51 |
| Muhammad | The trustworthy one; the cave of Hira | Mercy, honesty and good character | 96:1–5; 68:4; 21:107 |
Which Prophet stories suit which age?
Under-fives need one short scene; six- to nine-year-olds can follow a whole life story and the hard parts in it. Use this as a rough guide, not a rule:
| Age | Good stories | How long | What to leave for later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | Nuh’s animals; the ant of Sulayman; Yunus’s dua | 2–3 minutes, with a picture book | Anything frightening |
| 3–5 | Nuh, Ibrahim and the fire, baby Musa, Maryam and the dates, the Prophet’s kindness | 3–5 minutes, one scene | Drowning, punishment, battles |
| 6–9 | The full stories of Yusuf, Musa and Ibrahim; the first revelation; the Hijrah | 10–15 minutes, over several nights | Little: explain hard parts honestly and gently |
| 9+ | Read the surahs in translation together: Yusuf (12), Maryam (19), Nuh (71) | A surah a week | Ready for questions about why |
For a step-by-step method by age, see how to teach kids about the Prophets.
How many Prophets are named in the Qur’an?
Twenty-five, in the list most often taught: Adam, Idris, Nuh, Hud, Salih, Ibrahim, Lut, Isma’il, Ishaq, Ya’qub, Yusuf, Ayyub, Shu’ayb, Musa, Harun, Dhul-Kifl, Dawud, Sulayman, Ilyas, Al-Yasa’, Yunus, Zakariyya, Yahya, Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon them all. Scholars differ on a few names (some are unsure whether Dhul-Kifl was a Prophet), and Allah sent many more messengers whom the Qur’an does not name, to every nation (16:36; 40:78).
What lessons do the Prophet stories teach children?
- Keep going. Nuh called his people for 950 years (29:14).
- Be brave for the truth. Ibrahim stood alone against the idols (21:57–67).
- Trust Allah when you’re scared. Musa at the sea: “My Lord is with me” (26:62).
- Say sorry to Allah. Yunus prayed from the darkness (21:87).
- Forgive. Yusuf forgave his brothers: “No blame upon you today” (12:92).
- Be kind and honest. Allah praises the Prophet Muhammad’s “great character” (68:4).
Which popular details are not from the Qur’an?
Many children’s books borrow details from the Bible and from Israelite reports (Isra’iliyyat). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told Muslims neither to affirm nor deny such reports, but to say “We believe in Allah and what was revealed to us” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4485). Scholars such as Ibn Kathir used them with caution. Some to watch for:
| Often told | What the Qur’an says |
|---|---|
| The rainbow and the dove after the flood | Not mentioned; the Ark rests on al-Judi (11:44) |
| All of Nuh’s family were saved | One son refused and drowned (11:42–43) |
| Yusuf’s “coat of many colours” | His shirt (qamis), brought back with false blood (12:18) |
| Musa and the “burning bush” | A fire seen by the mount, and a call from the tree (28:29–30) |
| The son in Ibrahim’s dream was Ishaq | The son is not named; most scholars, including Ibn Kathir, held it was Isma’il |
| The Queen of Sheba was called Bilqis | She is not named (27:23) |
If you don’t know a detail, it’s fine to say “Allah knows best”.
The five Prophets in the Hudhud book
The Qur’an names five Messengers together when it speaks of the covenant Allah took: “from you, and from Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa son of Maryam” (33:7; see also 42:13). Many scholars call them the Ulul ‘Azm, the Messengers of firm resolve (46:35). Hudhud, a UK personalised Islamic storybook, puts the child’s name and likeness into the stories of these five Prophets, guided at night by a talking hoopoe. Read our retellings:
- Prophet Nuh and the Ark
- Prophet Ibrahim and the fire
- Prophet Musa and the parted sea
- Prophet Isa, son of Maryam
- The life of the Prophet Muhammad
What are good books of Prophet stories, by age?
- Ages 0–5: Sara Khan’s My First Book About Prophet Muhammad (The Islamic Foundation); Prophet Nuh (PBUH) and the Ark (Penguin).
- Ages 2–9: Hudhud, a personalised journey through five Prophets’ stories.
- Ages 5–10: My First Quran Storybook by Saniyasnain Khan (Goodword).
- Ages 7+: Goodword’s Tell Me About series (for example Tell Me About the Prophet Musa); Hanifa Rahman’s A Miracle: The Story of Isa ibn Maryam (Kube).
For more, see our list of the best Islamic children’s books.
When in the Islamic year should I tell each story?
Stories stick when they come back at the same time each year:
- Muharram and ‘Ashura: Musa and the parted sea. The Prophet fasted ‘Ashura, the day Allah saved Musa (Sahih al-Bukhari 2004).
- The Islamic New Year: the Hijrah to Madinah, from which the calendar is counted.
- Ramadan: the first revelation in the cave of Hira; the Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan (2:185).
- Dhul Hijjah and Eid al-Adha: Ibrahim, Hajar, Isma’il and the Kaaba (2:127; 37:102–107).
Sources and further reading
- Qur’an 12:111: “In their stories there is a lesson”
- Qur’an 33:7: the covenant of Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and Isa
- Qur’an 46:35: the Messengers “of firm resolve”
- Sahih al-Bukhari 4485: neither affirm nor deny the reports of the People of the Book
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2004: the fast of ‘Ashura and the saving of Musa
- Wikipedia: Prophets and messengers in Islam
Frequently asked questions
Which Prophet story should I tell my child first?
Most parents start with Nuh and the Ark, because toddlers already love animals and boats, or with Yunus and the whale. Then move to Ibrahim and the fire, baby Musa on the river, Maryam and Isa, and the kindness of the Prophet Muhammad.
How many Prophets are mentioned in the Qur’an?
Twenty-five Prophets are named in the Qur’an in the list most often taught, from Adam to Muhammad. Muslims believe Allah sent many more messengers, to every nation (16:36), whom the Qur’an does not name.
Who are the Ulul ‘Azm Prophets?
Many scholars use this name, “those of firm resolve” (Qur’an 46:35), for five Messengers: Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad, peace be upon them. The Qur’an names them together in 33:7 and 42:13.
At what age can children learn Prophet stories?
From about two with simple picture books about Nuh’s animals or the ant of Sulayman. From three to five, tell one short scene with one lesson; from six to nine, tell the whole story over a few nights and add the Qur’an reference.
Are the stories in children’s Prophet books always accurate?
Not always. Some books add details from the Bible or Israelite reports, such as the rainbow after the flood or the name Bilqis for the Queen of Sheba. Check key events against the Qur’an reference, and say “Allah knows best” where the sources are silent.
What is the best book of Prophet stories for kids?
It depends on age. Board books such as Sara Khan’s My First Book About Prophet Muhammad suit under-fives; Saniyasnain Khan’s My First Quran Storybook suits five to ten; Goodword’s Tell Me About series suits confident readers.
Are the Prophet stories in Hudhud accurate?
Hudhud’s Prophet stories draw on the Qur’an and Tafsir Ibn Kathir, retold gently for children. The child’s night-time journey with Hudhud the hoopoe is a fictional storytelling frame around them.