The 25 Prophets Named in the Qur’an and What We Know About Their Graves

Qur’an references

• Al-Baqarah 2:30–39
• Al-A‘raf 7:11–27

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3326 — creation of Adam

Where he lived

Initially in Paradise; after the descent, on Earth. The Qur’an and sahih Sunnah do not identify an earthly city.

Where he died

The place of death is not established in the Qur’an or a sahih hadith.

Claimed qabr

Locations have been claimed in several countries, but no claim is authenticated.

Evidence assessment

There is no sound revealed text identifying Adam’s burial place.

Qur’an references

• Maryam 19:56–57
• Al-Anbiya 21:85

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 — Idris in the Mi‘raj narration

Where he lived

His earthly residence is not geographically specified in the Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Several later traditions propose locations, but none is proven.

Evidence assessment

The authentic Mi‘raj narration mentions Idris, not his earthly grave.

Qur’an references

• Hud 11:25–49
• Hud 11:44 — the Ark rests on al-Judi

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3340 — Nuh as the first messenger to the people of Earth

Where he lived

The Qur’an does not identify his original city. It states that the Ark came to rest on al-Judi.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Competing graves are claimed in multiple countries; none has sahih proof.

Evidence assessment

Al-Judi is connected to the Ark, not identified as Nuh’s grave.

Qur’an references

• Al-A‘raf 7:65–72
• Hud 11:50–60
• Al-Ahqaf 46:21

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Among the people of ‘Ad in al-Ahqaf, generally associated with southern Arabia.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

A famous traditional site is in Hadramawt, Yemen.

Evidence assessment

No sahih hadith establishes the claimed Hadramawt grave.

Qur’an references

• Al-A‘raf 7:73–79
• Al-Hijr 15:80–84

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Among Thamud at al-Hijr in north-west Arabia.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

No reliably authenticated grave is known.

Evidence assessment

Revelation strongly associates his people with al-Hijr, but does not locate his burial.

Qur’an references

• Al-Baqarah 2:125–129
• Al-Anbiya 21:71

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3364 — Hajar, Isma‘il and Makkah

Where he lived

In the blessed land of the Levant and, during important parts of his mission, in Makkah.

Where he died

No sahih hadith explicitly fixes his place of death.

Claimed qabr

The ancient cave complex in Hebron/al-Khalil is attributed to Ibrahim and his family.

Evidence assessment

A very old and widely accepted historical attribution supported by the majority of classical scholars, though the precise underground grave point is not established by a sahih burial hadith.

Qur’an references

• Al-A‘raf 7:80–84
• Hud 11:77–83
• Al-Anbiya 21:71

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

He migrated with Ibrahim to the blessed land and was sent to the people of the destroyed towns.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

A grave near Bani Na‘im in the Hebron region is traditionally attributed to him.

Evidence assessment

The local attribution is not authenticated by Qur’an or sahih hadith.

Qur’an references

• Maryam 19:54–55
• Al-Baqarah 2:125–129

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3364 — Isma‘il’s early life in Makkah

Where he lived

Makkah, near the Ka‘bah and Zamzam.

Where he died

The death place is not established in a sahih hadith.

Claimed qabr

Later tradition places him in or near Hijr Isma‘il beside the Ka‘bah.

Evidence assessment

His life in Makkah is strongly established; the exact burial claim is not.

Qur’an references

• Hud 11:71–73
• Sad 38:45

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3382 — the noble prophetic lineage

Where he lived

Associated with Ibrahim’s family in the blessed land; no precise city is named in revelation.

Where he died

Unknown in Qur’an and sahih Sunnah.

Claimed qabr

A cenotaph in the Hebron complex is attributed to Ishaq.

Evidence assessment

This is an old historical tradition, not a burial location established by a sahih hadith.

Qur’an references

• Al-Baqarah 2:132–133
• Yusuf 12:93–100

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3382 — Ya‘qub in Yusuf’s lineage

Where he lived

In the blessed land; later joined Yusuf and his family in Egypt.

Where he died

The Qur’an mentions his approaching death but does not name the place.

Claimed qabr

Traditionally placed in the Hebron cave complex with Ibrahim and Ishaq.

Evidence assessment

No sahih burial report establishes the exact grave.

Qur’an references

• Surah Yusuf 12

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3382 — Yusuf’s prophetic lineage

Where he lived

Canaan in youth and Egypt for most of the account in Surah Yusuf.

Where he died

The death and burial location are not given in the Qur’an or a sahih hadith.

Claimed qabr

The site called Joseph’s Tomb near Nablus is a famous traditional attribution.

Evidence assessment

Islamic revelation does not authenticate the Nablus identification.

Qur’an references

• Al-Anbiya 21:83–84
• Sad 38:41–44

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3391 — Ayyub and the golden locusts

Where he lived

No geographic location is specified in the Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Competing sites exist in Oman, Türkiye, Syria and elsewhere.

Evidence assessment

The number of competing claims and absence of sahih burial evidence mean no site can be identified with confidence.

Qur’an references

• Al-A‘raf 7:85–93
• Hud 11:84–95

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Madyan/Midian, in the broader north-west Arabian and Gulf of Aqaba region.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Different shrines in Jordan and the Levant are attributed to Shu‘ayb.

Evidence assessment

No specific site is authenticated in revelation; classical scholars noted that his grave was not known.

Qur’an references

• Ta-Ha 20
• Ash-Shu‘ara 26
• Al-Qasas 28

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 1339 — grave beside the road near a red mound
• Sahih Muslim 2375a — Musa praying in his grave

Where he lived

Egypt, Madyan, Sinai and the wilderness near the Holy Land.

Where he died

Near the Holy Land, according to an authentic hadith.

Claimed qabr

The later Nabi Musa shrine near Jericho is often presented as his grave.

Evidence assessment

Sahih hadith authenticates a general setting beside a road near a red mound, but does not let us securely identify a modern shrine or exact point.

Qur’an references

• Ta-Ha 20:29–36
• Ta-Ha 20:90–94

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 — Harun in the Mi‘raj narration

Where he lived

With Musa and Bani Israel in Egypt and the wilderness.

Where he died

The exact death location is not established in the Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Claimed qabr

Jabal Harun near Petra is a famous traditional identification.

Evidence assessment

The site is not authenticated by Qur’an or a sahih burial hadith.

Qur’an references

• Al-Baqarah 2:251
• Sad 38:17–26

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3419 — the fasting and worship of Dawud

Where he lived

In the kingdom of Bani Israel; historical tradition centres his rule in Jerusalem.

Where he died

Not specified in the Qur’an or sahih hadith.

Claimed qabr

The Tomb of David in Jerusalem is a historical and religious tradition.

Evidence assessment

Its identification as Dawud’s actual grave is not authenticated in Islamic revelation.

Qur’an references

• An-Naml 27:15–44
• Saba 34:12–14 — his death
• Sad 38:30–40

Authentic hadith

• Sunan an-Nasa’i 693 — Sulayman and Bayt al-Maqdis

Where he lived

His kingdom is associated with Bani Israel and Bayt al-Maqdis/Jerusalem.

Where he died

The Qur’an describes him dying while leaning on his staff, but does not give the burial spot.

Claimed qabr

Various later claims exist, but no authenticated grave is known.

Evidence assessment

The manner of death is revealed; the grave location is not.

Qur’an references

• As-Saffat 37:123–132

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Probably in a Levantine setting according to historical tradition; the Qur’an does not name the city.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Different sites are associated with him in later traditions.

Evidence assessment

No grave is established by Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Qur’an references

• Al-An‘am 6:86
• Sad 38:48

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Not geographically specified in the Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

Several sites claim him.

Evidence assessment

None of the claimed sites is authenticated by reliable revealed evidence.

Qur’an references

• Yunus 10:98
• Al-Anbiya 21:87–88
• As-Saffat 37:139–148

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3412 — Yunus ibn Matta

Where he lived

Sent to a population of one hundred thousand or more. Nineveh is a historical identification; the Qur’an does not name it.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

A famous site at ancient Nineveh/Mosul was attributed to Yunus.

Evidence assessment

The Nineveh mission setting is traditional, while the precise grave is not reliably known.

Qur’an references

• Ali ‘Imran 3:37–41
• Maryam 19:2–11
• Al-Anbiya 21:89–90

Authentic hadith

• Sahih Muslim 2379a — Zakariyya was a carpenter

Where he lived

In the Holy Land context; revelation does not specify a precise city.

Where he died

Details of precisely how and where he died are not established in a clear sahih prophetic report.

Claimed qabr

Several later traditions identify sites or relics.

Evidence assessment

No claimed grave is authenticated by Qur’an or sahih Sunnah.

Qur’an references

• Ali ‘Imran 3:39
• Maryam 19:7–15

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 3207 — Yahya in the Mi‘raj narration

Where he lived

In the Holy Land context.

Where he died

The Qur’an refers to the day he dies but does not narrate a burial location.

Claimed qabr

Relic and shrine traditions exist, including a head tradition in Damascus.

Evidence assessment

These traditions are not sahih evidence for a complete or precisely identified grave.

Qur’an references

• Ali ‘Imran 3:45–55
• An-Nisa 4:157–158 — not killed; raised by Allah

Authentic hadith

• Sahih Muslim 2937a — his future descent

Where he lived

In the Holy Land during his first mission.

Where he died

According to mainstream Islamic belief, he was not killed or crucified; Allah raised him. He will return before his eventual death.

Claimed qabr

Claims of a present grave of Jesus do not match the Qur’anic account.

Evidence assessment

Because ‘Isa has not yet died in the mainstream Islamic understanding, he has no present grave.

Qur’an references

• Al-Anbiya 21:85–86
• Sad 38:48

Authentic hadith

No specific sahih hadith establishing this prophet’s burial place.

Where he lived

Unknown.

Where he died

Unknown.

Claimed qabr

A shrine at Al-Kifl, Iraq, is traditionally associated with him or with Ezekiel.

Evidence assessment

The identification is not established by the Qur’an or a sahih hadith.

Qur’an references

• Al-Ahzab 33:40 — Messenger and seal of the prophets

Authentic hadith

• Sahih al-Bukhari 4449 — he died in ‘Aishah’s house
• Sahih al-Bukhari 1390 — ‘Umar sought burial beside his two companions

Where he lived

Makkah and Madinah.

Where he died

Madinah in 11 AH / 632 CE.

Claimed qabr

Buried in the room of ‘Aishah, now within the area of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi.

Evidence assessment

Established by authentic reports and continuous, widely transmitted history.