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Do Muslims believe in the biblical Prophets? What are the characteristics of Prophets?

Muslims believe in the Prophets mentioned in the Bible, including Jesus Christ.

According to the Hadith, God had sent 124,000 Prophets throughout the ages, of whom 313 were Messengers as well. Prophets received God's Inspiration for their performance only, while Messengers had to preach the Divine Message as well.

The Quran says that Prophet Adam was the first Prophet and Prophet Muhammad was the last and the seal of all the Prophets and Messengers. Twenty-five of the 313 Prophets and Messengers, also referred to as "Apostles" are mentioned in the Quran when God relates certain matters connected with their roles. God says: "Of some Apostles, We have already told thee the story; of others We have not." (4:164)

An example of a verse where God mentions ten of the biblical Prophets when He tells Prophet Muhammad that other Prophets too had received His (God's) Inspiration, is: "We have sent thee (O Muhammad) Inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him: We sent Inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Soloman, and to David We gave the Psalms." (4:163)

Prophets and Messengers are men of the highest spiritual standing chosen by God to have the honour of conveying His Message to people, at different stages of history. None of them claimed divinity.

Gaafar S.Idris, in his booklet "Islam _ the Basic Truths", says: "They are men of extremely high moral, spiritual and intellectual standards that qualify them _ in the eyes of God _ to be the bearers of His 'Lights' to the world. When God chooses any of them, He supports him with a clear 'sign' that proves the truth of his claim, and distinguishes him from false prophets, sorcerers and soothsayers. None of them betrays the Message or falls short of being exemplary in practising what he preaches.

"Despite the vast spiritual, moral and intellectual difference between them and ordinary men, and despite the special relation with God that they enjoy, Prophets are nonetheless humans with all that this term implies. They beget and are begotten; they eat and drink and go about in market places, they sleep and they die, they forget and they err. Their knowledge is limited; and they can tell only that part of the future which God reveals to them. They cannot intercede with God on behalf of any person except with His permission, and it is not left to them to cause people to go in the right path. In short, they have no part to play in the running of the affairs of the universe."