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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Shi'ite Creed The Number of Prophets And Vicegerents Says the Shaykh Abu Ja'far: Our belief concerning their number is that in all there have been one hundred and twenty-four thousand prophets[^1] and a like number of awsiya '[^2]. Each nabi (prophet) had a wasi to whom he gave instructions by the command of Allah.

And concerning them we believe that they brought the truth from Allah, that their word is the word of Allah, that their command is the command of Allah, that obedience to them is obedience to Allah and that disobedience to them is disobedience to Allah. They spoke not except on behalf of Allah, and on being inspired by Him.

And verily the leaders of the prophets are five in number round whom the heaven revolve[^3], and they are the masters of the religious path (as habu 'sh-shara'i'), namely Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, on all of whom be peace: “messengers of inflexible purpose” (Qur'an 46:35) . Muhammad verily is their leader and the most excellent of them.[^4] He brought the truth and confirmed (the message of) the apostles. Those who declared him to be a liar will suffer a painful agony.

And those who believed in him and honored and helped him[^5], and followed the light[^6] which descended with him they are the successful and the victorious ones. It is necessary to believe that Allah the Mighty and Glorious did not create any created thing more excellent than Muhammad and the Imams, peace on them, that they are the most loved of creatures in the eyes of Allah, and the most noble and the foremost among them, on account of their acceptance of Him (as their Lord).

When Allah took the pledge (mithaq) of the prophets and “required them to bear witness of themselves (saying): Am I not your Lord? and they said: Yes, verily” (Qur'an 7:172) . And verily Allah sent His (with a message) to the other prophets in the world of atoms (adh-dharr) [^7] . And verily Allah the Mighty and Glorious gave to each prophet (i.e.

knowledge, power, etc.) according to the extent of his cognition (ma'rifa )[^8], while the cognition of our was greater and more sublime[^9], for it took precedence in accepting Allah (as the Supreme Being).