Surah 39:12
"and I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit.’"
Who Was the First Muslim?
Supporting Verses
Surah 6:14 → "Say: ‘Shall I take any other ally than God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, when He feeds (others) and is not fed?’ Say: ‘Surely I have been commanded to be the first of those who have submitted,’ and: ‘Do not be one of the idolaters!’"
Surah 6:163 → "He has no associate. With that I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.’"
Opposing Verses
Surah 28:53 → "When it is recited to them, they say, ‘We believe in it. Surely it is the truth from our Lord. Surely we were Muslims before it.’"
Surah 2:128 → "Our Lord, make us both submitted to You, and (make) from our descendants a community submitted to You. And show us our rituals, and turn to us (in forgiveness). Surely You – You are the One who turns (in forgiveness), the Compassionate."
Does the Quran state who was the first Muslim? Some verses state that Muhammad was commanded to be the first of those who submit (Muslims), while others state that individuals and communities before him, such as Abraham and the People of the Book, had already submitted (were Muslims).
The First Believer or Submitter
Supporting Verses
Surah 26:51 → "Surely we are eager that our Lord should forgive us our sins, because we are the first of the believers.’"
Surah 6:14 → "Say: ‘Shall I take any other ally than God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, when He feeds (others) and is not fed?’ Say: ‘Surely I have been commanded to be the first of those who have submitted,’ and: ‘Do not be one of the idolaters!’"
Surah 6:163 → "He has no associate. With that I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.’"
Surah 7:143 → "And when Moses came to Our meeting, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself), so that I may look at You.’ He said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.’ But when his Lord revealed His splendor to the mountain, He shattered it, and Moses fell down thunderstruck. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory to You! I turn to You (in repentance), and I am the first of the believers.’"
Opposing Verses
Surah 26:51 → "Surely we are eager that our Lord should forgive us our sins, because we are the first of the believers.’"
Surah 2:131 → "When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit!,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.’"
Surah 2:132 → "And Abraham charged his sons with this, and Jacob (did too): ‘My sons! Surely God has chosen the (true) religion for you, so do not die without submitting.’"
Surah 3:33 → "Surely God has chosen Adam and Noah, and the house of Abraham and the house of ‘Imrān over the worlds,"
Surah 3:52 → "When Jesus perceived disbelief from them, he said, ‘Who will be my helpers to God?’ The disciples said, ‘We will be the helpers of God. We believe in God. Bear witness that we submit."
Surah 3:67 → "Abraham was not a Jew, nor a Christian, but he was a Ḥanīf, a Muslim. He was not one of the idolaters."
Surah 5:111 → "(Remember) when I inspired the disciples: ‘Believe in Me and in My messenger.’ They said, ‘We believe. Bear witness that we submit.’"
Surah 7:143 → "And when Moses came to Our meeting, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself), so that I may look at You.’ He said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.’ But when his Lord revealed His splendor to the mountain, He shattered it, and Moses fell down thunderstruck. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory to You! I turn to You (in repentance), and I am the first of the believers.’"
Does the Quran state who was the first to believe or submit to God? Various verses describe different figures as being the 'first' of the believers or those who submit, including Muhammad, Moses, and the Egyptian magicians, while other verses indicate that earlier figures such as Abraham had already submitted.