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Number and Names of the Disciples of ‘Eesa

Question

Salamu Aleikum. How many disciples did Isa have? What are their names?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

According to one view, the number of the disciples of ‘Eesa  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention is twelve men, and this was reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him.

Their names were mentioned in some books of Tafseer (interpretation of the Quran) and books of history.

Ibn Al-Jawzi  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in Zaad Al-Muyassar: “Ibn ‘Abbaas said: the number of the disciples (of ‘Eesa) is twelve men.” [End of quote]

Taahir ibn ‘Aashoor  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in At-Tahreer wat-Tanweer:

The disciples (of ‘Eesa) are twelve men, and they are: Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, John the son of Zebedee, and his brother Jacob - all of whom are fishermen -Matthew, Thomas, Philip, Baratho of Amos, Jacob the son of Hilfi, Labaus, Simon the Zealot (or Simon the Cananite), and Judah the Iscariot.” [End of quote]

Knowing their number and their names is not a knowledge that entails any action or belief, so we advise you not to be preoccupied with matters that would not benefit you and entail action.

Allah knows best.

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