The Quran teaches that God sent messengers to every nation, but only a selection of these prophets are named in Islamic scripture, which does not exclude the possibility of prophets in other regions.
What the Quran says about prophets to all nations
Islamic belief holds that God sent messengers to every nation to guide them towards righteousness. This is clearly stated in the Quran:
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], 'Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.'
Quran 16:36
And there was no nation but that there had passed within it a warner.
Quran 35:24
These verses affirm the universal reach of divine guidance, suggesting that God's messages were not limited to any single region or ethnicity.
Why are only certain prophets named in the Quran?
The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name, many of whom are from the Near East. However, this does not imply that these were the only prophets. The Quran itself acknowledges that not all prophets are mentioned:
And We have already sent messengers before you. Among them are those [whose stories] We have related to you, and among them are those [whose stories] We have not related to you.
Quran 40:78
This indicates that the Quran provides selective details, focusing on those stories and lessons most relevant to its primary audience at the time of revelation.
The possibility of prophets in other regions
While the Quran does not name Black African or East Asian prophets, it does not preclude their existence. Islamic tradition holds that God has sent thousands of prophets throughout history to various peoples. The focus on Near Eastern prophets could be due to the historical and geographical context of the Quran's revelation rather than an exhaustive list of all prophets.
Ultimately, the emphasis in Islam is on the message rather than the messenger's ethnicity or location. The universal teachings of the Quran transcend these boundaries, encouraging Muslims to recognize the diversity and unity of God's guidance across different cultures and times.