Names and titles of Muhammad
The names and titles of Muhammad, names and attributes of Muhammad, Names of Muhammad are the names of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and used by Muslims, where 88 of them are commonly known, but also countless names which are found mainly in the Quran and hadith literature.
Background
The name Muhammad means "praiseworthy" and appears four times in the Quran. The Quran addresses Muhammad in the second person by various appellations; prophet, messenger, servant of God, announcer, witness, bearer of good tidings, warner, reminder, one who calls , light personified, and the light-giving lamp. Muhammad is sometimes addressed by designations deriving from his state at the time of the address: thus he is referred to as the enwrapped in Quran and the shrouded in Quran. In Sura Al-Ahzab the Quran singles out Muhammad as the "Seal of the prophets", or the last of the prophets. It also refers to Muhammad as Aḥmad "more praiseworthy". The name of chapter Surah 47 of the Quran is "Muhammad".The name Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim, begins with the kunya Abū, which corresponds to the English, father of.
Quranic chapter | Verse | English translation |
Al Imran | 144 | Muhammad is only a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him. If he died or were slain, will ye then Turn back on your heels? If any did turn back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; but Allah will swiftly reward those who with gratitude. |
Al-Ahzab | 40 | Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things. |
Muhammad | 2 | But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe in the sent down to Muhammad – for it is the Truth from their Lord, – He will remove from them their ills and improve their condition. |
al-Fatḥ | 29 | Muhammad is the messenger of Allah; and those who are with him are strong against disbelievers, compassionate amongst each other. Thou wilt see them bow and prostrate themselves, seeking Grace from Allah and Good Pleasure. On their faces are their marks, the traces of their prostration. This is their similitude in the Taurat; and their similitude in the Gospel is: like a seed which sends forth its blade, then makes it strong; it then becomes thick, and it stands on its own stem, the sowers with wonder and delight. As a result, it fills the Unbelievers with rage at them. Allah has promised those among them who believe and do righteous deeds forgiveness, and a great Reward. |
Aṣ-Ṣaff | 6 | And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah to you, confirming the Law before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad." But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, "this is evident sorcery!" |
Names and honours
Muhammad is often referenced with these titles or epithet by praise:- Nabiyy/ Nabi, "The Prophet" – i.e.: "Prophet of Prophets"
- Rasoul’Allah/ Rasoul’Ullah, "The Messenger of Allah"
- Habib/ Habeeb, "The Beloved" – i.e. Habib’Ullah/Habib’Allah "The Beloved of Allah"
- Mustafa/ Mustafaa, "The Chosen/ Appointed" – i.e: the "Prophet of Allah and Islam"
- Amin/ Ameen/ Amiyn, "The Genuine/ Trustworthy/ Faithful"
- Sadi
q/ Sadeeq, "The Honest/ Righteous/ Truthful" – i.e: Siddī q - Rauf/ Raouf/ Rawouf, "Kind/ Compassionate/ Affectionate"
- Uswatun Hasanah, "The Model of Excellent Conduct, Merit and Virtue"
- Kamil/ Kaamil, "The Perfect, Complete and Absolute", i.e.: al-Insan al-Kamil/ al-Insaan al-Kaamil, "The Man of All Men in Absoluteness, Completion, Perfection"
- Khayr ul-Bashr, "The Best of Mankind"
- Khatim an-Nabiyyin/ Khaatim an-Nabiyyin, "The Last Seal/ End of Seal of All Prophets"
- ar-Rahmatul lil-‘Alamin/ ar-Rahmatul lil-‘Aalameen/ ar-Rahmatul lil-‘Aalamiyn, "Merciful and Compassionate to the Universe " i.e.: the "Merciful and Compassionate to all Mankind, jinn and All Creation"
- al-Mubashir, "The Bearer of Good Tidings"
- an-Nadhir, "The Warner"
- al-Mudhakkir, "The Reminder"
- ad-Dā‘ī, "The One Who Calls "
- al-Bashir, "The Announcer"
- an-Nūr, "The Light Personified"
- al-Misbah, "The Lamp/ Lantern" – i.e.: as-Siraaj al-Muneer, "The Lamp of Illuminated, Ever-glowing, Ever-Enlightening, Incandescent"
- as-Siraaj, "The Lamp/ Lantern" – i.e.: as-Siraaj al-Muneer, "The Lamp of Illuminated, Ever-glowing, Ever-Enlightening, Incandescent"
- Ni‘mat-Ullah, "The Divine Favour"
- al-Ummiyy, "The Unlettered and Illiterate", i.e.: An-Nabiyyu l-Ummiyy, "The Prophet who is Unlettered and Illiterate"
- al-Muzzammil, "The Enwrapped"
- al-Muddathir, "The Shrouded"
- al-'Aqib, "The Last "
- al-Mutawakkil, "The One who Puts his Trust "
- Qutham, "Of Perfect Character. Gifted With Every Merit."
- al-Mahi, "The Remover "
- al-Hanif, "The One of Primordial Religion"
- Nâbîyyu at-Tawbah, "The Prophet of Penitence"
- al-Mu`azzaz, "The Strengthened One, the One Made Invulnerable"
- al-Muwaqqar, "Held in Awe"
- al-Fatih, "The Opener"
- al-Hashir, "The Gatherer on the Day of Judgement"
- al-Shafî`, "The Intercessor"
- Kareem, "Noble and Generous"
- /Shahed, "A Witness"
- al-Mushaffa`, "The One Whose Intercession Shall be Granted"
- al-Mujtaba
- Ahmad, "Most Deserving of Praise"
- Hamid, "Praiser "
- Mahmood, "Praiseworthy"
- ‘Abd’Allah/ ‘Abd’Ullah, "Servant of Allah"
- Akhir, "The End/ Last" – i.e. "Last Prophet", "Last Messenger"
- Khatim, "The Seal" - i.e. "Final Prophet", "Final Messenger"
- Ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, " Son/ Descendant of ‘Abd al-Muttalib"
- Abu ’l-Qasim – father of the male child by his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
- Abu ‘Abd’Ullah, "Father of ‘Abd’Ullah bin Muhammad" – father of the male child by his first wife Khadijah bint Khuwaylid.
- Abu Ibrahim, "Father of Ibrahim bin Muhammad" – father of the male child by his wife Maria al-Qibtiyya.
- Abu ’t-Tahir, "Father of the Pure"
- Abu ’t-Tayyib, "Father of the Pleasant"
Islamic scholars strongly emphasized the need whenever and wherever the name of Muhammad is spoken or written either in Arabic or one's own language, for Muslims to conventionally follow his name by the honorific phrase "Peace Be Upon Him" in English, or said majorly in the Arabic ﷺ / صلى الله عليه وسلم, as omitting the use of such acronyms is considered inappropriate.
The salawat, practice of invocations, say blessings and salutations upon Muhammad, is encouraged to Muslims by a well-known verse of the Quran.