The names and titles of Muhammad,[1] names and attributes of Muhammad[2], Names of Muhammad (Arabic: أسماء النبي, romanized: Asmā’u n-Nabiyy) are the titles of the 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. The Quran addresses Muhammad in the second person by various appellations; prophet, messenger, servant (abd) of God.
Muhammad
The name Muhammad ()[3] means "praiseworthy" and appears four times in the Quran.[4][5][6][7][8] Chapter Surah 47 of the Quran is "Muhammad".[9] The name Abū al-Qāsim Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib ibn Hāshim,[10] begins with the kunya[11] Abū, or, father of.[12]
The Quran also refers to Muhammad as Ahmad, "more praiseworthy" (Arabic: أحمد).[13][14] The penultimate prophet in Islam, Isa ibn Maryam also refers Muhammad as Ahmad in the Sura As-Saff.[15]
Muhammad is also referred to as Hamid, or "Praiser (of God)" (Arabic: حامد), and as Mahmud, or "Most Highly Praised" (Arabic: محمود).[1]
Muhammad is often referenced with these titles or epithets:
- Seal of the prophets (Arabic: خاتم النبيين, romanized: Khātam al-Nabiyyīn) [16][17]
- The Prophet, (Arabic: أَلْنَّبِيّ, romanized: an-Nabī), also, the Prophet of Prophets.
- Messenger of God, (Arabic: رسول الله, romanized: Rasūl’Allāh)
- The Beloved (Arabic: الحَبِيبُ, romanized: al-Ḥabīb) or The Beloved of God (Arabic: حَبِيبُ اللهِ, romanized: Ḥabīb Allāh)
- The Chosen or The Appointed (Arabic: المُصْطَفَى, romanized: al-Muṣṭafā)[18]
- The Genuine, The Trustworthy, or The Faithful (Arabic: الأَمِينُ, romanized: al-Amīn)[19]
- The Honest, The Righteous, or The Truthful (Arabic: الصِّدِّيقُ, romanized: as-Ṣiddīq)[20]
- Kind, Compassionate, or Affectionate (Arabic: رَءُوف, romanized: Raʾūf)[21]
- Model (of Conduct, Merit, or Virtue) (Arabic: أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَة, romanized: Uswatun Ḥasanah)[22]
- The Perfect (Arabic: أَلْكَامِل, romanized: al-Kāmil)[23]
- The Best of Mankind (Arabic: خَيْرُ البَشَرِ, romanized: Khayr al-Bashar)
- Mercy to the Worlds (Arabic: الرَّحْمَةُ لِلْعَالَمِينَ, romanized: ar-Raḥmah lil-ʿĀlamīn)[24]
- al-Mubashir, "The Bearer of Good Tidings"[25]
- an-Nadhir, "The Warner"[25]
- al-Mudhakkir, "The Reminder"[26]
- ad-Dā‘ī, "The One Who Calls (unto God)"[27]
- al-Bashir, "The Announcer"[28]
- an-Nūr, "The Light Personified"[29]
- al-Misbah, "The Lamp/ Lantern" (lit. "Bringer of Light – Dawn") – i.e.: as-Siraaj al-Muneer, "The Lamp of Illuminated, Ever-glowing, Ever-Enlightening, Incandescent"[30]
- as-Siraaj, "The Lamp/ Lantern" – i.e.: as-Siraaj al-Muneer, "The Lamp of Illuminated, Ever-glowing, Ever-Enlightening, Incandescent"[30]
- Ni‘mat-Ullah, "The Divine Favour"[31]
- al-Ummiyy, "The Untaught", i.e.: An-Nabiyyu l-Ummiyy, "The Prophet who was untaught by human race"[32]
- al-'Aqib, "The Last (Prophet)"[33][34]
- al-Mutawakkil, "The One who Puts his Trust (in God)"[35]
- al-Mahi, "The Remover (of Disbelief)"[36]
- 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 (First to be Resurrected) on the Day of Judgement"[34][37]
- al-Shafî`, "The Intercessor"[38][39]
- Kareem, Noble and Generous (Arabic: كريمٍ),[40]
- Shahid/Shahed (Arabic: شَاهِدًا), A Witness[41]
- al-Mushaffa`, The One Whose Intercession Shall be Granted[42]
- al-Mujtaba, The Chosen (Arabic: اَلْـمُـجْـتَـبَى)[43]
- ‘Abd’Allah, Servant of God[44]
- Akhir, 'The Final, that is, the final prophet,[45] "Last Messenger"[46]
- al-Amin, "The Reliable One"[47]
Muhammad is sometimes addressed by designations deriving from his state at the time of the address: thus he is referred to as the enwrapped (Al-Muzzammil) in Quran 73:1 and the shrouded (al-muddaththir) in Quran 74:1.[48]
He is also known by these epithets:
In Iran, Central Asia and South Asia, Turkey and the Balkans, he is often called Hadrat (His Presence or His Holiness) Arabic: حضرت, romanized: ḥadhrat) or Messenger (Persian: پيغمبر, romanized: peygamber).[49]
Islamic scholars strongly emphasize the need for Muslims to follow the name of Muhammad, whether spoken or written, with the honorific phrase "peace be upon him", often abbreviated to PBUH or SAW, from Arabic: صلى الله عليه وسلم, romanized: sallallahu alayhe wasallam or written ﷺ.
Quran 3:144Muhammad is only a messenger: many Were the messenger that passed away before him.
Quran 33:40Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of God, and the Seal of the Prophets: and God has full knowledge of all things.
Quran 47:2But those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, and believe in the (Revelation) sent down to Muhammad – for it is the Truth from their Lord, – He will remove from them their ills and improve their condition.
Quran 48:29Muhammad is the messenger of God; and those who are with him are strong against disbelievers, (but) compassionate amongst each other.
Iqbal, Muzaffar, ed. (2013). Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qur'an. Vol. 1. Center for Islamic Sciences. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-926620-00-8.
Quran 61:6 And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: "O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of God (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad.".
Muhammad and Christ, Maulana Muhammad Ali – 2011
Muhammad The Messenger of God: M. Fethullah Gülen – 2014
Chiabotti, Francesco, Names, in Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God (2 vols.), Edited by C. Fitzpatrick and A. Walker, Santa Barbara, ABC-CLIO, 2014. ISBN 1610691776