The Beautiful Names and Titles of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known by many names and titles—each reflecting his noble character and exalted status. In the Arabic language, when something or someone is given many names, it signifies great importance and distinction. This is certainly true for the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), whose names are rooted in praise and honor.
Two of his most well-known names are Muhammad and Ahmad.
• Muhammad (ﷺ), meaning “The Praised One”, is mentioned four times in the Qur’an.
• Ahmad, meaning “The One Who Praises Allah Often”, appears once in the Qur’an (Surah As-Saff, 61:6).
Both names come from the same Arabic root ح-م-د (ḥ-m-d), which means “to praise.”
• Muhammad is the one who is constantly praised by others.
• Ahmad is the one who continuously offers praise to Allah.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 1350 CE), in his famous book Jilāʾ al-Afhām, explained that the Prophet’s name perfectly suits him because he is deserving of praise from Allah, the angels, the believers, and all of humanity. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) praised Allah in times of ease and difficulty, began his speeches by glorifying Allah, and will carry the Banner of Praise (Liwa al-Hamd) on the Day of Judgment.
The importance of praising Allah is also reflected in our daily prayers and the Qur’an. Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Qur’an and of every Salah (prayer), begins with the words:
"Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'Alamin" – "All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds."
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) once described himself, saying:
“I am Muhammad, Ahmad, the one by whom Allah removes disbelief, the one after whom people will be gathered on the Day of Judgment, and the one after whom there is no prophet.”
(Narrated in Bukhari and Muslim)
In the Qur’an, Allah frequently refers to the Prophet using titles such as “The Prophet” (An-Nabi) and “The Messenger” (Ar-Rasool). In addition to these, he is known by many other honored titles, including:
• The Prophet of Mercy (Nabiyyur-Rahmah)
• The Prophet of Repentance (Nabiyyut-Tawbah)
• Al-Mustafa (The Chosen One)
• As-Sadiq (The Truthful)
Allah beautifully summarizes the mission and greatness of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) in the Qur’an, Surah Al-Ahzab (33:45-46):
“O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good news, a warner, a caller to Allah by His permission, and a shining light.”
These names and titles not only describe the qualities of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), but they also serve as a reminder of his role as the best example for humanity in faith, mercy, truthfulness, and devotion to Allah.
