Arabic | Name | Meaning | |
---|---|---|---|
1
|
مُحَمَّدٌ
|
Muḥammad
|
Oft-Praised
|
2
|
أَحْمَدٌ
|
Aḥmad
|
Greatest of Praisers
|
3
|
حَامِدٌ
|
Ḥāmid
|
Praiser
|
4
|
مَحْمودٌ
|
Maḥmūd
|
Praised One
|
5
|
أَحِيدُ
|
Aḥīd
|
Repeller
|
6
|
وَحِيدٌ
|
Waḥīd
|
Unique
|
7
|
مَاحٍ
|
Māḥī
|
Effacer
|
8
|
حَاشِرٌ
|
Ḥāshir
|
Gatherer
|
9
|
عَاقِبٌ
|
ʿĀqib
|
Last in Succession
|
10
|
طَهَ
|
Ṭāhā
|
Taha
|
11
|
يَسٓ
|
Yāsīn
|
Yasin
|
12
|
طَاهِرٌ
|
Ṭāhir
|
Pure One
|
13
|
مُطَهَّرٌ
|
Muṭahhar
|
Purified
|
14
|
طَيِّبٌ
|
Ṭayyib
|
Fragrant
|
15
|
سَيِّدٌ
|
Sayyīd
|
Liegelord
|
16
|
رَسُولٌ
|
Rasūl
|
Emissary, or Messenger
|
17
|
نَبِيٌّ
|
Nabiyy
|
Prophet
|
18
|
رَسُولُ الرَّحْمَةِ
|
Rasūlu r-Raḥmah
|
Emissary of Mercy
|
19
|
قَيِّمٌ
|
Qayyim
|
Upright
|
20
|
جَامِعٌ
|
Jāmiʿ
|
Embodier of all Virtues
|
21
|
مُقْتَفٍ
|
Muqtafī
|
Successor to the Past Prophets
|
22
|
مُقَفِّى
|
Muqaffī
|
Surpasser
|
23
|
رَسُولُ الْمَلَاحِمِ
|
Rasūlu l-Malāḥim
|
Emissary who fought Battles
|
24
|
رَسُولُ الرَّاحَةِ
|
Rasūlu r-Rāḥah
|
Emissary of Comfort
|
25
|
كَامِلٌ
|
Kāmil
|
Complete
|
26
|
إِكْلِيلٌ
|
Iklīl
|
Crown
|
27
|
مُدَّثِّرٌ
|
Muddaththir
|
Enwrapped in His Robe
|
28
|
مُزَّمِّلٌ
|
Muzzammil
|
Enwrapped in His Cloak
|
29
|
عَبْدُ اللهِ
|
ʿAbdullāh
|
Slave of Allah
|
30
|
حَبِيبُ اللهِ
|
Ḥabībullāh
|
Beloved of Allah
|
31
|
صَفِيُّ اللهِ
|
Ṣafiyyullāh
|
One Solely Chosen by Allah
|
32
|
نَجِّيُّ اللهِ
|
Najiyyullāh
|
One who had Intimate Discourse with Allah
|
33
|
كَلِيمُ اللهِ
|
Kalīmullāh
|
One Addressed by Allah
|
34
|
خَاتِمُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ
|
Khatimu l-Anbiyā’
|
Seal of the Prophets
|
35
|
خَاتِمُ الرُّسُلِ
|
Khātimu r-Rusul
|
Seal of the Emissaries
|
36
|
مُحْيٍ
|
Muḥyī
|
Reviver
|
37
|
مُنْجٍ
|
Munjī
|
Deliverer
|
38
|
مُذَكِّرٌ
|
Mudhakkir
|
One Who Reminds
|
39
|
نَاصِرٌ
|
Nāṣir
|
Bringer of Victory
|
40
|
مَنْصُورٌ
|
Manṣūr
|
One Granted Victory
|
41
|
نَبِيُّ الرَّحْمَةِ
|
Nabiyyu r-Raḥmah
|
Prophet of Mercy
|
42
|
نَبِيُّ التَّوْبَةِ
|
Nabiyyu t-Tawbah
|
Prophet of Repentance
|
43
|
حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ
|
Harīṣun ʿAlaykum
|
Most Concerned for You
|
44
|
مَعْلُومٌ
|
Maʿlūm
|
Known One
|
45
|
شَهِيرٌ
|
Shahīr
|
Renowned
|
46
|
شَاهِدٌ
|
Shāhid
|
Testifier
|
47
|
شَهِيدٌ
|
Shahīd
|
Witness
|
48
|
مَشْهُودٌ
|
Mashhūd
|
One Witnessed to
|
49
|
بَشِيرٌ
|
Bashīr
|
Bearer of Good Tidings
|
50
|
مُبَشِّرٌ
|
Mubashshir
|
Bringer of Good News
|
51
|
نَذِيرٌ
|
Nadhīr
|
Warner
|
52
|
مُنْذِرٌ
|
Mundhir
|
Admonisher
|
53
|
نُورٌ
|
Nūr
|
Light
|
54
|
سِرَاجٌ
|
Sirāj
|
Lamp
|
55
|
مِصْبَاحٌ
|
Miṣbāh
|
Lantern
|
56
|
هُدَىً
|
Hudā
|
Guidance
|
57
|
مَهْدِيٌ
|
Mahdiyy
|
Guided
|
58
|
مُنِيرٌ
|
Munīr
|
Giver of Light
|
59
|
دَاعٍ
|
Dāʿī
|
Caller
|
60
|
مَدْعُوٌّ
|
Madʿuww
|
Called Upon
|
61
|
مُجِيبٌ
|
Mujīb
|
Answerer to the Call
|
62
|
مُجَابٌ
|
Mujāb
|
Answered
|
63
|
حَفِيٌّ
|
Ḥafiyy
|
Welcoming
|
64
|
عَفُوٌّ
|
ʿAfuww
|
Much-Pardoning
|
65
|
وَلِيٌّ
|
Waliyy
|
One Close to Allah
|
66
|
حَقٌ
|
Ḥaqq
|
Truth
|
67
|
قَوِيٌّ
|
Qawiyy
|
Mighty
|
68
|
أَمِينٌ
|
Amīn
|
Trustworthy
|
69
|
مَأْمُونٌ
|
Ma’mūn
|
Trusted
|
70
|
كَرِيمٌ
|
Karīm
|
Noble
|
71
|
مُكَرَّمٌ
|
Mukarram
|
Ennobled
|
72
|
مَكِينٌ
|
Makīn
|
Unshakeable
|
73
|
مَتِينٌ
|
Matīn
|
Firm
|
74
|
مُبِينٌ
|
Mubīn
|
Evident, Clarifier
|
75
|
مُؤَمِّلٌ
|
Mu’ammil
|
Hopeful
|
76
|
وَصُولٌ
|
Waṣūl
|
Maintainer of Ties
|
77
|
ذُو قُوَّةٍ
|
Dhū Quwwah
|
Possessor of Might
|
78
|
ذُو حُرْمَةٍ
|
Dhū Ḥurmah
|
Possessor of Sanctity
|
79
|
ذُو مَكَانَةٍ
|
Dhū Makānah
|
Possessor of a Mighty Station
|
80
|
ذُو عِزٍّ
|
Dhū ʿIzz
|
Possessor of Glory
|
81
|
ذُو فَضْلٍ
|
Dhū Faḍl
|
Possessor of Virtue
|
82
|
مُطَاعٌ
|
Muṭāʿ
|
Obeyed
|
83
|
مُطِيعٌ
|
Muṭīʿ
|
Obedient
|
84
|
قَدَمُ صِدْقٍ
|
Qadamu Ṣidq
|
Sure Forerunner
|
85
|
رَحْمَةٌ
|
Raḥmah
|
Mercy
|
86
|
بُشْرَى
|
Bushrā
|
Glad Tidings
|
87
|
غُوثٌ
|
Ghawth
|
Aid
|
88
|
غَيْثٌ
|
Ghayth
|
Relief
|
89
|
غِيَاثٌ
|
Ghiyāth
|
Succour
|
90
|
نِعْمَةُ اللهِ
|
Niʿmatullāh
|
Allah’s Blessing
|
91
|
هَدِيَّةُ اللهِ
|
Hadiyyatullāh
|
Allah’s Gift
|
92
|
عُرْوَةٌ وُثْقَى
|
ʿUrwatun Wuthqā
|
Most Trusty Hold
|
93
|
صِرَاطُ اللهِ
|
Ṣirāṭullāh
|
Path to Allah
|
94
|
صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
|
Ṣirāṭun Mustaqīm
|
Straight Path
|
95
|
ذِكْرُ اللهِ
|
Dhikrullāh
|
Remembrance of Allah
|
96
|
سَيْفُ اللهِ
|
Sayfullāh
|
Sword of Allah
|
97
|
حِزْبُ اللهِ
|
Ḥizbullāh
|
Party of Allah
|
98
|
النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ
|
An-Najmu th-thāqib
|
Shining Star
|
99
|
مُصْطَفَى
|
Muṣṭafā
|
Chosen
|
100
|
مُجْتَبَى
|
Mujtabā
|
Selected
|
101
|
مُنْتَقَى
|
Muntaqā
|
Elect
|
102
|
أُمِّيٌ
|
Ummiyy
|
Unlettered
|
103
|
مُخْتَارٌ
|
Mukhtār
|
Preferred One
|
104
|
أَجِيرٌ
|
Ajīr
|
Protector
|
105
|
جَبَّارٌ
|
Jabbār
|
Rectifier
|
106
|
أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ
|
Abu l-Qāsim
|
Father of Qasim
|
107
|
أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ
|
Abu ṭ-Ṭāhir
|
Father of Tahir
|
108
|
أَبُو الطَّيِّبِ
|
Abu ṭ-Ṭayyib
|
Father of Tayyib
|
109
|
أَبُو إِبْرَاهِيمَ
|
Abū Ibrāhīm
|
Father of Ibrahim
|
110
|
مُشَفَّعٌ
|
Mushaffaʿ
|
One Permitted to Intercede
|
111
|
شَفِيعٌ
|
Shafīʿ
|
Intercessor
|
112
|
صَالِحٌ
|
Ṣāliḥ
|
Righteous
|
113
|
مُصْلِحٌ
|
Muṣliḥ
|
Rectifier
|
114
|
مُهَيْمِنٌ
|
Muhaymin
|
Guardian
|
115
|
صَادِقٌ
|
Ṣādiq
|
Truthful
|
116
|
مُصَدَّقٌ
|
Muṣaddaq
|
Confirmed
|
117
|
صِدْقٌ
|
Ṣidq
|
Truthfulness
|
118
|
سَيِّدُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ
|
Sayyidu l-Mursalīn
|
Master of the Emissaries
|
119
|
إِمَامُ الْمُتَّقِينَ
|
Imāmu l-Muttaqīn
|
Leader of the God-fearing
|
120
|
قَائِدُ الْغُرِّ الْمُحَجَّلِينَ
|
Qā’idu l-Ghurri l-Muḥajjalīn
|
Leader of the Brightly Shining Ones
|
121
|
خَلِيلُ الرَّحْمٰنِ
|
Khalīlu r-Raḥmān
|
Intimate Friend of the All-Merciful
|
122
|
بَرٌّ
|
Barr
|
Dutiful
|
123
|
مَبَرٌّ
|
Mabarr
|
Fulfiller of Oaths
|
124
|
وَجِيهٌ
|
Wajīh
|
Eminent
|
125
|
نَصِيحٌ
|
Naṣīḥ
|
Sincere Well-Wisher
|
126
|
نَاصِحٌ
|
Nāṣiḥ
|
Sincere Advisor
|
127
|
وَكِيلٌ
|
Wakīl
|
Entrusted
|
128
|
مُتَوَكِّلٌ
|
Mutawwakil
|
Wholly Reliant on Allah
|
129
|
كَفِيلٌ
|
Kafīl
|
Guarantor
|
130
|
شَفِيقٌ
|
Shafīq
|
Tenderhearted
|
131
|
مُقِيمُ السُّنَّةِ
|
Muqīmu s-Sunnah
|
Upholder of the Sunnah
|
132
|
مُقدَّسٌ
|
Muqaddas
|
Pure and Inviolate
|
133
|
رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ
|
Rūḥu l-Qudus
|
Pure Spirit
|
134
|
رُوحُ الْحَقِّ
|
Rūḥu l-Ḥaqq
|
Spirit of Truth
|
135
|
رُوحُ الْقِسْطِ
|
Rūḥu l-Qisṭ
|
Spirit of Justice
|
136
|
كَافٍ
|
Kāfī
|
Sufficer
|
137
|
مُكْتَفٍ
|
Muktafī
|
Contented
|
138
|
بَالِغٌ
|
Bāligh
|
Accomplished
|
139
|
مُبَلِّغٌ
|
Muballigh
|
Conveyor
|
140
|
شَافٍ
|
Shāfī
|
Healer
|
141
|
وَاصِلٌ
|
Wāṣil
|
Attainer
|
142
|
مَوْصُولٌ
|
Mawṣūl
|
Connected
|
143
|
سَابِقٌ
|
Sābiq
|
Forerunner
|
144
|
سَائِقٌ
|
Sā’iq
|
Driver
|
145
|
هَادٍ
|
Hādī
|
Guide
|
146
|
مُهْدٍ
|
Muhdi
|
Guider
|
147
|
مُقَدَّمٌ
|
Muqaddam
|
Foremost
|
148
|
عَزِيزٌ
|
ʿAzīz
|
Mighty
|
149
|
فَاضِلٌ
|
Fāḍil
|
Outstanding
|
150
|
مُفَضَّلٌ
|
Mufaḍḍal
|
Favoured
|
151
|
فَاتِحٌ
|
Fātiḥ
|
Conqueror
|
152
|
مِفْتَاحٌ
|
Miftāḥ
|
Key
|
153
|
مِفْتَاحُ الرَّحْمَةِ
|
Miftāḥu r-Raḥmah
|
Key to Mercy
|
154
|
مِفْتَاحُ الْجَنَّةِ
|
Miftāḥu l-Jannah
|
Key to the Garden
|
155
|
عَلَمُ الْإِيمَانِ
|
ʿAlamu l-Īmān
|
Sign of Faith
|
156
|
عَلَمُ الْيَقِينِ
|
ʿAlamu l-Yaqīn
|
Sign of Certainty
|
157
|
دَلِيلُ الْخَيْرَاتِ
|
Dalīlu l-Khayrāt
|
Guide to Benefits
|
158
|
مُصَحِّحُ الْحَسَنَاتِ
|
Musaḥḥihu l-Ḥasanāt
|
Verifier of Good Deeds
|
159
|
مُقِيلُ الْعَثَرَاتِ
|
Muqīlu l-ʿAtharāt
|
Pardoner of Errors
|
160
|
صَفُوحٌ عَنِ الزَّلَّاتِ
|
Ṣafūḥun ʿani z-Zallāt
|
Overlooker of Lapses
|
161
|
صَاحِبُ الشَّفَاعَةِ
|
Ṣaḥību sh-Shafāʿah
|
Possessor of Intercession
|
162
|
صَاحِبُ الْمَقَامِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Maqām
|
Possessor of the Lofty Station
|
163
|
صَاحِبُ الْقَدَمِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Qadam
|
Possessor of Precedence
|
164
|
مَخْصُوصٌ بِالْعِزِّ
|
Makhṣūṣ bi-l ʿIzz
|
One Singled out for Glory
|
165
|
مَخْصُوصٌ بِالْمَجْدِ
|
Makhṣūṣ bi-l-Majd
|
One Distinguished by Splendour
|
166
|
مَخْصُوصٌ بِالشَّرَفِ
|
Makhṣūṣ bi-sh-Sharaf
|
One Distinguished by Nobility
|
167
|
صَاحِبُ الْوَسِيلَةِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Wasīlah
|
Possessor of Privileged Access
|
168
|
صَاحِبُ السَّيْفِ
|
Ṣāḥibu s-Sayf
|
Possessor of the Sword
|
169
|
صَاحِبُ الْفَضِيلَةِ
|
Ṣāḥību l-Faḍīlah
|
Possessor of Virtue
|
170
|
صَاحِبُ الْإِزَارِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Izār
|
Wearer of the Sarong
|
171
|
صَاحِبُ الْحُجَّةِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Ḥujjah
|
Possessor of Proof
|
172
|
صَاحِبُ السُّلْطَانِ
|
Ṣāḥibu s-Sulṭān
|
Possessor of Authority
|
173
|
صَاحِبُ الرِّدَاءِ
|
Ṣāḥibu r-Ridā’
|
Wearer of the Mantle
|
174
|
صَاحِبُ الدَّرَجَةِ الرَّفِيعَةِ
|
Ṣāḥibu d-Darajati r-Rafīʿah
|
Possessor of Exalted Rank
|
175
|
صَاحِبُ التَّاجِ
|
Ṣāḥibu t-Tāj
|
Wearer of the Crown or Turban
|
176
|
صَاحِبُ الْمِغْفَرِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Mighfar
|
Wearer of the Helmet
|
177
|
صَاحِبُ اللِّوَاءِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Liwā’
|
Possessor of the Banner
|
178
|
صَاحِبُ الْمِعْرَاجِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Miʿrāj
|
Possessor of the Ascension
|
179
|
صَاحِبُ الْقَضِيبِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Qaḍīb
|
Possessor of the Staff
|
180
|
صَاحِبُ الْبُرَاقِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Burāq
|
Rider of the Buraq
|
181
|
صَاحِبُ الْخَاتَمِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Khātam
|
Possessor of the Seal of Prophethood
|
182
|
صَاحِبُ الْعَلَامَةِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-ʿAlāmah
|
Possessor of the Mark
|
183
|
صَاحِبُ الْبُرْهَانِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Burhān
|
Possessor of Proof
|
184
|
صَاحِبُ الْبَيَانِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Bayān
|
Possessor of Elucidation
|
185
|
فَصِيحُ اللِّسَانِ
|
Faṣīḥu l-Lisān
|
Eloquent of Tongue
|
186
|
مُطَهَّرُ الْجَنَانِ
|
Muṭahharu l-Janān
|
Purified of Soul
|
187
|
رَؤُوفٌ
|
Raūf
|
Gentle or Kindly
|
188
|
رَحِيمٌ
|
Raḥīm
|
Merciful
|
189
|
اُذُنُ خَيْرٍ
|
Udhunu Khayr
|
Hearer of Good
|
190
|
صَحِيحُ الْإِسْلَامِ
|
Ṣaḥīḥu l-Islām
|
Sound in Islam
|
191
|
سَيِّدُ الْكَوْنَيْنِ
|
Sayyidu l-Kawnayn
|
Master of Both Worlds
|
192
|
عَيْنُ النَّعِيمِ
|
ʿAynu n-Naʿīm
|
Source of Bliss
|
193
|
عَيْنُ الْغُرِّ
|
ʿAynu l-Ghurr
|
Superior of the Enlightened Ones
|
194
|
سَعْدُ اللهِ
|
Saʿdullāh
|
Allah’s Felicity for Creation
|
195
|
سَعْدُ الْخَلْقِ
|
Saʿdu l-Khalq
|
Felicity of Creation
|
196
|
خَطِيبُ الْأُمَمِ
|
Khaṭību l-Umam
|
Speaker Addressing All Nations
|
197
|
عَلَمُ الْهُدَى
|
ʿAlamu l-Hudā
|
Banner of Guidance
|
198
|
كَاشِفُ الْكُرَبِ
|
Kāshifu l-Kurab
|
Dispeller of Fears
|
199
|
رَافِعُ الرُّتَبِ
|
Rāfiʿu r-Rutab
|
Raiser of Ranks
|
200
|
عِزُّ الْعَرَبِ
|
ʿIzzu l-ʿArab
|
Glory of the Arabs
|
201
|
صَاحِبُ الْفَرَجِ
|
Ṣāḥibu l-Faraj
|
Bringer of Relief
|
202
|
كَرِيمُ الْمَخْرَجِ
|
Karīmu l-Makhraj
|
Most Noble in Lineage
|
Meaning of the Name of Muhammad
Muhammad is the name by which the Prophet is best known. The Prophet ﷺ said:
The name Muhammad is derived from the root ḥa-mīm-dāl (ح-م-د), which means ‘to praise’; this, being the passive participle of the second form, signifies ‘One who is praised continuously and copiously.’ He is so called because his name is forever being mentioned on the tongues of the denizens of the heavens and the earth at every moment in time, and also in their hearts. In fact, he is remembered and brought to mind upon seeing and recognising every beautiful and noble quality and through every knowledge learnt, understood and absorbed since he is the source and epitome of all noble qualities manifested in creation. Not only is he praised abundantly in this world, owing to the guidance and wisdom that he brought: he will also be praised in the next life , thanks to his intercession for the whole of creation after the Resurrection. His name alludes not only to his being much praised but also to the fact that his qualities and virtues are endless and we can never encompass them. The more we discover, the more Allah reveals to us so that we may continue to praise him until the end of time and beyond.
According to a Hadith cited by Abu Nuaym al-Isfahani, it was his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, who named him Muhammad. When asked why he had done so – the name being unknown amongst his forefathers — he answered, “It is my hope that the denizens of all the heavens and the earth will sing his praises.” It was said that he named him so because of a dream in which he saw as if a chain of silver was emanating from his back; one edge of it was in the firmament and the other was in the lands, one side of it pointed towards the east and the other in the west. Then it turned into the form of a tree, with light on every one of its leaves, to which all mankind in the east and west were holding fast. He saw the Arabs and non-Arabs all bowing and people from amongst the Quraysh holding fast to it. Then a group of people came and tried to cut the tree down; but when they drew close, a young lad whose beauty and fragrance Abd al-Muttalib had never seen or smelt the like of, appeared and broke their backs and gouged out their eyes. Abd al-Muttalib tried to reach out to take hold of the tree but he could not reach it. He was told, “You will have a share of it — but through the people who are holding fast to it.” Upon waking up, he related this dream to one of the divines of Quraysh and they interpreted it as meaning that a child would emerge from his progeny to whom all the people in the east and west would hold fast and whose praises would be sung by the denizens of the heavens and earth. (Rawd al-unuf)
It is also related by Ibn Hisham and Ibn Sa’d that the Prophet’s mother Amina heard a voice speak to her, informing her that she had given birth to the leader of his nation and that she should name him Muhammad. Scholars say, combining these two narratives, that she mentioned this to Abd al-Muttalib and so he named him Muhammad, since her experience confirmed what he himself had seen.
No one had been known by this name until shortly before his birth, according to Qadi Iyad. Zarqani in his commentary on al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya agrees that this is the position of the majority of scholars and is the soundest. Since the Jews and Christians were aware of his impending arrival, about fifteen boys, according to Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani’s commentary on Bukhari, were named Muhammad in the hope that they would be blessed with prophethood in their household. Yet none of them claimed prophethood, and all passed away before the spread of Islam except Muhammad ibn Adi, who by some accounts accepted the religion at the hand of the Prophet ﷺ.
Honorifics
In central and south Asian countries such as Pakistan and Turkey, the Prophet ﷺ is often referred to with the honorific title Hazrat (Arabic: حضرت) and is called Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ denoting his majesty and holiness. Elsewhere in the Muslim world, the title Sayyiduna (Arabic: سیدنا), meaning “our master” is often said before the name of Muhammad ﷺ.
There is also a strong emphasis on sending prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ after his name is mentioned, orally or written. It is related from Ali who said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘The miser is the one who, when I am mentioned in his presence, does not send prayers upon me.’”(Tirmidhi)
The most common prayer after the mention of the name of Muhammad ﷺ is ﷺ / صلى الله عليه وسلم (sallAllahu alaihi wasallam), meaning “Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him”. This is sometimes abbreviated to “SAW” or “PBUH” (peace be upon him) when written in English. Abbreviations are however discouraged and there is a strong emphasis on writing out the prayer fully upon the mention of the name of Muhammad ﷺ.