12. NAMES OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ

In Islamic tradition, the names and titles of the Prophet ﷺ are derived directly from the Holy Qurʾān and authentic Hadith.

In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ specifically highlighted his primary names:

“I have several names: I am Muhammad and I am Ahmad, and I am Al-Māḥī with whom Allah obliterates disbelief, and I am Al-Ḥāshir at whose feet the people will be gathered [on the Day of Resurrection], and I am Al-ʿĀqib [after whom there is no prophet]…” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4896, Sahih Muslim 2354b)[1][2]

In another narration from Sahih Muslim, Abu Musa al-Ashʿari reported:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ named for us several of his names and said: ‘I am Muhammad, Ahmad, Al-Muqaffī (the one who follows previous prophets), Al-Ḥāshir, Nabiyy at-Tawbah (the Prophet of Repentance) and Nabiyy ar-Raḥmah (the Prophet of Mercy).’” (Sahih Muslim 2355)[3]

A narration from Hudhayfah in ash-Shamāʾil al-Muḥammadiyyah of at-Tirmidhi also names him Nabiyy al-Malāḥim (the Prophet of Epic Struggles).[4]

1. 1 · Core Personal Names

   مُحَمَّد

   Muḥammad

   The Praised One / Much Praised

   [5][6][1][2]
2. 2 · Core Personal Names

   اَحۡمَد

   Aḥmad

   The Most Praiseworthy

   [7][1][2]
3. 3 · Core Personal Names

   الۡمَاحِيۡ

   Al-Māḥī

   The Eraser / Obliterator of Disbelief

   [1][2]
4. 4 · Core Personal Names

   الۡحَاشِر

   Al-Ḥāshir

   The Gatherer (resurrected first)

   [1][2]
5. 5 · Core Personal Names

   الۡعَاقِب

   Al-ʿĀqib

   The Final Successor (No prophet after him)

   [1][2]
6. 6 · Core Personal Names

   الۡمُقَفِّي

   Al-Muqaffī

   The Follower (the last in the succession of prophets)

   [3]
7. 7 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

   نَبِيُّ الرَّحۡمَةِ

   Nabiyy ar-Raḥmah

   The Prophet of Mercy

   [3]
8. 8 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

   نَبِيُّ التَّوۡبَةِ

   Nabiyy at-Tawbah

   The Prophet of Repentance

   [3]
9. 9 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

   نَبِيُّ الۡمَلۡحَمَةِ

   Nabiyy al-Malḥamah

   The Prophet of Great Battles / Epic Struggles

   [4]
10. 10 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ

    Khātam an-Nabiyyīn

    The Seal of the Prophets

    [6]
11. 11 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    الشَّاهِد

    Ash-Shāhid

    The Witness

    [8]
12. 12 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    الۡمُبَشِّر

    Al-Mubashshir

    The Bringer of Glad Tidings

    [8]
13. 13 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    النَّذِيۡر

    An-Nadhīr

    The Warner

    [8]
14. 14 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    الدَّاعِي اِلَى اللّٰهِ

    Ad-Dāʿī ilā Allāh

    The Caller to Allah

    [9]
15. 15 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    السِّرَاجُ الۡمُنِيۡر

    As-Sirāj al-Munīr

    The Illuminating Lamp / Radiant Light

    [9]
16. 16 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    رَحۡمَةٌ لِلۡعَالَمِيۡنَ

    Raḥmatun lil-ʿĀlamīn

    A Mercy to the Worlds

    [10]
17. 17 · Quranic Epithets

    الۡمُزَّمِّل

    Al-Muzzammil

    The Enfolded / Wrapped One

    [11]
18. 18 · Quranic Epithets

    الۡمُدَّثِّر

    Al-Muddaththir

    The Cloaked / Shrouded One

    [12]
19. 19 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    عَبۡدُ اللّٰهِ

    ʿAbdullāh

    The Servant of Allah

    [13][14]
20. 20 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    رَؤُوۡفٌ رَحِيۡم

    Ra’ūf, Raḥīm

    Kind and Compassionate to the Believers

    [15][2]
21. 21 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    الۡاَمِيۡن

    Al-Amīn

    The Trustworthy

    Established historical & prophetic title

22. 22 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    الصَّادِق

    Aṣ-Ṣādiq

    The Truthful

    Established historical & prophetic title

    [16]
23. 23 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَم

    Sayyid Waladi Ādam

    Master of the Children of Adam

    [17]
24. 24 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    صَاحِبُ الشَّفَاعَة

    Ṣāḥib ash-Shafāʿah

    The Possessor of Intercession

    [17][18]
25. 25 · Prophetic Roles & Titles

    صَاحِبُ الۡمَقَامِ الۡمَحۡمُوۡد

    Ṣāḥib al-Maqām al-Maḥmūd

    The Owner of the Praised Station

    [19][18]

Scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim (in Zād al-Maʿād) note that all of the Prophet’s names are descriptive attributes (awṣāf), not merely arbitrary labels.