The Names and Descriptions of the Prophet Muhammad in the Quran and the Authentic Sunnah

Introduction

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) has two explicit names in the Quran: Muhammad and Ahmad. Beyond that, Allah described him in His Book with many attributes, and the authentic Sunnah records further names by which he named himself, some of which carry the sense of a description.

This article lists what is established, distinguishing the explicit name from the description, and tying each reference to its surah and verse or to its hadith source.

1. His Explicit Name in the Quran

Muhammad

The name "Muhammad" appears four times in four surahs:

Aal Imran (3:144): "And Muhammad is not but a messenger; messengers have passed on before him."

Al-Ahzab (33:40): "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets."

Muhammad (47:2): "...and believe in what has been revealed to Muhammad, and it is the truth from their Lord."

Al-Fath (48:29): "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves."

Ahmad

It appears once, on the tongue of Jesus (Isa), peace be upon him, in Surah As-Saf (61:6): "...and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad."

2. Some of His Descriptions in the Quran

The Messenger (ar-Rasul) and the Messenger of Allah: repeated in many places in the Quran.

The Prophet (an-Nabi): appears in many places.

The unlettered Prophet (an-Nabi al-Ummi): Al-A'raf (7:157-158).

Kind and merciful (ra'uf rahim): At-Tawbah (9:128): "...with the believers he is kind and merciful."

A witness, a bringer of good tidings, and a warner: Al-Ahzab (33:45).

A caller to Allah and a luminous lamp: Al-Ahzab (33:46).

Al-Muzzammil and Al-Muddaththir: in the opening verses of Surah Al-Muzzammil (73:1) and Surah Al-Muddaththir (74:1).

His servant ('abdihi / 'abdana): as in Al-Baqarah (2:23), Al-Isra (17:1), and Al-Hadid (57:9).

3. His Names in the Authentic Sunnah

The hadith of Jubayr ibn Mut'im (narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 3532, and Muslim, no. 2354)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad, and I am al-Mahi (the Eraser) through whom Allah erases disbelief, and I am al-Hashir (the Gatherer) at whose feet the people will be gathered, and I am al-Aqib (the Last)." In Muslim's narration: al-Aqib, after whom there is no prophet.

Al-Mahi: the one through whom Allah erases disbelief. Al-Hashir: the people are gathered at his feet. Al-Aqib: no prophet comes after him.

The hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (narrated by Muslim, no. 2355)

"The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to name himself for us with names; he said: I am Muhammad and Ahmad, and al-Muqaffi, and al-Hashir, and the Prophet of repentance, and the Prophet of mercy."

Al-Muqaffi: the one who came after the prophets before him, following in their footsteps. The Prophet of repentance and the Prophet of mercy: two descriptions established for him in this hadith.

Conclusion

The Prophet's two explicit names in the Quran are Muhammad and Ahmad. Everything beyond them is either an established Quranic description or a name recorded in the authentic Sunnah, and some of those names carry the sense of a description, such as al-Mahi, al-Hashir, al-Aqib, and al-Muqaffi.