The Names of Muhammad

The website Quran Focus has an article titled, The 99 Names of Muhammad. The article states, “According to the Arabs, the more names someone has, the more noble he is.” So what are we to make of the fact that they associate 99 names with Allah as well as 99 names with Muhammad. What else are we to think except that they are making Muhammad a partner with God?

[14:30] They set up rivals to rank with GOD and to divert others from His path. Say, “Enjoy for awhile; your final destiny is Hell.”

 وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ قُلْ تَمَتَّعُوا۟ فَإِنَّ مَصِيرَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ

[41:9] Say, “You disbelieve in the One who created the earth in two days, and you set up rivals to rank with Him, though He is Lord of the universe.”

 قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

But it is even worse. According to the site SalawatHub, they list 202 names of Muhammad – more than twice that of the names attributed to God. It also makes the following statement regarding the names of Muhammad:

The Arabs say that the more names a thing is given, the more noble it is. A number of scholars have compiled collections of the names of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to increase the appreciation of who he actually is. In some cases they collected 99 names, to match the 99 Names of Allah mentioned in a famous Hadith. In other cases, they collected far more.

Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi relates in his commentary on Kitab al-shamail, the great Hadith compilation of Imam Tirmidhi describing the Prophet ﷺ, that some Sufis have said that the Prophet has a thousand names. Ibn al-Faris includes 2020 in his Tafsir Asma al-Rasul, while Abu al-Hasan al-Subki states that they number 4000. Qastallani relates just over 500 in his work al-Mawahib al-ladunniyya. Qadi Iyad, in al-Shifa, his classic treatise on the Prophet ﷺ, limits himself only to those names ascribed clearly to him; he also says that the Prophet ﷺ has 30 names which are also among the Names of Allah.

As if attributing more names to Muhammad than God is not blasphemous enough, if we look at the names they give the prophet, we see many of these names are the names of God.

It is worth mentioning that there is a difference between a name and an attribute. If we say someone is kind, we infer that they possess the qualities of kindness, but if we say that their name is Kind, then we infer this entity can be used as a substitute for that word. So, while believers are encouraged to imitate the attributes of God in their actions, none can share in His name. On the other hand, when it comes to the names ( اسم ) of God, no other entity can possess any of His names because no other entity can substitute for God. This is because God is Absolute ( l-ṣamadu / ٱلصَّمَدُ ).

[112:1] Proclaim, “He is the One and only GOD.
[112:2] “The Absolute GOD.
[112:3] “Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten.
[112:4] “None equals Him.”

 قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
 ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
 لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
 وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ

If a person claims another entity shares the same name as God, then they are inferring that that person can be used as a substitute for God. Therefore, how can anyone use any of the names of God for any other entity other than God and still claim to be a monotheist?

All the names of God are unique to Him and are used to call upon Him alone. Just like we wouldn’t call any other entity Allah (God), it would be blasphemous to call any entity the same name we use for God.

Below is the list of the 202 names attributed to Muhammad from the article, and we can see that a number of these names are explicitly used for God in the Quran. For example, Pardoner ( عَفُوٌّ ), Witness ( شَهِيدٌ ), Truth ( حَقٌ ), Honorable ( كَرِيمٌ ), Beneficent ( بَرٌّ ), Kind ( رَؤُوفٌ ), Merciful ( رَحِيمٌ ), Almighty ( عَزِيزٌ ).

[37:159] GOD be glorified; far above their claims.

 سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ

[52:43] Do they have another god besides GOD? GOD be glorified, far above having partners.

 أَمْ لَهُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

[59:22] He is the One GOD; there is no other god besides Him. Knower of all secrets and declarations. He is the Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

 هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ هُوَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ

[59:23] He is the One GOD; there is no other god besides Him. The King, the Most Sacred, the Peace, the Most Faithful, the Supreme, the Almighty, the Most Powerful, the Most Dignified. GOD be glorified; far above having partners.

 هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْمَلِكُ ٱلْقُدُّوسُ ٱلسَّلَـٰمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُ ٱلْمُهَيْمِنُ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْجَبَّارُ ٱلْمُتَكَبِّرُ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ

[59:24] He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise.

 هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُ ٱلْبَارِئُ ٱلْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ ٱلْأَسْمَآءُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ

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	Pardoner
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 [Kind]
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	The Holy 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