name and invoking blessings on him. This represents the highest felicity imaginable that Allah and His angels send blessings on him. Authentic Aḥādīth promise great rewards for reciting ṣalawāt (invoking blessings and peace on the Prophet Muḥammad). Equally noteworthy is the point that ṣalawāt forms part of the obligatory ṣalāh (prayer) offered five times a day by every Muslim.
The Qur’ān contains the following names, both personal and attributive, of the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him):
In view of the above, the Prophet’s Companions (Ṣaḥābah) regarded it as their great privilege to record, elucidate, and transmit the Aḥādīth about the Prophet’s names and attributes.
In the light of their study of the Qur’ān and Ḥadīth, Muslim scholars have enumerated hundreds of names and attributes of the Prophet which feature in Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī’s Al-Bahjah Al-Bahiyyah fī Al-Asmā’ Al-Nabwiyyah, Muḥammad Ibn Yūsuf Ṣāliḥī Shāfiʿī’s Subul Al-Hudā and Zurqānī’s Sharḥ Al-Mawāhib Al-Ludaniyyah. Of these, his 99 names and attributes are widely known. Their study enables us not only to gain a better, clear picture of his excellent personality and laudable traits, it also helps us grasp and appreciate the all-embracing Islamic belief system and world view. Moreover, it instructs us how to lead life by emulating the role model embodied by the Prophet, for Allah proclaims: “Surely there is a good example for you in the Messenger of Allah (the Prophet Muḥammad).” (al-Aḥzāb 33:21) It thus inculcates into us love, respect, and regard for Allah’s Final Messenger whom Allah “sent down as mercy unto mankind.” (al-Anbiyā’ 21:107)
Islam is, no doubt, Allah-centred faith yet in its scheme of things, the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) occupies a central position. The Qur’ān declares:
Those who believe and do good deeds and believe in the revelations sent down to Muḥammad – for it is the truth from their Lord – He will remove from them their misdeeds and improve their condition.
(Muḥammad 47: 2)
In the above quoted passage, Allah assures Muslims forgiveness for their sins if they lead their life in accordance with the Divine message sent down to the Prophet (peace be upon him). Our commitment to his message will bring us success in both this world and the next. He is part of the chain of Allah’s Messengers who conveyed divine guidance to mankind. More remarkably, he stands out as the Final Messenger whose teachings are valid until the end of time. (al-Anʿām 6: 85–90 and al-Aḥzāb 33: 40) He belongs to the progeny of the Prophets Abraham, and Ishmael
