of the following fervent supplication made by the Prophets Abraham and Ishmael (peace be upon them):
Our Lord! Raise up for them (the children of Ishmael) a Messenger from among them who will recite to them Your revelations and will teach them the Book and Wisdom and will purify them (of sins and unbelief). Surely you alone are Almighty and All-Wise.
(al-Baqarah 2: 129)
It is on record that the Prophet (peace be upon him) accomplished the following missions in line with the import of the above verse: (a) conveying the meaning and message of the Qur’ān, (b) instructing everyone in Islamic faith and practices, and (c) facilitating redemption and salvation for people. His main assignment consisted in giving good news to believers, and warning unbelievers. Not only did he faithfully transmit the divine message, he also set the exemplary way of life. His distinguished life and conduct serve as the role model valid for all time and place. Little wonder then, that Allah elevated him to the highest station of praise and glory:
And We have exalted your fame
(Alam Nashraḥ 94: 4)
Your Lord will raise you to the rank of praise and glory
(al-Isrā’ 17: 79)
Abiding by the Prophet’s teachings represents obeying Allah, a point recurrently stated in the Qur’ān, Ḥadīh and Sunnah, his sayings and deeds respectively, are therefore of utmost importance in Islam and constitute the primary sources of Islamic faith.
Notwithstanding his many unique traits, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a mortal human being and a servant of Allah chosen by Him to communicate and elucidate His message to mankind. He does not share any trait with divinity. It is all the more necessary to clarify this point in that some of his names mentioned in the Qur’ān itself and recounted in this book, are the same as those of Allah.
Throughout his career, the Prophet (peace be upon him) devoted himself heart and soul to preaching and practising the message of Islam and achieved amazing success in transforming the polytheistic, ignorant Arabs into champions of monotheism and knowledge. It is therefore not surprising to note the American author, Michael Hart acclaiming the Prophet (peace be upon him) as the most important person in history (The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History). Allah directs us to treat the Prophet (peace be upon him) with love and respect:
O Believers! Do not put yourself forward before Allah and His Messenger. But fear Allah. For Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
(al-Ḥujurāt 49: 1)
BLESSED NAMES AND CHARACTERISTICS of
1
THE PRAISED ONE
THAT Allah and angels send blessings upon the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) (al-Aḥzāb 33: 56) points to his exalted status. The Qur’ān directs us: “Believers, send blessings on him” (al-Aḥzāb 33: 56). It also indicates that Allah praises him and blesses his mission. Allah has exalted his name and fame. His name figures along with Allah in the credal statement of Islam:
Muslims have immense love and respect for Him. Little wonder then that according to The Columbia Encyclopaedia, Muḥammad is the most common given name in the world. More than 150 million males presently bear this name. All this underscores Muslims’ tremendous admiration for him. More significantly, it brings out the truth that he has been the most praised person in the annals of history.
We should recite ṣalawāt (benediction) as much as possible, particularly when his name is mentioned. This brings immense rewards from Allah.
From Sūrah Āl ʿImrān 3:144
2
HE WHO PRAISED ALLAH MUCH
THE Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) holds the distinction of having praised Allah most by his acts of worship and by accomplishing the mission of Islam, which has enabled billions of people to recognize and worship and thus praise Allah.
Another remarkable point, according to the Qur’ān, is that the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) announced the Prophet’s advent, saying that his name will be Aḥmad: “O children of Israel, I am Allah’s Messenger to you. I give you the glad tiding of a Messenger who shall come after me, his name being Aḥmad.” (al-Ṣaff 61: 7).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) referred to it as one of his distinctions that Allah had named him Aḥmad (Al-Tirmidhī, Al-Shamā’il Al-Muḥammadiyyah, Bāb Mā Jā’a Fī Asmā’ Rasūl Allāh, 356).
Like Muḥammad, Aḥmad happens to be a favourite name among Muslims. Out of their love and esteem for the Prophet (peace be upon him) Muslims regard it as their great privilege to name their beloved babies after him.
From Sūrah al-Ṣaff 61:6
3
HE WHO PRAISED ALLAH
NOT only did the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) praise and glorify Allah profusely, he also did so in a befitting manner. In an extensive Ḥadīth it is related that all Messengers will direct the distressed people on the Day of Judgement to the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) for his intercession. He will prostrate before Allah and earnestly seek forgiveness for them. At that point too, he will invoke and praise Allah in the best manner.
The Prophet’s Sunnah guides us how to invoke and praise Allah.
From Al-Bukhārī Kitāb al-Tawḥīd: 6,975
4
THE PRAISED ONE
THAT the Prophet Muḥammad (peace be upon him) will win wide acclaim
