Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette There is no human being that can come as close to perfection in characteristics, qualities, and manners as did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The more we read about him, what a great leader, loving husband, kind father, and merciful person he was, the more we love him. Through his names, we can learn more about the person that he was. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was given several names and titles by Allah, and by the people of his time. We all know the Prophet's name, Muhammad. When the Prophet was born, after his father's death, his grandfather named him, and none was ever named by this name before him. He was the first person to ever be named by Muhammad. The Prophet was also known as Ahmad. Muhammad and Ahmad come from the Arabic verb, to praise. Muhammad means the one who is praised because of the inherent characteristics and qualities that he has. It means the one worthy and deserving of praise, and it also means the one who is being given praise continuously. Truly, the Prophet is continuously mentioned and praised by Muslims all over the world. In the call to prayer five times a day, and in the prayer itself, we mention his name and we send peace and blessings upon the Prophet. Muhammad means that Allah has praised him, the angels have praised him, the prophets have praised him, and the people on Earth have praised him. Muhammad; he is praised in the Heavens and the Earth, he has been praised by people in the past, and he is praised in the present. What a beautiful name; I implore the young men of today named Muhammad to honor their name, and not to destroy it with abbreviations like Mo! Ahmad means the one who is given the highest praise, the best type of praise. Among the Prophet's names is Al-Maahi, which means the one through whom Allah will wipe out disbelief. In the time that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was born, the Arabian Peninsula was immersed in disbelief. After the Prophet (peace be upon him) spread the message and in his own lifetime, all of Arabia became immersed in Islam. Within 60 to 70 years of the Prophet's life, Islam reached the borders of China in the East, and Spain in the West. The name Al-Haashir, was given to the Prophet by Allah. Translation of Al-Haashir means that on his footsteps or after him, the people will be resurrected. There are two interpretations for the meaning of this name; the first is that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his coming forth as a Messenger of Allah, was the first sign of the signs of the Day of Judgment. The second interpretation for the meaning of Al-Haashir is that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) will be the first person to be resurrected on the Day of Judgment. Another of his names, Al-Aqib, means that there is no prophet after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). And Al-Muqaffa means the one who comes after a long chain of prophets; the one who makes the message of all the prophets before him complete. In Tirmidhi's book of Hadith, Hudhayfah reports that he once met the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) on one of the paths of Madinah, and the Prophet said to him, “I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad, and I am the Prophet of Mercy, the Prophet of Repentance, I am Al-Muqaffa (the Closing), I am Al-Haashir (the Gatherer), and Nabi al-Malahim (the Prophet of Rigors)”. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the Prophet of Mercy. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a mercy to all people in the world: {And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.} (Chapter 21, verse 107) Mercy was in his name and in his character; mercy was his nature. Sadly, some of us have strayed from his way, and we lack mercy in our marriages, parenting, teaching, inviting others to Islam, and managing employees and domestic workers. Other well known names for the Prophet (peace be upon him) are Moustafa and Moukhtar. Both names mean the chosen or preferred; or the one chosen by Allah. A beautiful name of the Prophet that may be slightly less common among Muslims today is the name Siraj. Allah, in the Holy Qur'an, uses the word ‘Siraj' referring to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it means an illuminating light, or the bright sun. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is a guiding light for humanity from the darkness of disbelief, tribal wars, and wantonness, to the belief in Allah, and preserving the sanctity of human life and morality. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is also Al-Basheer, which means the bearer of glad tidings. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came with good news. All those who believe in Allah, stay away from sin, do not harm others, and live a life of devotedness and worship - their reward is Paradise. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was nicknamed by the people of his time as As-Sadiq Al-Ameen because of his noteworthy noble qualities. As-Sadiq means the truthful, and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was always honest. Al-Ameen means the trustworthy. The people of Makkah whether Muslim or non-Muslim used to entrust the Prophet (peace be upon him) with their expensive riches such as armor or gold when they traveled away from home. They knew that he was honest and trustworthy and would save their wealth for them and give back what belonged to them upon their return. All of the names of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are beautiful, as is his character.
