Virtues of the name Muhammad
Dear Muhammad………..,
There was an article in The Guardian, “Muhammad: The Truth About Britain’s Most Misunderstood Name,” which emphasized that although the name Muhammad is undeniably popular, many people would prefer to shed it and go by another name. This was after “Muhammad” became the most popular name for boys in Britain last year.
Surprisingly, some men feel ashamed to be called a name which emphasizes their religion. In fact, they prefer to be called just “Mo” instead of Muhammad. Some even claim that parents who name their child Muhammad have lost their creative pursuit of naming.
Many people don’t know why their name is Muhammad. A lot of people who go by this blessed name are just keeping with tradition and need to introspect. I bet that after learning the virtues of this name, you will feel proud of it.
It is the infant’s vested right to be honored with a good name. When choosing a name for a child, it should be done with the intention that the child will be blessed with the barakah of that name. Here are some ahadeeth to show the importance of selecting a good and correct name. Let us first see the meaning of the name “Muhammad.”
Why you should name your child Muhammad? Virtues of the name Muhammad from classical text
- Ibn Asakir and Hussain Ibn Ahmad has stated that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “If a son is born to you and out of love and respect for me and to obtain the blessings of my name, you keep the child’s name ‘Muhammad’, then the father and child will both enter Jannah.”
- Hafidh Abu Tahir and Hafidh Ibn Bakeer narrates on the authority of Sayyiduna Anas Radi Allahu Ta’ala Anhu that Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said, “On the day of Qiyamah two persons will be summoned to the Court of ALLAH. The verdict would be – ‘take them both to Jannah!’ They would say, ‘O Almighty ALLAH! We have performed no good deed to entitle us to enter Jannah!’ ALLAH will command again, ‘Take them to Jannah because I have taken an oath that I will not put any person in Jahannam (Hell) whose name is Ahmad or Muhammad.'”
- Sayyiduna Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: “My Lord has mentioned to me, ‘I swear by My Sight and greatness that whosoever is named after you shall never be destroyed by the Fire of Hell.'” [Hilyah Abu Nu’aym]
- Ameer al-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna Ali (Radi ALLAHu Ta’ala Anhu) narrates that Rasoollulah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam states: “Those who sit in a company and eat food, and if there is a person amongst them by the name of Ahmad or Muhammad, then that entire group would receive the blessing of ALLAH twice daily.” [Hafidh Ibne Bakeer, Waylami, Musnad Abi Saeed Naqqash, Ibn Adi Kaamil
- The Glorious Prophet of ALLAH Sallallaho Alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallam said: “He who is blessed with three sons and does not name one Muhammad is indeed a Jahil (Ignorant).” [Tibrani, Mau’jam al-Kabeer]
- “On the Day of Qiyaamah you will be called by your (own) names and the names of your fathers. Therefore keep good names.” Aboo Dawood.
A Request:
Muslims should always be proud of their identity and faith. Nowadays, to conceal his identity, it is common practice for a person to ‘westernize’ his name, like substituting Yoosuf with Joe or Joseph, Sulaimaan with Solly or Sully, Faatimah with Fatli, Sumay-yah with Summi, etc. Efforts to distort such beautiful names merely reveal an un-Islamic and sacreligious attitude.
Remember, there exists behind each Islamic name an Islamic spirit and meaning, which, when distorted, is ruined. For example, there is intended love for the Prophet of Islam, and barakah when naming a child Muhammad. But when Muhammad is called Mahmad or Gammat, this spirit of love for Rasoolullah sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam and the acquiring of barakah by such a name is shattered. Should we not then refrain from such sacreligious practices?
May Allah Ta’ala guide us so that we may realize the beauty and uniqueness of the religion of Islam propounded by no other than the one who is the best of Allah’s creations-May Allah shower His choicest blessings upon him. May Allah Ta’ala guide us on the Right Path.
Well said. May God give you your recompense. I find it interesting that people are moving away from the name Muhammad due to social pressure.
All Muslims believe, that just as John the Baptist heralded Jesus (pbuh) on his first coming, Jesus (pbuh) will be heralded again on his return. Every king or queen requires a herald, and a witness to identify them: stating, rather proclaiming, this is so and so. When young, I used to ponder the well known Hadith that the person whom both sects of Islam see as a herald to the returned Jesus son of Mary would be named Muhammad. Both sects of Islam give that new herald the title the Mahdi, just as the old herald was given the title ‘the Baptist’. In the Hadith, we are told that the herald will have a ‘name as my name, and a lineage (lit. son of) as my lineage’. The Mahdi himself would not know of his role, until it nearly came about. Just as Mohammad (pbuh) did not know of his role until the age of 40. I used to wonder as to why such an unfair limit. Why limit the name to a select few. Now I see that perhaps it is fitting that a family who has the moral fortitude, in this day and age, to name their son Abdullah, then that same Abdullah who has the courage, having withstood the slings and arrows of his name, to name his own son Muhammad, and a Muhammad who keeps well the name, perhaps deserved the honor. Perhaps three generations of moral fortitude and, despite all social pressure, earns one the right to be a herald to Jesus son of Mary on his return. And what a great honor it is.
Shukran,I really appreciate your feedback.zazak Allah khairan.