Meaning & use
Muhammad
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
The 7th-century prophet and founder of Islam, considered by Muslims to be the final messenger of God.
Grammar: A proper noun, so it is capitalized and usually takes no article: Muhammad was born in Mecca.
Patterns
- the Prophet Muhammad
- Muhammad's teachings
Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE.
Muslims believe that Muhammad received revelations from God.
The life of Muhammad is recorded in early Islamic sources.
proper nounproper
A common male given name in the Muslim world, often given in honor of the prophet.
Grammar: Used as a personal name; it can be spelled in various ways, such as Mohammed or Mohamed.
Patterns
- named Muhammad
- Muhammad Ali
My friend's name is Muhammad, but he goes by Mo.
Muhammad is one of the most common names in the world.
She named her son Muhammad after her grandfather.
Common combinations
- the Prophet Muhammad
- The Prophet Muhammad is deeply respected by Muslims.
- Muhammad Ali
- Muhammad Ali was a famous boxer.
- the teachings of Muhammad
- The teachings of Muhammad emphasize charity and prayer.
Commonly confused: Muhammad or Mohammed?
Muhammad vs Mohammed
An alternative spelling of the same name; both are acceptable, but 'Muhammad' is often preferred in academic writing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Muhammad' correctly?
Choose one answer.
As a proper noun, 'Muhammad' does not take 'the' in this sense and is singular, so 'Muhammad was a prophet' is correct. Option A wrongly adds 'the'; option B uses a plural verb; option D is false because it is a proper noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Muhammad”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.