Muṭṭalib رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه named him Muhammad. There are some narrations which mention that he had a dream, and in its interpretation, he was told there will be an individual from his offspring who will be followed by everyone from the East to the West, and who will be praised in the heavens and the earth.

The Prophet’s blessed mother, Lady Āminah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا also had a dream. In this, a call was made saying, “O Āminah, the leader of this nation is coming to you. When he is born, name him Muhammad.” He was thus named Muhammad when he was born.^[1]

All these matters are in terms of this world, but the scholar Ibn Jawzī    رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه writes regarding this:

When Allah created the light of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, it prostrated to Allah, rose, and then said, اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه – “(All praise is for Allah.”

Allah then proclaimed, لِذٰلِکَ خَلَقْتُکَ وَ سَمَّیْتُکَ مُحَمَّدًا – “It is for this reason I created you and named you Muhammad.”^[2]

The meaning of Muhammad

Rawḍ al-Unf is a reliable book of sīra. In it, the following is mentioned, “The literal meaning of Muhammad is الَّذِیْ یُحْمَدُ حَمْدًا بَعْدَ حَمْدٍ – “He who is praised again and again.”^[3]

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه We come to know that the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is that esteemed individual who is praised repeatedly.

He is praised countless times. How long has this been going on for? From