—as “the Messenger of Allah” (al-Ahzab 33:40); likewise in His words, “And believe in what has been sent down to Muhammad, for it is the truth from their Lord. He will remit their sins and set their condition aright” (Muhammad 47:2); and in His saying, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and those who are with him…” (al-Fath 48:29).

The Prophet is also named Aḥmad in the Quran, where Jesus (peace be upon him) proclaims: “O Children of Israel, I am the messenger of Allah to you, confirming that which is before me of the Torah and giving glad tidings of a messenger who will come after me whose name is Aḥmad” (al-Saff 61:6).

Beyond these, he has other names recorded in the Sunnah; Ibn al-Qayyim enumerated them in his work Jalā’ al-Afhām.

Knowing the Messenger ﷺ is a religious obligation and one of the foundations of Islam. Shaykh Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb said in al-Uṣūl al-Thalāthah: “The first foundation is to know Allah; the second, to know His Prophet; and the third, to know the religion of Islam with its evidences.” Just as you must know Allah, you must likewise know His Prophet ﷺ and the religion of Islam supported by proofs. These are the three fundamentals about which a person is questioned when he is placed in his grave.

The phrase “His servant” affirms that he is the servant of Allah and possesses nothing of divinity or lordship. He is Allah’s servant and messenger: he complies with His commands, avoids His prohibitions, and conveys His revelation. This wording refutes the excesses committed concerning him, for some people exaggerate about the Messenger ﷺ and assign to him a share of lordship or divinity.