Discover the Lineage & Full Name of Prophet Muhammad

The Full Name of the Prophet

The lineage of the Noble Prophet, in the part agreed upon by scholars of the seerah, is as follows:

Muhammad ibn Abdullah, ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib (whose name is given as ‘Amer, or Shaybah, or al-Hamd), ibn Hashim (whose name is ‘Amr), ibn ‘Abd Manaf (known as al-Mughira), ibn Qusay (whose name is Zayd), ibn Kilab, ibn Murrah, ibn Ka‘b, ibn Lu’ayy, ibn Ghalib, ibn Fihar, ibn Malik, ibn an-Nadr, ibn Kinana, ibn Khuzaymah, ibn Madrakah, ibn Ilyas, ibn Mudar, ibn Nizar, ibn Ma‘ad, ibn ‘Adnan.

Ibn Hisham, in his book on the Prophet’s biography, transmitted the lineage of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) all the way back to Adam (peace be upon him). He stated:

“He is Muhammad ibn Abdullah, ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib whose name is Shaybah, ibn Hashim — and Hashim is ‘Amr ibn ‘Abd Manaf; and ‘Abd Manaf is al-Mughira, ibn Qusay, ibn Kilab, ibn Murrah, ibn Ka‘b, ibn Lu’ayy, ibn Ghalib, ibn Fihar, ibn an-Nadr, ibn Kinana, ibn Khuzaymah, ibn Madrakah; and he is ‘Amir, ibn Ilyas, ibn Mudar, ibn Nizar, ibn Ma‘ad, ibn ‘Adnan, ibn ‘Udd (also called ‘Addad), ibn Maqawwim, ibn Nâhûr, ibn Tairah, ibn Ya‘rub, ibn Yashjub, ibn Nabit, ibn Ishmael, ibn Ibrahim, the father of the prophets, ibn Tarah (that is, Azar), ibn Nâhûr, ibn Sarûgh, ibn Da‘ur, ibn Falakh, ibn ‘Ayyub, ibn Shalakh, ibn Arfashakhdh, ibn Sam, ibn Nuh, ibn Lamek, ibn Mutawshakh, ibn Khanukh (who is Idris), ibn Yard, ibn Muhallil, ibn Qinan, ibn Yansh, ibn Sheeth, ibn Adam (peace be upon them all).”

Scholars of the Prophet’s biography confirm that the lineage of our master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) descends from the family of Ishmael, son of Ibrahim (peace be upon them). However, they have preserved and recorded only about twenty links from the original chain. This is reflected in the works of seerah and history. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached ‘Adnan in his genealogy, he would say: ‘The genealogists lie.’ Indeed, Allah says: ‘And there are many generations between them.’”

This narration indicates that what lies beyond ‘Adnan in the Prophet’s lineage is not firmly established, but rather is based on the opinions of genealogists—who might, driven by pride, alter what is transmitted. It also attests to the truthfulness and integrity of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in transmitting his lineage. Beyond ‘Adnan, the genealogy of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is largely conjectural and does not confer any established truth.

The Noble Lineage of the Prophet

The lineage of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) goes back to honorable and noble origins. In addition, his father’s marriage to his mother was in accordance with the well-known customs of the noble Arabs. Allah then chose our master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) from this lineage, a lineage endowed with high moral values, great human virtues, and pure natural dispositions. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) declared:

“Indeed, Allah chose Kinana from the offspring of Ishmael, and chose Quraysh from Kinana, and chose Banu Hashim from Quraysh, and chose me from Banu Hashim.”

Allah, the Exalted, has selected His prophets from among such peoples—those who combined generosity, noble character, and virtue. When such noble lineage is united with these attributes, it becomes a source of complete moral, psychological, intellectual, and ethical excellence.

The Names of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

Our master Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned several names for himself. He said:

“Indeed, I have names: I am Muhammad, and I am Ahmad, and I am the Eraser (al-Mahi) by whom Allah erases disbelief, and I am the Gatherer (al-Hashir) by whom people will be gathered at my feet, and I am the Last (al-‘Aqib) after whom there is no prophet.”

Thus, his names include:

• Names mentioned in the Prophet’s own statement: Al-‘Aqib – the Seal of the Prophets; Al-Mahi – by whom Allah erases misdeeds of those who believe.
• Other names recorded by scholars such as Al-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him) in his Tarikh al-Islam: Al-Muqaffi, Nabi ar-Rahmah (the Prophet of Mercy), Nabi al-Milhama (the Prophet of the Epic), and Nabi at-Tawbah (the Prophet of Repentance).
• Names mentioned in the Qur’an (five in total): ‘Abd Allah, Yaseen, Taha, in addition to Ahmad and Muhammad.
• Attributes of the Prophet as described in the Qur’an: He is called the Messenger, the unlettered prophet (al-nabiy al-ummi), the Witness, the Bearer of Glad Tidings, the Warner, the Caller to Allah, the Illuminating Lamp, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Reminder, the One who is enveloped (al-Mudathir), the Guide, and he is known as the one who relies on Allah (al-Mutawakkil) and the Trustworthy. His kunya is Abu al-Qasim—a title frequently attributed to him.

The Epithets of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is known by several titles. Here are some explanations:

Al-Mudathir

Allah says:

“O you who are wrapped up [in garments]! Arise and warn…”

When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) began to receive the revelations, he would walk and suddenly hear a voice from the sky. Looking up, he would see an angel sitting on a throne between the earth and the sky. Overwhelmed with fear, he would return to his family saying, “Zammalooni, zammalooni!” meaning “cover me!” Thus, he was called al-Mudathir (the one wrapped up).

Al-Mustafa

His uncle, Abu Talib, once recited a poem:

“If one day the Quraysh gather to boast, then ‘Abd Manaf is their secret and essence; and if you ever take pride, know that Muhammad is the chosen one from among them, noble in her secrets and virtues.”

Al-Mudhakkir

As Allah (Glorified and Exalted) instructs:

“So remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.”

Al-Muzammil

After the first revelation, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned to his wife Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her) saying, “Zammalooni, zammalooni,” and she would cover him until his fear subsided.

As-Sadiq al-Amin (The Truthful and Trustworthy)

Even before prophethood, he was known for his honesty and trustworthiness—even among the disbelievers of Quraysh, who entrusted him with their valuables.

Summary of the Article

This article has provided the full name and the agreed-upon lineage of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as recorded by Ibn Hisham, tracing his ancestry back to Adam. His lineage is noble and honorable, and his ancestors were among the best of people in terms of morals and stature. Additionally, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had several other names and attributes mentioned in the Qur’an and recorded by scholars like Al-Dhahabi. Numerous titles are also well known among the people—for example, Al-Mudathir (the one wrapped up) from the Qur’an and As-Sadiq al-Amin (the Truthful and Trustworthy).