Why Is the Prophet Called Ahmad in the Quranic Prophecy?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Why is the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) referred to as Ahmad in the Quran instead of his more common name, Muhammad, especially in a prophecy about his coming?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
The Verse in Question
Allah Most High says,
“And (remember) when Jesus, son of Mary, said, ‘O children of Israel! I am truly Allah’s messenger to you, confirming the Torah which came before me, and giving good news of a messenger after me whose name will be Aḥmad.’ Yet when the Prophet came to them with clear proof, they said, ‘This is pure magic.’” [Quran; 61:6]
The Names of the Prophet
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) has many names, the most famous of which is Muhammad.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“I have five names: I am Muhammad; I am Ahmad; I am The Effacer through whom Allah effaces disbelief; I am The Gatherer at whose feet people will be gathered; and I am The Last.” [Malik]
In a narration by Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“My name in the Quran is Muhammad. My name in the Gospel (Injil) is Ahmad. My name in the Torah is Ahid: I was named this because I will lead my people away from the Hellfire…” [Suyuti, al-Jami al-Kabir]
Ahmad
Being that the verse in question mentions that Jesus gives glad tidings of a Prophet named Ahmad. In the above narration, it mentions that in the Gospel (the scripture revealed to Jesus) his name is Ahmad.
Proof of Prophethood
Additionally, the Prophet’s knowledge of his mention in previous scriptures is yet another proof of his authenticity as a Prophet of Allah. This is due to the fact, that he as an unlettered Arab man, could not have known this information save that it be from revelation.
Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.
There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.
Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
