The Prophet Muhammad

مُحَمَّد

Final messenger of God in Islam, who received the Qur'an; a man, not a deity

Muhammad (مُحَمَّد), born in Mecca around 570, is honoured by Muslims as the final messenger of God, the man to whom the Qur'an was revealed over twenty-three years. He is not a deity. Muslims regard him as fully human and do not worship him.

Devotees turn to him as the model of conduct, following his example of prayer, honesty and mercy. He is honoured through biographies, poetry, recited blessings and the Mawlid, the celebration of his birth, which many Sunni and Shia Muslims observe on different dates. Because he is not pictured, calligraphic panels such as the Ottoman hilye describe his character and appearance in words.

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Frontispiece of "Al-Kawakib al-duriyya" by Al-Busiri (CBL Ar 4168, f.2a), between 1468 and 1495date QS:P,+1450-00-00T00:00:00Z/7,P1319,+1468-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1326,+1495-00-00T00:00:00Z/9. Wikimedia Commons (public domain), AnonymousUnknown author

In art and place public-domain and openly licensed images

Calligraphic rendering of the name Muhammad with the blessing formula, the customary aniconic way Muslims honor the Prophet.Photo: Abdelghani AZZI, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Illuminated Qur'an frontispiece, c. 1468–1495, with gold calligraphy and floral ornament; the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad.Wikimedia Commons (public domain), AnonymousUnknown author

Manuscript double page with a schematic plan of the Prophet's Mosque and its tomb, from a devotional text on Muhammad.Wikimedia Commons (public domain), إيان

Modern calligraphic roundel of the name Muhammad with the salutation 'peace and blessings be upon him'.Wikimedia Commons (public domain), Aziz911q8

Green dome and minarets of the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, framed by a star-shaped lattice; Muhammad's tomb is here.Photo: Adli Wahid, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Prophet's Mosque (Al-Masjid an-Nabawi) in Medina at dusk, which Muhammad founded after his migration to the city.Photo: Aymanzaid2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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The Deity Project makes no images of the Prophet Muhammad. The tradition honours him instead through calligraphy, geometric pattern and poetry in words of praise, and that is the spirit in which this page is written.

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Sources

Britannica: Why are images of Muhammad generally prohibited in Islam?
SeekersGuidance: Does drawing the Prophet Muhammad or any other prophet entail disbelief?
Sistani.org: Question and answer 01292
SeekersGuidance: Handling clothing with the name of Allah and his prophets
Jordan Dar al-Ifta: Resolution No. 156, Ruling on inscribing Quranic verses on pieces of clothing
Wikipedia: Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
Wikipedia: Mawlid
Islamic.app: Mawlid 2027
IslamicFinder: Isra and Miraj 2027
Background: Ottoman hilye tradition
Background: Charlie Hebdo attack, January 2015

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In art and place public-domain and openly licensed images

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Sources

Also in Islamic Art & Sufi Poetry

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