[Q 441] Ruling on Saying “Ya Muhammad”

QUESTION:

Is it haram to say ya muhammad

ANSWER:

To call the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم by name, i.e., to call out “Ya Muhammad,” is impermissible, as this has been prohibited in the Qur’an. Allah Ta’ala states:

لَا تَجْعَلُوْا دُعَآءَ الرَّسُوْلِ بَیْنَكُمْ كَدُعَآءِ بَعْضِكُمْ بَعْضًا

Translation: “Do not make the calling of the Messenger among you like the calling of one another among yourselves.”

(Para 18, Surah An-Nur, Ayah 63)

One meaning of this is:
O people! Do not call My Beloved صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم by name. Rather, address him with honor, reverence, and respect, with a soft voice, humility, and with words such as: “Ya Rasool Allah” (O Messenger of Allah), “Ya Habeeb Allah” (O Beloved of Allah), “Ya Nabi Allah” (O Prophet of Allah), “Ya Imam al-Mursaleen” (O Leader of the Messengers), etc.

(Baydawi, An-Nur under Ayah 63, 4/203; Khazin, An-Nur under Ayah 63, 3/365; Saawi, An-Nur under Ayah 63, 4/1421, summarized)

Therefore, in Na’ats (poetry in praise of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) or in any situation, it is not permissible to call him صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم with “Ya Muhammad.” Instead, one should mention the beautiful titles of the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, such as “Ya Rasool Allah,” “Ya Habeeb Allah,” etc.

In Fatawa Ridawiyyah Shareef it is stated:
“The scholars have explicitly declared that calling the Beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم by name is Haram (forbidden). And this is indeed a matter of justice — if the Owner and Master, Allah Ta’ala, Himself does not call him by name, then how can a servant have the audacity to go beyond the limits of respect? Rather, Imam Zain al-Deen Maraghi and other researchers have stated: If the wording appears in a supplication taught by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم himself, such as the du’a ‘Ya Muhammad inni tawajjahtu bika ila Rabbi’ — even then, instead of saying ‘Ya Muhammad,’ one should say ‘Ya Rasool Allah’ or ‘Ya Nabi Allah.’ Although usually one does not alter the wording of du’as, in this matter it is necessary. This is an important issue (mas’ala muhimma), which most people of this era are heedless of, and it is obligatory (Wajib) to preserve it.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 30, p. 157–158, Raza Foundation, Lahore)

Answered by Usman Madani Ask mufti scholar
Translated answer
Date: 29th August 2025