The Ruling on Writing the Names of Allah and Muhammad ﷺ in an Interwoven Form
Introduction
In some places, you often see the names “Allah” and “Muhammad ﷺ” displayed together, sometimes in decorative calligraphy or with the letters of both names interwoven. The question arises: Is it permissible to place such a design on the door of a mosque or elsewhere?
Islam teaches Muslims to honour both the name of Allah ﷻ and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. However, honouring them must follow the guidance of the Qur’an and Sunnah, without introducing forms of expression that may confuse the distinction between the Creator and His Messenger.
Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ Are Mentioned Together in the Shariah
The testimony of faith itself combines the two essential declarations:
لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
“There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
Similarly, the Qur’an and Sunnah frequently establish the relationship between belief in Allah and belief in His Messenger ﷺ.
However, there is an important distinction between mentioning the two names together in a prescribed religious statement and designing the two names so that their letters become interwoven with one another.
The latter form of writing is not established from the Qur’an or Sunnah.
What Is the Ruling on Interweaving the Two Names?
According to the ruling cited from the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta, writing the names Allah and Muhammad ﷺ in an interwoven manner should be avoided.
The concern is not simply that the two names appear in the same place. Rather, the issue is the interlacing and merging of their letters into a single decorative design, which may give an incorrect impression that the two names are being treated as though they have the same status.
Allah ﷻ is the Creator, the One worthy of worship. Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. No matter how much love and respect Muslims have for the Prophet ﷺ, he must never be placed on the level of Allah ﷻ.
For this reason, the cited ruling states that such interwoven writing should not be placed on the door of a mosque or elsewhere.
Respecting the Status of the Prophet ﷺ
Avoiding this design does not mean reducing the honour of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Muslims are commanded to love, respect and follow him.
Allah ﷻ says:
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, ask Allah to bless him and grant him peace.”
— Qur’an 33:56
True love for the Messenger ﷺ is demonstrated by following his Sunnah, believing his message, sending blessings and peace upon him, and following the guidance that he brought.
The Prophet ﷺ also warned against exaggerating his status beyond what Allah has given him. He taught that he is the servant and Messenger of Allah, maintaining the essential distinction between the Creator and His creation.
What About Writing “Allah” and “Muhammad” Separately?
This issue should also be distinguished from the specific question of interweaving the two names.
Some scholars have discussed the placement of such names in mosques separately, particularly where writing or decorative panels are positioned in a place that may distract worshippers during prayer. A recent Hanafi ruling from Darul Ifta Jamia Binoria, for example, states that writing “Allah” and “Muhammad” in a place directly visible to worshippers during prayer is disliked because it may interfere with concentration and khushu‘; it distinguishes this from locations that are not normally within the worshipper's line of sight.
Therefore, one should not automatically treat every instance of the two names appearing somewhere in a mosque as identical to the specific issue of interwoven calligraphy.
The Importance of Avoiding Religious Confusion
Islam places great importance on protecting Tawheed, the absolute oneness of Allah ﷻ.
Decorative religious designs should therefore be approached carefully, especially inside or around a mosque. If a particular design can create confusion, resemble beliefs contrary to Tawheed, or suggest equality between Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ, it should be avoided.
Likewise, religious decoration should never become a distraction from the actual purpose of the mosque: worshipping Allah, establishing prayer, remembering Him and learning His religion.
Conclusion
The names Allah ﷻ and Muhammad ﷺ are undoubtedly connected in the testimony of faith and in many Islamic teachings. However, there is a clear difference between mentioning them together in a legitimate statement and interweaving their letters into one decorative design.
Based on the ruling of the Permanent Committee cited above, the interwoven writing of “Allah” and “Muhammad ﷺ” should not be placed on the door of a mosque or elsewhere, because of the potential confusion and the absence of evidence that this particular form of writing was prescribed in Islam.
The safest approach is to honour Allah ﷻ with the honour due to Him, honour His Messenger ﷺ in the manner prescribed by Islam, and keep the distinction between the Creator and His Messenger absolutely clear.
And Allah knows best.
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