Mohammedan (also Muhammadan, Mahommedan etc.)

Followers of Islam (the religion which was founded by the Prophet Muhammad) find Muhammadan an offensive term. They prefer to be known as Muslim(s), from the active participle of the Arabic verb ﺃﺳﻠﻢ (aslama), 'to submit oneself to (the will of) God'. (The same root gives Islam, 'the manifesting of humility or submission and outward conformity with the law of God' (Lane, cited OED).) The word Muhammadan is said to be formed on a false analogy with the word Christian, and includes an ancient misunderstanding of one religion by another.

Christians believe that Jesus, the Christ or 'anointed one', is a form of the one God. They worship Him, as God. Muslims believe that Muhammad was a man, the Prophet of Allah, the one God. Like Christians, they believe that it would be the sin of blasphemy to worship a man, a mere human being. Muslims worship Allah, not Muhammad.

As the name 'Christian' means 'one who worships Christ', Muslims fear that the name Muhammadan suggests that they worship Muhammad. It is possible, in the ordinary course of word-building in English, to use it to mean 'one who follows Muhammad', as Franciscan friars in Christianity obey the rules of St Francis, but do not worship him; and Lutherans are followers of the religious teachings of Martin Luther, without worshipping him. However, as the interpretation of Muhammadan as 'one who worships Muhammad' does exist and can give offence, you are advised to avoid it.

Use Muslim (preferably not its older spelling Moslem) instead.

Many other spellings have been used through history, such as 'Mahamedan', 'Mahumedan', 'Mahomedan', 'Mahommedan', 'Mohammedan', 'Mohummadan', 'Mohamedan', 'Mohammadan', 'Moohummudan', 'Muhammadan', 'Muhammedan' and 'Mahometan'. Muhammadan is recommended see Muhammad.