Chapter 40: Regarding Keeping Names
Allah عزوجل says
(یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ
اٰمَنُوۡا لَا یَسْخَرْ قَوۡمٌ مِّنۡ قَوْمٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُوۡنُوۡا خَیۡرًا
مِّنْہُمْ وَلَا نِسَآءٌ مِّنۡ نِّسَآءٍ عَسٰۤی اَنۡ یَّکُنَّ خَیۡرًا
مِّنْہُنَّ ۚ وَلَا تَلْمِزُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَکُمْ وَلَا تَنَابَزُوۡا بِالْاَلْقَابِ
ؕ بِئْسَ الِاسْمُ الْفُسُوۡقُ بَعْدَ الْاِیۡمَانِ ۚ وَمَنۡ لَّمْ یَتُبْ
فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الظّٰلِمُوۡنَ ﴿۱۱﴾)
‘O You who Believe! One group of you should not ridicule
another group. It may be that they are better than them; and neither should
women ridicule women. It may be that they are better than them, and do not
vilify one another, nor call each other by offensive titles. (It is bad) to use
impious names after he has believed, and those who do not repent, they are from
amongst the transgressors. [Surah Verse 11]
Hadith 1: Baihaqi
reported from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘It is the duty of the father to keep a
good name for his child, and to teach the child good manners’.
Hadith 2: The
Compilers of the Sunan-e-Arba have reported from Abdullah ibn Jaraad رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘Address your brothers by their good names. Do not address them using bad words’.
Hadith 3: It is in
Sahih Muslim from Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘From amongst your names, the names
most dear to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur Rahmaan’.
Hadith 4: Imam Ahmed
and Abu Dawud have reported from Abu Dardah رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘On the day of Qiyaamat, you will be
summoned by your names and by the names of your fathers, so keep good names’.
Hadith 5: Abu Dawud
reported from Abi Wahb Jashmi رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Keep names on the names of the Ambia علیہم السلام
and the names dearest to Allah are Abdullah
and Abdur Rahmaan, and true names are Haarith and Humaam, and Harb and Mur’rah
are bad names’.
Hadith 6: Dailmi
reported from Hazrat A’isha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘keep names on the names of good
(pious) people and seek your needs from those with good faces (pious appearance)’.
Hadith 7: In Sahih
Bukhari and Muslim is reported from Jaabir رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Keep names on my name and do not address
each other with filial appellations that are my filial appellations (titles),
because (my filial appellation is not Abul Qaasim merely because my beloved son
was called Qaasim, but) I have been appointed Qaasim (The Distributor), so that
I may distribute between you’.
Hadith 8: It is in
Sahih Bukhari and Muslim from Anas رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Nabi Kareem صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم was
in the market place and a person called out by saying ‘Abul Qaasim’. Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم directed his Blessed attention towards him,
and the person said that he was addressing some other person, so Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘Keep names on my name and do not keep filial appellations on my filial
appellations’.
Hadith 9: Abu Dawud
reported from Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ. He
says, ‘I said ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم! If a son is born to me after Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم, will it be fine for me to keep his name on your name and his
filial appellation on your filial appellation?’ He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘Yes’.
Hadith 10: Ibn Asakir
reports from Abu Umama رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘If a son is born to a person and he
names him Muhammad, because of my love and so as to attain the blessings from
my name, then both him and his son are in Jannat’.
Hadith 11: Hafiz Abu
Taahir Salfi reported from Anas رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہ that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘On the day of Qiyaamat two persons will be presented before the Majestic Court
of Allah. It will be commanded that they should be led into Jannat (Paradise)’.
They will say ‘O Allah! Due to which of our deeds have we become deserving of
Jannat? We have not performed any such deed that makes us deserving of Jannat!’
Allah will say, ‘Enter into Paradise! I have sworn an oath that the one whose
name is Ahmed or Muhammad shall not enter into hell-fire’.
Hadith 12: Abu Nu’aim
reported in Huliya from Nabeet bin Shurait رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said
that Almighty Allah says, ‘I swear by My Honour and Grandeur! I shall not
punish him, whose name is kept on your name’.
Hadith 13: Ibn Sa’ad
reports (a Mursal narration) in Tabaqat from Uthman bin Umri that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘What harm is there to a person if he has one Muhammad, two Muhammads or three Muhammads
in his home!’
Hadith 14: Tabrani
reports in Kabeer from Abdullah ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ
تعالٰی عنہما that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘One who has three sons and does not
keep even one of their names Muhammad, he is definitely a Jaahil (ignorant
person)’.
Hadith 15: Haakim
reported from Hazrat Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that
Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘If you name a boy Muhammad, then
respect him, and make space for him in a gathering, and do not attribute wrong
towards him’.
Hadith 16: Bazaaz
reported from Abu Naaf’i رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ that
Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘When you name your son Muhammad, then
neither hit him, nor deprive him’.
Hadith 17: It is in
Sahih Muslim on the authority of Zainab bint Abi Salama رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما
that her name was Barra. Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘Do not adorn (i.e. praise) yourselves.
Allah is the One who knows those who are pious (barra) among
you and those who are deviant. Name her Zainab’.
Hadith 18: It is in
Sahih Muslim from Ibn Ab’bas رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما. He says that the name of Juwairiyah رضی
اللہ تعالٰی عنہا
was Barra. Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم changed this name and kept her name
Juwairiyah, and Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم did
not approve of someone saying that we went away from Barra (the pious one).
Hadith 19: It is in
Sahih Muslim from Ibn Umar رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہما that the name
of one of Hazrat Umar’s daughters was Aasiyah. Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم kept her name Jameela.
Hadith 20: Tirmizi
reported from Hazrat A’isha رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہا that Rasoolullah صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم used to change bad names.
Hadith 21: In Sahih
Bukhari it is reported on the authority of Sa’eed ibnil Musayyab رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ who says that my paternal grandfather went to
Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. Huzoorصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم asked
‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Huzn’. Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said, ‘You are ‘Sahl. In other words keep
your name Sahl as it means soft (gentle) and Huzn means hard (i.e. harsh)’. He
said, ‘I will not change the name which my father has kept’. Sa’eed ibnil
Musayyab رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ says that the outcome of this was that even
up to now, we are harsh in nature.
Note: Some laws regarding
the issue of keeping names have been mentioned in the section on Aqeeqah. You
may peruse them there. Some points have been mentioned in this section.
Laws of Jurisprudence
The very dear names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur Rahmaan, as it
has been already mentioned in the Hadith. The more exalted between both names
is Abdullah because the appendage (reference) of servitude (and devotion) is
(directly) to Allah’s Divine Name. Other names where the servitude is an
appendage to the Attributive Names of Allah are also within the same ruling.
These are names such as Abdur Raheem, Abdul Malik and Abdul Khaaliq etc. The Hadith
that says that these names are the dearest to Allah actually means that if a
person wishes to keep a name with the word ‘Abd’ (i.e. servant and slave) in
it, then the best names to keep are Abdullah and Abdur Rahmaan. He should not
keep names like those which were kept in the ‘Days of Ignorance’, where someone
was named Abdush Shams (servant of the sun) whilst another would be named Abdud
Daar (servant of the depriver), so one should not think in any way, that both
these names are more exalted than ‘Muhammad’ and ‘Ahmed’, because Muhammad and
Ahmed are the Blessed names of Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم and that which is manifest, is that Almighty
Allah Himself chose both these names for His Beloved صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. If both these names were not so beloved (and dear) to Allah, He would
have not have chosen it for His Beloved صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. Great virtue has been given to keeping the name Muhammad. Some
of them have already been explained.
Law: A person whose name is
Muhammad, may keep his filial appellation Abul Qaasim, and the prohibition that
has been mentioned in the Hadith, particularly referred to the apparent
Lifetime of Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم. As in that time, if this was the filial
appellation of someone else and he was being addressed, it could create a misconception
that possibly Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم was
being addressed. Actually, there was once a situation like this, where a person
called out ‘Abul Qaasim’ whilst calling someone else and Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم directed
his Holy attention towards the said person, so he said, ‘I did not intend to
call Huzoorصلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم (i.e.
I was addressing another person).’ During this instance, Huzoor-e-Akram صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم said,
‘Keep your names on my name, but do not keep your filial appellations on my
filial appellations.’ If one has this uncertainty that by naming someone with
the name of Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم one
could have had the same kind of misconception, then the answer to this is that
the Holy Qur’an has disallowed us to address Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ وسلَّم by his
Name.
(لَا تَجْعَلُوۡا
دُعَآءَ الرَّسُوۡلِ بَیۡنَکُمْ کَدُعَآءِ بَعْضِکُمۡ بَعْضًا ؕ)
Do not summon the Rasool amongst yourselves, like some
of you summon the others (amongst you). [Surah 24 Verse 63]
Thus, when the Holy Companions would present themselves before Rasoolullah
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
, they
would never address him by his Name, but they would address him with
(respectful) titles such as ‘Ya Rasool’Allah صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
’ and ‘Ya
Nabi’Allah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم’. Here, the likelihood
did not even exist, that someone would call out saying Muhammad and it would
refer to Rasoolullah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم. If the Bedouins
(villagers) or those who were unaware called out in this way, then this is a
totally different issue, because they had done this because of being unaware. Hazrat
Ali رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ named his son Muhammad ibn Al Hanfiya, and he
gave him the title Abul Qaasim, and this was with the permission of Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
. From
this, it has become evident that the said Hadith (regarding not keeping the
appellation on the appellation of Rasoolullah صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّمis no
longer applicable).
Law: Some of Allah’s Names,
which are regarded as permissible to be applied in a particular sense to other
than Allah, may be kept as well. Examples of such names are: Ali, Rasheed,
Kabeer and Badee’. These names may also be kept by adding an Alif and Laam to
them as well, such as by saying, Al Ali, Al Rasheed, because the meanings which
are intended when attributed to Allah, are not the same meanings which are
intended when these names are used for Allah’s servants. However, it must be
pointed out that nowadays, there is this common habit amongst the general
masses (laymen) of using the diminutive form when calling someone, so where
there is the notion (that this will be done). Then it is appropriate to avoid keeping
such names, especially when the a name is kept with the word ‘Abd’ joined to
the Names of Allah, as is the case in names such as, Abdur Raheem, Abdul Kareem
and Abdul Azeez (etc.), because here, the Governed Noun is with reference to
Allah. In such a case if the use of the diminutive form is intentional, then
Allah Forbid, it is regarded as committing kufr, as this is not really using
the diminutive form to the person (whose name it is), but the diminutive form
is being used for Allah. The laymen and those who are unaware definitely do not
intend it in this sense, so that ruling (of kufr) will not apply to them, but
they should be informed of this and explained regarding this. Such names should
not be kept where there is the likelihood of this occurring. [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Raddul Muhtar]
Law: The Ulama have a
difference of opinion regarding keeping a name which has neither appeared in
the Qur’an-e-Majeed, or in the Hadith and nor is it a name which is commonly
used amongst the Muslims. It is best not to keep such a name. [Alamgiri]
Law: If a child was born
and then passed away, he should be named before being buried. If it is a boy,
he should be given a boys name and if it is a girl, she should be given a girls
name. If one cannot ascertain whether it is a boy or a girl, then such a name
should be given which can be used for both males and females. [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: The correct view
regarding whether a child can be given a filial appellation or not, is that it
is permitted. The Hadith of Abi Umar is evidence to this.
Law: To give a child a filial
appellation such as Abu Bakr, Abu Turaab and Abul Hassan etc. is permissible.
The objective of keeping such appellations is the sacredness (of these names),
so that the child may be blessed with blessing of these names. [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: Bad names should be
changed and good names should be kept. It has been mentioned in the Hadith that
you will be summoned on the Day of Qiyaamat by your names and the names of your
fathers, so keep good names. Huzoor صلَّی اللہ
تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم
changed names that were bad. A persons name
was ‘Asram’, so Huzoor صلَّی
اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم changed this and kept his name ‘Zar’aa, and
he changed the name Aasiyah and kept the name Jameela. He صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
واٰلہٖ وسلَّم also prevented the keeping of the names
Yasaar, Rubaah and Aflah Barkat.
Law: It is permissible to
keep the names Abdul Mustafa, Abdun Nabi and Abdur Rasool, because here, the
intention is in relation to the nobility, and the actual meaning of servitude
is not intended in this. As for the issue of using the word ‘Abd’ as an
appendage (i.e. joining it) to a name other than that of Allah, then this is
proven from the Qur’an and the Hadith.
Law: Huzoor صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ
واٰلہٖ وسلَّم also changed the names which demonstrated
self praise and egotism. He
صلَّی اللہ تعالٰی علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم changed
the name of Barra to Zainab and said that do not praise your self. Names such
as Shamsud’deen, Zainud’deen, Muhiy’yud’deen, Fakhrud’deen, Naseerud’deen, Siraajud’deen,
Nizaamud’deen and Qutbud’deen etc. are names which contain strong praises, and
should thus be avoided. As for the issue of the Great and Distinguished Imams
and Pious Predecessors being remembered by these names, then it should be
known, that these were not really the names of these Great Personalities, but these
were their blessed titles. When these personalities reached highly ranked
positions and achieved illustrious status, the Muslims addressed them in this
manner. Now, in the (case of a newborn), this name is being given to one who is
unaware and who has not even studied anything as yet. He has just been born and
has not even served the Deen in any way, yet he is being remembered by such distinguished
and self-important words. Even though Imam Muhiy’yud’deenNawawi رحمہ اللہ تعالٰی
was such an illustrious personality, he would
reject it when addressed by the title Muhiy’yud’deen, and he would be heard
saying, ‘One who addresses me by the name Muhiy’yud’deen does not have my
permission to do so’. [Raddul Muhtar]
Law: It is permissible to
keep a name where the word Ghulam is attached to the names of the Ambia, Sahaba
and the Awliyah, (such as in the names): Ghulam Muhammad, Ghulam Siddique,
Ghulam Farooq, Ghulam Ali, Ghulam Hussain and Ghulam Hassan etc. There is no
reason to proving its impermissibility. Some of the Wahabis say these names to
be impermissible, and the fact that they refer to them as shirk (polytheism),
is evidence of their evil-mindedness. It has also been heard that some Wahabis
have changed the names (of people) from Ghulam Ali to Ghulamullah. This is
their ignorance, that they have changed a permissible name and kept a name that
is impermissible. To use the word Ghulam as an appendage to Allah’s Name and to
refer to someone Ghulamullah is impermissible, because the actual meaning of
Ghulam is son and little boy and Allah is free from having any son. Allama
Abdul Ghani Nablusi قدس سرہ has mentioned
(as follows) in Hadiqa Nadiyah:
یقال عبدُ
اللہ واَمَۃُ اللہ ولا یقال غلام ا للہ وجَارِیَۃُ اللہ.
Law: It is permissible to
keep names such as Muhammad Bakhsh, Ahmed Bakhsh, Nabi Bakhsh, Peer Bakhsh, Ali
Bakhsh, Hussain Bakhsh and other names which are similar to these and wherein
the word ‘Bakhsh’ is joined to the name of any Nabi or Wali.
Law: It is impermissible to
keep names such as Ghafurud’deen and Ghafur’rullah, because the word Ghafur
means ‘One who wipes out (removes)’. Allah ta’aala is Ghafur and He wipes out
the sins of the servants, so Ghafurud’deen would mean one who wipes out the Deen.
Law: The names Ta’Haa and
Yaseen should also not be kept (i.e. should be avoided) as these ‘Muqati’aat of
the Qur’an (i.e. short meted verses of the Qur’an) and their meanings are not
known. It evidently seems that these are the names of Nabi صلَّی اﷲ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم
and some of the Ulama have mentioned them to
be from the Names of Allah. In any case, if the meaning is not known, then
there is a possibility that it has such a meaning which is specially Unique to
Huzoor صلَّی اﷲ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم
or to Allah ta’aala. To attach the name
Muhammad to these names and to keep the names Muhammad Ta’Haa or Muhammad
Yaseen will still not allow the prohibition in this regards to be lifted.
Law: It is also
impermissible to keep the names Muhammad Nabi, Ahmed Nabi, Muhammad Rasool,
Ahmed Rasool and Nabi-uz- Zamaan (etc.), but we have also heard some people’s
names being Nabi’ullah. To refer to a non-Nabi by the word Nabi is not permissible
under any circumstance.
Note: If someone says that
in names, there is no actual consideration to the meaning, but in this case,
the said person is being referred to. (Then) the answer to this, is that if
this really were the case, then people would not abstain from keeping the names
shaitaan and iblees etc., and there would not have been two categories of
names, namely good names and bad names, and the Hadith would not have been
mentioned, ‘Keep good names’. (If this were the case), then Huzoor صلَّی اﷲ تعالٰی علیہ وسلم would not
have changed bad names, because if there was no consideration given to the
actual meaning, then what reason was there to change them?
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