Who has a greater right to name the child?
Question:-
Who, from the parents, has a greater right to name the child, the father or the mother?
Answer:-
The father has a greater right to name the baby due to the fact that the child follows the lineage of the father. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan;
Translation:- “Call them by the names of their fathers.” (Surah Ahzaab)
Also, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam had personally named his son. The narration of Muslim Sharif states, “A child was born unto me last night and I named him after my father, Ibrahim.”
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْمُغِيرَةِ حَدَّثَنَا ثَابِتٌ الْبُنَانِىُّ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وُلِدَ لِىَ اللَّيْلَةَ غُلاَمٌ فَسَمَّيْتُهُ بِاسْمِ أَبِى إِبْرَاهِيمَ ) صحيح مسلم)
In the following narration, Abu Moosa says, “I had a baby boy. I brought the child to Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, who named him Ibrahim and made his Tahneek with a date.” From this narration we learn that we could request a pious Alim or a pious personality also to name the child.
عَنْ أَبِى مُوسَى قَالَ وُلِدَ لِى غُلاَمٌ فَأَتَيْتُ بِهِ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فَسَمَّاهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَحَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ. ) صحيح مسلم)
However, there is no hard and fast rule in this regard in terms of Shariah. If the child’s mother chooses a suitable name and both parents are pleased with the name, then such a name may be adopted for the child. Both parents should agree on a suitable name for the child and the naming process should not lead to a dispute or argument.