Question:-
Are we permitted to keep names other than that of the Ambiya and Sahaaba for our children?
Answer:-
Yes, keeping names other than the names of Sahaabah is permitted with the proviso that the names carry a correct and good meaning, and bad omens are not taken from such names. Similarly, if a person keeps a name with the intention of taking a good omen and attaining blessings from it, then there is no harm in doing so.
فاما من سلك به مذهب الفال وقصد فيه اليمن والتبرك فانا ارجوا ان لا يكون به حرجا ان شاء الله (غريب الحديث 531 ج1)
The name Kan’an is not the name of a Sahaabi but refers to one that displays humbleness (which has a good meaning) hence there is no harm in keeping such a name. Similarly, Huzaifah refers to a small black goat. A goat is an animal that possesses humbleness within it, hence the name refers to one that is soft natured and humble, thus keeping such names are acceptable.
The same ruling applies in this day and age, that one is permitted to keep such a name from which a good meaning can be extracted as explained above. However, the narration of Abu Dawud Sharif states that you should keep the names of the Ambiya, and the most beloved of names to Allah Ta’ala is Abdullah and Abdur Rahman. [Re:- Abu Dawud Hadith no. 4952] Imaam Nawawi Rahimahullah also states that they used to keep names of the Ambiya and pious before them.
قال الامام النووي انهم كانوا يسمّون با نبيائهم والصالحين قبلهم (شرح مسلم 117 ج14)
Ibn Battaal, the commentator of Bukhari Sharif quotes Saeed ibn Musayyib Rahimahullah saying,
احب الاسماء الي الله اسماء الانبياء
The most beloved of names to Allah are the names of the Ambiya.
In conclusion, one is permitted to keep any good name in this day and age, even if it is not the name of any of the Ambiya Alaihimus Salaam and the Sahaaba Radiallahu Anhum. However, we are encouraged to keep the names of the Ambiya Alaihimus Salaam, Sahaabah, pious predecessors, etc. as understood from the above discussion. In fact, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam named his son Ibrahim after Nabi Ibrahim Alaihis Salaam which again indicates that naming our children after the Ambiya is meritorious.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:-
Mufti Mohammed Desai
17 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1443 / 22 November 2021
