Naming one’s child using the titles of Allah
Question:-
Can someone name his child, “Hâdi” without attaching the prefix, “Abdul”?
Answer:-
The names of Allah Ta’ala are of two types; the first, are those blessed names of Allah Ta’ala which cannot be used for anyone else (besides Allah Ta’ala) such as the name Allah, Rahman, Khaaliq, Razzaaq, etc. It is Haraam and outright disrespect to use these names for anything other than Allah Ta’ala. For example, if a person’s name is Abdullah, then to remove the first part of the name which is ‘Abd’ and to call him ‘Allah’ is Haraam. Similarly, if a person’s name is Abdur Rahman, and you remove the first portion of the name which is ‘Abdur’ and you address him as ‘Rahman’, then this too is impermissible.
The second category of names are those names which can be used for other beings such as the names ‘Ar-Raoof’ and ‘Ar-Raheem.’ These are the names of ‘Allah’ and, at the same time, these titles are used for Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. There is, therefore, concession in using these names for others to some extent.
However, the meaning of the name ‘Al-Haadi’ refers to one that guides others, or grants Hidaayat to people. This is exclusively the work of Allah Ta’ala and no other human being. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif, “Verily you (O Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) cannot guide those whom you love but Allah guides whoever He wills. He is best aware of those who are rightly guided.” [Re:- Surah Qasas, Verse 56]
Taking the above meaning into consideration, the title of ‘Abd’ before the name of Allah ‘Al-Haadi’, should not be removed but rather one should be named as ‘Abdul Haadi.’
وَالتَّسْمِيَةِ بَاسِمٍ يُوجَدُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى كَالْعَلِيِّ وَالْكَبِيرِ وَالرَّشِيدِ وَالْبَدِيعِ جَائِزَةٌ لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ الْأَسْمَاءِ الْمُشْتَرَكَةِ وَيُرَادُ فِي حَقِّ الْعِبَادِ غَيْرُ مَا يُرَادُ فِي حَقِّ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِيَّةِ. (الفتاوي الهندية ص362 ج5)
Re:- Aap Ke Masaa’il Aur Unka Hal Pg. 268 Vol.8
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 23 Jumadal Ukhra 1444 / 16 January 2023