Naming the New-Born Baby + Comprehensive
Database of Muslim Names
NAMING THE CHILD
It is the infant's vested
right to be honoured with a good name. When choosing a name for
the child, it should be done with the intention that the child
will be blessed with the barakah of that name. Here are some
Ahadeeth to show the importance of selecting a good and correct
name: Ibne Umar (RA) relates Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu alayhi
Wasallam) as saying: "Truly, the most loved of your names
by Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahmaan."
It is also reported in
the Aboo Dawood that Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)
said: "Keep the names of prophets. And the most desirable
names by Allah Ta'ala are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahmaan. And names
that depict honesty are Haarith (planter) and Hammaam
(thoughtful). And the most disliked ones are Harb (battle) and
Murrah (bitter).
THE BARAKAH OF
NAMING A CHILD AFTER THE BELOVED NAME OF RASOOLULLAH (Sallallaahu
alayhi Wasallam)
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
alayhi Wasallam) said: "Whoever is named after me with the
hope of being blessed, he will be blessed and will be in peace
till the day of Qiyaamat." He also said: "To whomever
is born a boy and he names him Muhammad solely for the love of
me and for the blessings of my name, then both he (the father)
and his son will enter Jannah."
THE IMPORTANCE OF
KEEPING GOOD NAMES
HADITH: "On the Day
of Qiyaamah you will be called by your (own) names and the
names of your fathers. Therefore keep good names." (Abu
Dawood.)
HADITH: "To whoever
is born a child, the child should be given a good name and
sound education. And when he becomes of age he should be
married."
It was Rasoolullah's (Sallallaahu
alayhi Wasallam) practice to enquire the names of persons and
villages. If they were pleasant, it became apparent on his
face. If not, his displeasure could be seen.
Once Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu
alayhi Wasallam) called for a volunteer to milk a camel. Four
persons volunteered: he refused to accept the services of the
first three because their names did not imply pleasantness. The
names of the first two were Murrah (bitter) while Jamrah
(burning coal) was the name of the third person. When the
fourth said his name is Yaeesh (long live) Rasoolullah
sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam said to him: "Milk her."
UNDESIRABLE NAMES
SHOULD BE CHANGED
Aa'ishah (RA) reports
that Rasool sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam used to change
displeasing names replacing them with good names. Abdullah bin
Umar (RA) relates that one of his sisters was named Aasiyah
(disobedient). Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu alayhi Wasallam)
changed it to Jameelah (beautiful). Zainab (RA) says that I had
been named Birrah (pious). Rasoolullah
sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam said: "Do not claim piety for
Allah knows best who amongst you are pious. Name her Zainab!"
NAMES MAY INFLUENCE
THE LIVES OF PEOPLE
Sa'eed ibne Musayib (RA)
relates from his father that his grandfather went to
Rasoolullah sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam and was asked: "What is
your name?" He replied: "Hazn" (sorrow). Rasoolullah
sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam said: "You are Sahl." (contended).
He replied: "I will not change the name my father had given
me." The narrator says that thereafter sorrow continually
remained with them.
KEEP AWAY FROM
NAMES IMPLYING SHIRK
As Muslims, we should
always abstain from keeping names implying any elements of
Shirk, like adjoining the word 'Abd'(servant) to names or
epithets other that those of Allah Ta'ala. Rasoolullah
sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam also forbade keeping pompous and
self-glorifying names, for this reveals arrogance and
haughtiness - human elements most abhorred by Allah Ta'ala.
BE PROUD OF YOUR
IDENTITY AND FAITH
Muslims should always be
proud of their identity and faith. Nowadays, to conceal his
identity, it is common practice for a person to 'westernize'
his name, like substituting Yoosuf with Joe or Joseph,
Sulaimaan with Solly or Sully, Faatimah with Fatli, Sumay-yah
with Summi, etc. Efforts to distort such beautiful names merely
reveal an un-Islamic and sacreligious attitude. Remember, there
exists behind each Islamic name an Islamic spirit and meaning,
which, when distorted, is ruined. For example, there is
intended love for the Prophet of Islam, and barakah when naming
a child Muhammad. But when Muhammad is called Mahmad or Gammat,
this spirit of love for Rasoolullah sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam
and the acquiring of barakah by such a name is shattered.
Should we not then refrain from such sacreligious practices?
May Allah Ta'ala guide us
so that we may realize the beauty and uniqueness of the
religion of Islam propounded by no other than the one who is
the best of Allah's creations-May Allah shower His choicest
blessings upon him.
May Allah Ta'ala guide us
on the Right Path. Ameen.
Source: Names for Muslim Children: M Rafeeq Hathurani.
|
Database of Muslim Names & Meanings
The following sites have a comprehensive list of Muslim
names; spelling, meaning etc.
Please note: Consult an Aalim or Sheikh, before applying
names from the internet for naming a child.
Abdulmateen.com will NOT be responsible for information
supplied by external links.
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2.
What is Aqeeqah ?
The Arabic word Aq means
‘to cut’. Thus uqooqul waalidain is ‘disobedience to
parents and suspension of relations’. In the terminology of
Shari‘ah it is the sacrifice of a goat for the child on the
seventh day after he/she is born.
According to a Hadith, we must
perform aqeeqah on the birth of a child. Pay a ransom on
his behalf and remove filth from him.[Bukhari] According to a
Hadith, every child is pledged to his aqeeqah that may
be sacrificed for him on the seventh day; the same day he must
be named and his head shaved.[Ashaabu sunan]. The sacrifice on
behalf of a boy is two equal goats and for the girl one
goat.[Ahmad, Tirmizi]
Aqeeqah is
sunnah or mustahab in the view of Imaam Malik,
Imaam Shaafi, Imam Ahmad, Ishaq, Abu Thaur and others. They
base their opinion on the Ahaadith mentioned earlier. They do
not consider it obligatory as they find no evidence in the
Ahaadith. Also, it is left to intention. Hanafi's consider
this in the category of mustahab (praiseworthy). Hasan
Basri and Laith bin Sa‘d and others think it is obligatory.
They base their opinion on the Hadiththat says that
every child is pledged to its aqeeqah.[Tirmizi, Nasaai].
They also rely on the Tradition that, on the Day of
Resurrection, people will be questioned about aqeeqah
just as they will be asked about obligatory prayers.[Ishaq from
Bardah]
According to Ahaadith it is commendable to
perform aqeeqah on the seventh day. The Holy Prophet
may blessings of Allah and peace
be on him did the aqeeqah
of Hasan and Husain on the seventh day after their birth. It
may be done on the fourteenth or twenty-first day;[Maimooni]
it is valid, too, on the fourth, eighth or tenth day or later.
Aqeeqah is
sunnah mustahab for both, boy and girl. Two goats
are sacrificed on the birth of a son and one on the birth of a
daughter.[Ahmad, Tirmizi] However,
if anybody sacrifices one goat on the birth of a boy, he has
performed a valid aqeeqah.[Abu Dawood]. This
does not imply preference of a boy over a girl but this is
because the Holy Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) had
done it. It may be, too, because man is given excellence over
woman by reason of his superior physical power, heavier burden
of responsibilities and supervision.
The animal that is valid for
sacrifice is valid too in the offering of aqeeqah. These
include goat, sheep and ram. The animal must be one year old,
fully. However, a six-month old ram may be offered in sacrifice
and aqeeqah if it is sufficiently fat and healthy and
looks like a year old. The goat must be a year old. The animal
must be free from defect. It must not be blind, squint eyed or
so much thin that there is no marrow in its bones. It must not
be so lame that it cannot walk by itself to the place of
sacrifice. That animal, also, is invalid for sacrifice whose
tail or ear is cut off more than two-thirds, or most of its
teeth have fallen off, or it has no ears since birth .
The sacrifice of an animal is
valid if its ear is torn or a horn is split. Also, if an animal
is lame but it can walk on its three legs its sacrifice is
allowed. If some of its teeth are broken but most are intact,
or the ear, tail is only one-third cut off, then, in all such
cases, the sacrifice of this animal is valid.
The sacrifice of a cow or a
buffalo is not valid before it is two years old. The camel must
have completed five years of age.It is legitimate to share in
aqeeqah and sacrifice.One may offer a cow or a camel
instead of a goat in aqeeqah.
The division of meat during
aqeeqah is subject to the same injunctions as apply to
division of meat of a sacrificial animal. We may eat the meat
ourselves, distribute as sadaqah , or gift it.In
celebration of aqeeqah, one may invite others and cook
the meat for the feast.
It is commendable to perform
aqeeqah on behalf of the child. According to a hadith,
while offering the animal of aqeeqah, one may say: I
sacrifice in the name of Allah. O Allah, it is for You alone
and it will return to You. O Allah, this aqeeqah is on behalf
of so-and-so.[Ibn Munzir]. However, if at the time of
sacrifice, the parent does not take the name of the child, even
then aqeeqah is valid because of the intention behind
it.
On the birth of the child, the
animal is offered in aqeeqah to obtain nearness to Allah
and to offer ransom for the child. The child intercedes for its
parents. Parents find in the fulfilment of the obligation under
Shari‘ah a source of happiness. Also, it promotes love
and compassion among the individuals of society and all
participate in the happiness. It opens a new fount of income.
It diminishes poverty and need. In Islam, there are different
occasions of feast. Amongst others, these may be when guests or
visitors arrive, on the birth of a child, on the marriage of a
son and when aqeeqah is performed.