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Muslim Names
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The Prophet [PBUH] said: On the Day of
Resurrection you will be called by your names and by your father's names, so
give yourselves good names. (Bukhari)
One of the first duties a Muslim parent has is choosing a name for their
newborn child. Muslims must choose a good name that has a righteous meaning
that will befit and bring blessings to the child throughout his or her life.
Umar (RA) said: 'To whomsoever a child is born, he should be given a good name,
sound education and when becomes of age he should be married.
The Prophet [PBUH] recommended that the most beautiful names are those which
give servitude or praise to Allah.
It is reported in the Aboo Dawood that The Prophet [PBUH] said: "Keep the names
of prophets, the most desirable names by Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahmaan,
and names that depict honesty such as Haarith (planter) and Hammaam
(thoughtful). The most disliked names are Harb (battle) and Murrah (bitter).
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The Barakah of Naming a Child after the Beloved Name of the Prophet [PBUH]
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The Prophet [PBUH] 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."
"To whoever 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."
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| The Importance of a Good Name
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Once The Prophet [PBUH] called for a volunteer to milk a camel.
Four people 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 was Yaeesh (long live) The Prophet [PBUH] said to
him: "Milk her."
A'ishah (RA) says that the Prophet (SAW) used to change bad names for good name
(Al Tirmidhi)
Abdullah bin Umar (RA) related that one of his sisters was named Aasiyah
(disobedient). The Prophet [PBUH] changed it to Jameelah (beautiful). Zainab
(RA) says that I had been named Birrah (pious). The Prophet [PBUH] said: "Do
not claim piety for Allah knows best who amongst you are pious. Name her
Zainab!"
It is important to keep in mind that a name may also influence the life of an
individual and more importantly one should keep away from names that imply
shirk.
Sa'eed ibne Musayib (RA) related from his father that his grandfather went to
The Prophet [PBUH] and was asked: "What is your name?" He replied: "Hazn"
(sorrow). The Prophet [PBUH] said: "You are Sahl" (contended). He replied: "I
will not change the name my father had given me." Thereafter sorrow continually
remained with them.
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. The Prophet [SAW] also forbade keeping pompous and self
glorifying names, for this reveals arrogance and haughtiness - human elements
most abhorred by Allah.
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Ghusl, Aadan and Iqaamah
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Following the birth, a child is washed properly and the Aadan recited in the
baby’s right ear so that the first thing he/she hears in this world will be the
words of Tawheed, which will have a great and blessed effect on the child. The
Iqaamah is also recited in the baby’s left ear.
When Husain (RA) was born, the Prophet [PBUH] recited the Aadan and Iqaamah in
his ears. (Zadul-Ma’ad)
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Tahneek
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It is also sunah to place a piece of date, softened by chewing, on the palate
of the new-born. This practice of tahneek and the above recitation should be
preformed by a learned alim or a pious elder of the family, if an alim is not
available, a Muslim male can perform these rites. Honey can be used as an
alternative if dates are not widely available.
Asma (RA) narrates: 'When 'Abdullah ibn Zubayr (RA) was born, I placed him in
the lap of The Prophet [SAW]. He sent for a date, chewed it and applied the
chewed date to Abdullah ibn Zubayr's (RA) mouth, and prayed for the well being
of the child.'
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The Seventh Day
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On the seventh day after the birth, it becomes compulsory to shave the new born
baby’s head [ideally the hair should be buried] and to name the baby. Gold or
silver equivalent in weight to that of the removed hair must be given in
charity, or the equivalent in money may also be given.
The Prophet [PBUH] sacrificed a sheep on the seventh day for al-Hasan and said
“Shave his head and give the weight of his hair in silver as sadaqah.”
(Mishkat)
Further, it is also necessary to sacrifice two sheep or two goats for a boy and
one goat or one sheep for a girl.
It is reported that the Prophet [PBUH] said “If anyone has a child born to him
and wishes to offer sacrifice on his/her behalf, he may offer two sheep for a
boy and one for a girl.” (Abu Dawood)
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Breast Feeding
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“The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years...” [2:233]
It is the responsibility of a Muslim woman to nourish the mind, body and soul
of her new born baby with her milk for a period of two years. It has been
reported in a hadith that the reward for this is so great that if she was to
die during this period she would so with the status of a martyr. Further, every
drop of milk that a breast feeding women feeds her child results in a bad deed
being removed from her records and once the breast feeding period is over, a
woman is cleansed of all her sins.
“We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mothers
bears him with hardship. She brings him forth with hardship, and the bearing of
him and the weaning of him is thirty months….. [46:15]
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Circumcision
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Circumcision is an act pertaining to the fitrah (pure human nature or an inner
sense of cleanliness) and is one of the rules of cleanliness in Islam. It is
the Sunnah of both Prophet Ibrahim [AS] and Prophet Muhammad [PBUH].
It is reported by Abu Hurairah that the Prophet [PBUH] is reported to have
said, “Five are the acts quite akin to fitrah: Circumcision, shaving the pubes,
cutting the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits and clipping (or
shaving).
The Prophet [PBUH] recommended performing circumcision at an early age. The
Islamic scholar Al-Mawardi stated that the chosen time is the 7th day after
birth, but it can be carried out up to 40 days after birth or thereafter until
the age of 7 years, depending upon the health of the infant or child at the
time.
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Examples of Islamic Names
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Whether you are looking for a "traditional" or "modern" Islamic name, to help
you with your selection, we have compiled a list of unique and popular baby
names together with their meanings.
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