Young Muslims of Australia Forum

crystalclear · Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: On Names and their Connotations

Assalamualaikum

Message from the Ameer of the Jamiatul Ulama. Sth Africa

On Names and their Connotations

Many children have names which were previously unheard of. Many of them sound exotic, being a combination of Arabic and English. When analyzing such names, one may find that some have no meaning at all.

Let us look at the practice of our holy Prophet Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam in this regard. He Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam instructed his Sahabah to choose good names for their children having good meanings so that one may feel honoured when calling him by his/her name. It is indeed something that we owe to our children.

Names are like symbols/slogans attached to us. Hence, we should not give the wrong symbol to our children or ourselves. Once a delegation from an Arabian tribe came to the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam and he heard them calling one of them Abû Hakam (father of Hakam). The name “Al-Hakam” was not common, as it means "the arbiter." It is derived from the same root as "rule" and "government". Hence, when the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam heard this, he advised: "It is God who is the arbiter, and to Him all rule belongs. Why have you called yourself Abû Hakam?" The man said: "It was not so. But when my people are in dispute over something, they come to me and I arbitrate between them. Both parties are happy with my ruling." The Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam said: "How beautiful!" He then asked him how many children he had. The man said: "I have Shurayh, Abdullah and Muslim. The Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam asked him who was the eldest and the man informed him that Shurayh was. The Holy Prophet Sallallâhu 'alayhi wasallam said: "Then you are Abû Shurayh."

The first thing to note about this hadîth is that the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam took names seriously and wanted his Sahabah to have such names which were good and acceptable. Here, the man was given a nickname on the basis of his sound judgment. But since Al-Hakam is an attribute of Allâh, giving such a name to a man is discouraged. When the man explained to the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam the reason for having been given this nickname, the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam commended him. Realizing that the man may feel that it was a name indicating his honourable position, the Holy Prophet Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam asked him about his children and the name of his eldest son. He then replaced his title by the more normal one of calling him as the father of his eldest son.

We should thus be careful when naming our children. When they grow up, they should be proud to have their name and not opt for other a nickname which corrupts its meaning.

After all, we will called by these same names on the Day of Judgment and we all wish to be called by Allah by such a name which is honourable and dignified.

http://www.islamsa.org.za

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Allah is sufficient for me, there is none worthy of worship but He; on HIm do I rely, and He is the Lord of mighty power.