๐ฟ Tools
Islamic Naming Guide
Choosing your baby's name is a trust and one of their rights. This is a concise guide drawn from authoritative sources.
โ ๏ธ Why did we remove "Numerology" and "Compatibility"?
We previously had two tools: a "Compatibility Calculator" and "Personal Numbers" (numerology). Both relied on numerology and abjad calculation to determine a person's "luck" or "compatibility" with a partner โ and this is forbidden in Islam, because it is a form of fortune-telling and divination that the Prophet ๏ทบ prohibited.
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: ยซู ูู ุฃุชู ุนุฑูุงูุงู ูุณุฃูู ุนู ุดูุกุ ูู ุชููุจูู ูู ุตูุงุฉ ุฃุฑุจุนูู ูููุฉยป โ "Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights" (Narrated by Muslim). He ๏ทบ also said: ยซููุณ ู ูุง ู ู ุชุทููุฑ ุฃู ุชูุทููููุฑ ููยป โ "He is not one of us who practices omens or has them practiced for him" (Narrated by al-Bazzar).
Recommended Names
The Prophet ๏ทบ said: ยซุฅูู ุฃุญุจู ุฃุณู ุงุฆูู ุฅูู ุงููู: ุนุจุฏ ุงููู ูุนุจุฏ ุงูุฑุญู ูยป โ "The most beloved of your names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman" (Narrated by Muslim).
- Names of servitude to Allah: Abdullah, Abdur-Rahman, Abdur-Rahim, Abdul-Aziz, Abdul-Karim, and any name of the form "Abd + one of the Beautiful Names of Allah".
- Names of the Prophets (peace be upon them): Muhammad, Ahmad, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Musa, Isa, Yahya, Zakariya, Yaqub, Ismail, Dawud, Sulayman.
- Names of the Companions (male and female): Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Az-Zubayr, Talha, Khadija, Aisha, Fatima, Asma, Hafsa.
- Names with good meanings: those carrying praiseworthy qualities such as nobility, generosity, beauty and righteousness.
Disliked (Makruh) Names
- Names that praise their bearer: such as "Barra" or "Taqiyy" (absolutely) โ because they imply self-purification, while Islam encourages humility.
- Names of servitude to other than Allah: such as "Abdul-Masih", "Abdul-Husayn", "Abdul-Kaaba", "Abd Ali" โ because servitude belongs to Allah alone.
- Names suggesting a bad meaning: such as "Abdul-Muntaqim", "Abdud-Darr", "Abdul-Mumit" โ even though these are among Allah's names, using them in personal "Abd" names is disliked due to their connotation.
- Foreign names empty of meaning: those with no root in Arabic and no good connotation.
- Names of the wicked and tyrants: such as the names of history's pharaohs and oppressors.
Forbidden (Haram) Names
- Names exclusive to Allah: such as "Allah", "Ar-Rahman", "Al-Khaliq" without "Abd" โ these names befit none but Allah.
- Names of idols or devils: such as "Al-Lat", "Al-Uzza", "Iblis".
- Names that imply shirk (associating partners with Allah): such as "Abdur-Rasul" (servant of the Messenger), "Abdun-Nabi" (servant of the Prophet).
When is the baby named?
The Sunnah is to name the child on the seventh day after birth, along with the Aqiqah and shaving the head. Samura ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ๏ทบ said: ยซูููู ุบูุงู ู ู ูุฑุชููููู ุจุนูููุชู ุชูุฐุจูุญ ุนูู ููู ุงูุณุงุจุนุ ูููุญููู ุฑุฃุณูุ ูููุณู ูููยป โ "Every child is pledged by his Aqiqah, which is sacrificed for him on the seventh day, his head is shaved, and he is named" (Narrated by Ahmad and the authors of the Sunan).
Is changing a name permissible?
Yes โ in fact it is recommended if the name is bad. The Prophet ๏ทบ changed many names, for example:
- "Asiya" (disobedient) to "Jamila" (beautiful)
- "Hazn" (rough) to "Sahl" (easy)
- "Shihab" (flame of fire) to "Hisham"
A final word
A child's name does not determine his fortune, nor do the numbers of two names determine a couple's relationship. Reliance upon Allah, good upbringing, and supplication for blessing โ these are the true, legitimate means.
ยซุงููููู ูู ุจุงุฑููู ูู ูู ููุฏูยป โ "O Allah, bless my child for me" โ a supplication that makes all number-calculations unnecessary.