Re: Names and naming among Muslims
- Details
- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 1595
We begin with an apology for our failure, this week, to feature “circumcision” as promised in last week’s edition of the column. The proposed discourse is deferred to next week in order to allow the reading public benefit from some of the several comments and questions from readers who reacted to the issues raised in “Names and naming among Muslims.”
“Assalamu Alaykum. Please clarify if it is normal to name a child Muhammad without attaching another name to it; i.e. Muhammad Al-Amin” 08037869569
“Assaalam. I am the lady that asked about the name ‘Maharazu’. My name is Murja. I want to know if ‘Marjan’ in Surat ul-Rahman of the holy Qur’an is the real pronunciation of the name. Please reply. May Allah bless you. 07094479995
“Assalmu Alaykum Malam. Yaya asalin Ummu Salma da Ummu Sulaim?” 08033578579
“Assalamu Alaykum”. Please I want to know more on the name BARAKA” 08027371970
“Salam Dr…You said the 7th day in the life of a Muslim is as significant as the first day and thus the baby should be given a name on the 7th day. Please what is the Islamic point of view on naming a baby on the 1st day? And Dr, what’s the meaning of Bilal because I intend to name my 1st male child after the famous companion of SAW insha Allah?”…”. 08053742881
“Dr Ndagi… I had a baby girl I named Aishatu and nicknamed her ‘Aimal’. Please what is the appropriateness of the nickname?” 08026924921
“Thank you very much for your article on ‘Names and naming among Muslims’. My question is on Qur’an 49:9. Is this the reason why people don’t name their children Azrail (one of the angels of Allah)? Please I need your reply” Danasabe Mokwa. 08036882702
“Malam. I want to know the difference between ‘Hafs’ and ‘Hafsat’”. Awalu Abubakar, Gashua. 08062383383
“Salamu Alaykum Malam. Kindly make clarification on aqiqa which is to be on the 7th day. But in Hausa land it’s usually done on the 8th day. I want to know the interpretation of the 7th day in this matter….may Allah guide us”. Sanusi Musa. 08065364351
“Salamu…. Is Saddam an Islamic name? I love the name but some scholars argue it is not. And I plan to give my child the name if a boy”.08056014642
“Assalam... I am interested in naming my son ‘HAMAD’ because it is similar to the name of one of those calling to prayers in Madinah. Please I want to know the meaning so that my admiration for the name increases”. 07037149884
“Thanks Dr; for your column today on Muslim names. Please tell me if the name ‘Suyuti’ has an Islamic origin and if Muslims are encouraged to bear it”. Abdul Wali. 08066031819
“Good day Ndagi. Based on your article on names and naming among Muslims, I want to know the meaning of Tiyamiyu and whether it is a proper name in Islam”. 08078076666
“Salamu... I just discovered your column and I must say I’m impressed with how you use simple methods to explain Islamic perspective of matters…’ Ummi Bukar. 08036569322
“Assalamu... Good day sir. I read your column on names and naming. It’s interesting and educative. Please I want briefs about these names: Sumayya and Zalihatu”. 08035626910
“Assalam... I named my daughter ‘Jasrah’. When I checked the meaning, the bearer was a narrator of hadith. Is the name ok?” 07037878747
“Assalamu... What does the name ‘Murjanatu’ implies? Thanks”. 08039680911
“Assalamu …You may wish to mention or comment on ‘Baraatu’. Bissalam”. 08033470218
“Salam. My child is named after his grandfather, Ishaq. What alternative name should we call him or there any laqab for Ishaq?”
“Really enjoyed your piece in weekly Trust yesterday…Our people do so many things out of ignorance and do not like seeking for knowledge”. 08034516385
“Assalamu ... What is the next thing to do if a child is named wrongly; and what is your view on inviting Muslims for naming fatiha….” Khalid, Suleja. 08056021229
“Salam. This week’s topic is crucial to Muslim Ummah. You’ve done well by pointing out the damages parents do in naming their children without referring tio the teachings of Rasulullah SAW. May Allah reward you with Aljannah”. Abbas. 08079539944
‘Aassalam Alaykum. Pls I want you to tell me the meaning of the name SUDAIS and text iot to this number. Wassalam”. 08067050123
“Assalam Alaykum. Pls Malam, enlighten me on my daughter’s name ‘Nuwailah’ and secondly, is it permissible to change one’s name if discovered to be abominable?” M. K. Abulkadir. 080094260141
“Assalam. Haba Ndagi! How do you call belief in reciting Iza Waqa as a conservative belief. Refer to Sheikh Gumi’s Arabic Tafsir on chapter 56” 08087447201
Collective summary:
‘Marjan’ mentioned in Surat ur-Rahman (Qur’an 55:22) is the source of the name ‘Murja’. It is not binding that the name must be given the Arabic gender article ‘ta’ to make it feminine as ‘Murjanatu’. ‘Ummu Salmah’ and ‘Ummu Sulaim’ are names of righteous women from among the female followers of the Prophet (SAW). ‘Barakah’ is a popular name among Arabs, meaning ‘blessing’; and borne by both males and females. ‘Bilal is the name of one of the companions of the prophet (SAW). Some names including ‘Bilal’ do not have meanings. The fact that a companion of SAW bore it, suffices for Muslims to adopt it. I do not know the meaning of ‘Aimal’. I only know that while ‘Aiman’ means ‘right-hand side, ‘Amaal’ means ‘Hope’. Although I’m used to hearing of Mikail, the use of Azrail and Israfil as proper names among Muslims is as rare as a hen’s teeth. There would be little wonder if a crowd of people run for their lives at hearing such uncommon names. In Imam Malik’s school of thought, the day a child was born is not to be counted as part of the seven days after birth. Moreover, a child can be named even on the day he was born or delayed till the 3rd or 7th day. It is only the aqiqa that comes up on the 7th day. ‘Hafs’ is the name of one of the two major schools of recitation named after the pioneer reciter; the other being ‘Warsh’. ‘Hafsah’ is the feminine equivalence of ‘Hafs’. The name ‘Saddam’ in Arabic means ‘one who upsets or clashes with others’. ‘Hamad’ is from the Arabic word ‘Hamd’, meaning ‘glory, praise’. It is alright to bear t ‘As-Suyuti’, which is a nickname from the name of a town, Suyuti, in Egypt; hoping to be blessed as the foremost bearer of the name: one of the authors of the Tafsir called “Tafsir ul-Jalalayn”. ‘Tiyamiyu’ is from the name a town ‘Tihamah’ in Arabia. ‘Sumayyah is the name of the first woman martyr in Islam. ‘Zulaihah’ was the wife of the king of Egypt as mentioned in Suratu Yusuf of the Qur’an. Ishaq is the name of a Prophet of Allah. I do not know why a nickname is still being sought for the name. ‘Sudais’ is a family name in Arabia and could mean ‘Small-Sixth” in Arabic. May Allah (SWT) guide us to choose good names for our children, amin.
Articles
Re: Names and naming among Muslims
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 1595
We begin with an apology for our failure, this week, to feature “circumcision” as promised in last week’s edition of the column. The proposed discourse is deferred to next week in order to allow the reading public benefit from some of the several comments and questions from readers who reacted to the issues raised in “Names and naming among Muslims.”
“Assalamu Alaykum. Please clarify if it is normal to name a child Muhammad without attaching another name to it; i.e. Muhammad Al-Amin” 08037869569
“Assaalam. I am the lady that asked about the name ‘Maharazu’. My name is Murja. I want to know if ‘Marjan’ in Surat ul-Rahman of the holy Qur’an is the real pronunciation of the name. Please reply. May Allah bless you. 07094479995
“Assalmu Alaykum Malam. Yaya asalin Ummu Salma da Ummu Sulaim?” 08033578579
“Assalamu Alaykum”. Please I want to know more on the name BARAKA” 08027371970
“Salam Dr…You said the 7th day in the life of a Muslim is as significant as the first day and thus the baby should be given a name on the 7th day. Please what is the Islamic point of view on naming a baby on the 1st day? And Dr, what’s the meaning of Bilal because I intend to name my 1st male child after the famous companion of SAW insha Allah?”…”. 08053742881
“Dr Ndagi… I had a baby girl I named Aishatu and nicknamed her ‘Aimal’. Please what is the appropriateness of the nickname?” 08026924921
“Thank you very much for your article on ‘Names and naming among Muslims’. My question is on Qur’an 49:9. Is this the reason why people don’t name their children Azrail (one of the angels of Allah)? Please I need your reply” Danasabe Mokwa. 08036882702
“Malam. I want to know the difference between ‘Hafs’ and ‘Hafsat’”. Awalu Abubakar, Gashua. 08062383383
“Salamu Alaykum Malam. Kindly make clarification on aqiqa which is to be on the 7th day. But in Hausa land it’s usually done on the 8th day. I want to know the interpretation of the 7th day in this matter….may Allah guide us”. Sanusi Musa. 08065364351
“Salamu…. Is Saddam an Islamic name? I love the name but some scholars argue it is not. And I plan to give my child the name if a boy”.08056014642
“Assalam... I am interested in naming my son ‘HAMAD’ because it is similar to the name of one of those calling to prayers in Madinah. Please I want to know the meaning so that my admiration for the name increases”. 07037149884
“Thanks Dr; for your column today on Muslim names. Please tell me if the name ‘Suyuti’ has an Islamic origin and if Muslims are encouraged to bear it”. Abdul Wali. 08066031819
“Good day Ndagi. Based on your article on names and naming among Muslims, I want to know the meaning of Tiyamiyu and whether it is a proper name in Islam”. 08078076666
“Salamu... I just discovered your column and I must say I’m impressed with how you use simple methods to explain Islamic perspective of matters…’ Ummi Bukar. 08036569322
“Assalamu... Good day sir. I read your column on names and naming. It’s interesting and educative. Please I want briefs about these names: Sumayya and Zalihatu”. 08035626910
“Assalam... I named my daughter ‘Jasrah’. When I checked the meaning, the bearer was a narrator of hadith. Is the name ok?” 07037878747
“Assalamu... What does the name ‘Murjanatu’ implies? Thanks”. 08039680911
“Assalamu …You may wish to mention or comment on ‘Baraatu’. Bissalam”. 08033470218
“Salam. My child is named after his grandfather, Ishaq. What alternative name should we call him or there any laqab for Ishaq?”
“Really enjoyed your piece in weekly Trust yesterday…Our people do so many things out of ignorance and do not like seeking for knowledge”. 08034516385
“Assalamu ... What is the next thing to do if a child is named wrongly; and what is your view on inviting Muslims for naming fatiha….” Khalid, Suleja. 08056021229
“Salam. This week’s topic is crucial to Muslim Ummah. You’ve done well by pointing out the damages parents do in naming their children without referring tio the teachings of Rasulullah SAW. May Allah reward you with Aljannah”. Abbas. 08079539944
‘Aassalam Alaykum. Pls I want you to tell me the meaning of the name SUDAIS and text iot to this number. Wassalam”. 08067050123
“Assalam Alaykum. Pls Malam, enlighten me on my daughter’s name ‘Nuwailah’ and secondly, is it permissible to change one’s name if discovered to be abominable?” M. K. Abulkadir. 080094260141
“Assalam. Haba Ndagi! How do you call belief in reciting Iza Waqa as a conservative belief. Refer to Sheikh Gumi’s Arabic Tafsir on chapter 56” 08087447201
Collective summary:
‘Marjan’ mentioned in Surat ur-Rahman (Qur’an 55:22) is the source of the name ‘Murja’. It is not binding that the name must be given the Arabic gender article ‘ta’ to make it feminine as ‘Murjanatu’. ‘Ummu Salmah’ and ‘Ummu Sulaim’ are names of righteous women from among the female followers of the Prophet (SAW). ‘Barakah’ is a popular name among Arabs, meaning ‘blessing’; and borne by both males and females. ‘Bilal is the name of one of the companions of the prophet (SAW). Some names including ‘Bilal’ do not have meanings. The fact that a companion of SAW bore it, suffices for Muslims to adopt it. I do not know the meaning of ‘Aimal’. I only know that while ‘Aiman’ means ‘right-hand side, ‘Amaal’ means ‘Hope’. Although I’m used to hearing of Mikail, the use of Azrail and Israfil as proper names among Muslims is as rare as a hen’s teeth. There would be little wonder if a crowd of people run for their lives at hearing such uncommon names. In Imam Malik’s school of thought, the day a child was born is not to be counted as part of the seven days after birth. Moreover, a child can be named even on the day he was born or delayed till the 3rd or 7th day. It is only the aqiqa that comes up on the 7th day. ‘Hafs’ is the name of one of the two major schools of recitation named after the pioneer reciter; the other being ‘Warsh’. ‘Hafsah’ is the feminine equivalence of ‘Hafs’. The name ‘Saddam’ in Arabic means ‘one who upsets or clashes with others’. ‘Hamad’ is from the Arabic word ‘Hamd’, meaning ‘glory, praise’. It is alright to bear t ‘As-Suyuti’, which is a nickname from the name of a town, Suyuti, in Egypt; hoping to be blessed as the foremost bearer of the name: one of the authors of the Tafsir called “Tafsir ul-Jalalayn”. ‘Tiyamiyu’ is from the name a town ‘Tihamah’ in Arabia. ‘Sumayyah is the name of the first woman martyr in Islam. ‘Zulaihah’ was the wife of the king of Egypt as mentioned in Suratu Yusuf of the Qur’an. Ishaq is the name of a Prophet of Allah. I do not know why a nickname is still being sought for the name. ‘Sudais’ is a family name in Arabia and could mean ‘Small-Sixth” in Arabic. May Allah (SWT) guide us to choose good names for our children, amin.