What is the ruling on one who takes the names of Allah the Exalted, such as al-Aziz (The Mighty), as a name?
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The questioner : Noble Shaykh, I do not know the ruling on a person being named with the names of Allah, such as calling someone al-Aziz (The Mighty), not as an attribute but as a name?
The Shaykh : I say to you in answer to this: The names of Allah are of two types:
One type is specific to Him, and it is not permissible for anyone else to be named with it, such as Allah, al-Rahman (The Most Merciful), al-Jabbar (The Compeller), and al-Mutakabbir (The Supreme). It is not permissible for any of the creation to be named with these, because these are attributes that no one else possesses.
And another type: it is not specific to Allah, and it is permissible for others to be named with it. If the attribute is considered in it, meaning that the name is intended to convey the meaning it indicates, then this is not permissible. For example, if we name a person Aziz (Mighty) and intend by this that he has dominance, might, and elevation over people, then this is not permissible. But if it is intended as merely a proper name with no meaning intended from it, then there is no harm in it. And you know that among the Companions there was one who was named Hakim (The Wise) and one who was named al-Hakam (The Judge), and the like of that.
The Shaykh : I say to you in answer to this: The names of Allah are of two types:
One type is specific to Him, and it is not permissible for anyone else to be named with it, such as Allah, al-Rahman (The Most Merciful), al-Jabbar (The Compeller), and al-Mutakabbir (The Supreme). It is not permissible for any of the creation to be named with these, because these are attributes that no one else possesses.
And another type: it is not specific to Allah, and it is permissible for others to be named with it. If the attribute is considered in it, meaning that the name is intended to convey the meaning it indicates, then this is not permissible. For example, if we name a person Aziz (Mighty) and intend by this that he has dominance, might, and elevation over people, then this is not permissible. But if it is intended as merely a proper name with no meaning intended from it, then there is no harm in it. And you know that among the Companions there was one who was named Hakim (The Wise) and one who was named al-Hakam (The Judge), and the like of that.