A woman whose son was named by his father (Munafiq), and she knows that it was the name of a god of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, begs her husband to change his name but he refuses, so we ask that you advise him
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The questioner : I have a child among my sons whom his father named Munafiq...
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Munafiq.
The Shaykh : Munafiq.
The questioner : Munafiq, yes, and I know that it was the name of a god in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. I begged my husband to change this name, but he refuses. Please advise him about this so that he will listen to you. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Before answering this question, I would like to direct my brother listeners to choose names for their sons and daughters that are more beloved to Allah and His Messenger than others. Among the names for men are: Abdullah and Abd al-Rahman. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2834Sahih (Darussalam) And close to that is every name attributed to Allah, such as Abd al-Wahhab, Abd al-Aziz, Abd al-Rahim, Abd al-Jabbar, Abd al-Qahhar, and the like. Every name attributed to Allah is better than one that is not attributed to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. The most noble and excellent of these is what is attributed to Allah or to al-Rahman, according to the hadith I mentioned earlier.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then, as for names that are closer to truth and reality, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Because there is no person who is not Harith and Hammad. If he is named Harith or Hammad, it becomes a perfect match for reality.
Likewise, the names of the Prophets (peace be upon them) are chosen, such as Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ibrahim (peace be upon him), Musa, Isa, Nuh, and the like.
Likewise, in the names of women, it should be chosen from the best, sweetest, and most pleasant names to the ear, such as Fatimah, for that is the name of the daughter of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Aisha, Zaynab, Asma, and the like of the many names. How wonderful it would be if someone followed "Al-Isabah fi Asma' al-Sahabah" and selected suitable names from the names of the Companions for this era. For in this is much good and a filling of the gap in which people today stumble in choosing strange names. If someone were to follow and choose what is suitable for the era from the names of the male and female Companions and publish it among people so that they choose from these names that remind us of our righteous predecessors, it would be much good and a closing of this door that has opened to people, causing them to stumble blindly.
As for Munafiq, about whom the question was asked.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not know whether it is the name of a god worshipped in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because one of the ancestors of the Messenger (peace be upon him) was named Abd Munafiq, or whether it came like Abd al-Muttalib. In any case, if it is, or if it is established that it is the name of an idol, then it should be avoided. And if it is not the name of an idol, then it is like other names, and there is no blame in it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner is N F.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Munafiq.
The Shaykh : Munafiq.
The questioner : Munafiq, yes, and I know that it was the name of a god in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. I begged my husband to change this name, but he refuses. Please advise him about this so that he will listen to you. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment. Before answering this question, I would like to direct my brother listeners to choose names for their sons and daughters that are more beloved to Allah and His Messenger than others. Among the names for men are: Abdullah and Abd al-Rahman. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The most loved names to Allah are 'Abdullah and 'Abdur-Rahman.
أحب الأسماء إلى الله عبد الله وعبد الرحمانThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then, as for names that are closer to truth and reality, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
The most truthful of names are Harith and Hammad
أصدق الأسماء حارث وهمامLikewise, the names of the Prophets (peace be upon them) are chosen, such as Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Ibrahim (peace be upon him), Musa, Isa, Nuh, and the like.
Likewise, in the names of women, it should be chosen from the best, sweetest, and most pleasant names to the ear, such as Fatimah, for that is the name of the daughter of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), Aisha, Zaynab, Asma, and the like of the many names. How wonderful it would be if someone followed "Al-Isabah fi Asma' al-Sahabah" and selected suitable names from the names of the Companions for this era. For in this is much good and a filling of the gap in which people today stumble in choosing strange names. If someone were to follow and choose what is suitable for the era from the names of the male and female Companions and publish it among people so that they choose from these names that remind us of our righteous predecessors, it would be much good and a closing of this door that has opened to people, causing them to stumble blindly.
As for Munafiq, about whom the question was asked.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I do not know whether it is the name of a god worshipped in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, because one of the ancestors of the Messenger (peace be upon him) was named Abd Munafiq, or whether it came like Abd al-Muttalib. In any case, if it is, or if it is established that it is the name of an idol, then it should be avoided. And if it is not the name of an idol, then it is like other names, and there is no blame in it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This questioner is N F.