Is it permissible to use the names of Allah for people?

Machine translationRead the Arabic original

The questioner : Is it permissible to use the names of Allah for people?

The Shaykh : This requires a distinction. If one uses the name of Allah for a person intending the meaning, then it is not permissible, because he would be likening the creation to the Creator. For example, if he intends by "al-Hakim" (the Wise) that he is one who possesses wisdom, then that is not permissible. This is why, when a man came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) whose kunya was Abu al-Hukm, he asked him why he was known by that name. He said:

My people, when they dispute over something, come to me for judgment, and I judge between them, and both parties are satisfied. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah the Exalted is al-Hakm (the Judge), and to Him belongs the judgment."

إن قومي إذا اختصموا في شيء تحاكموا إلي فحكمت بينهم فرضي كلا الفريقين فقال الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم : إن الله تعالى هو الحكم وإليه الحكم

meaning, do not say Abu al-Hukm

Do you have any children?" He said: "I have Shuraih, and 'Abdullah, and Muslim." He said: "Who is the eldest of them?" He said: "Shuraih." He said: "Then you are Abu Shuraih,"

فما لك من الولد ؟ قال لي فلان وفلان وفلان قال فمن أكبرهم ؟ قال : شريح قال فأنت أبو شريح

Sunan an-Nasa'i 5387Hasan (Darussalam)

So, if a person intends the meaning by the name, it is not permissible. But if he intends only the name itself, there is no harm in that. This is why we find the name al-Hakm and the name Hakim among the names of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), yes? ... We find them among the names of the Companions, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not change them. Yes.

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

Similar fatwas