The Appropriate Time for Naming a Newborn and Who Has the Right to Name It
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Question:
The first message in this episode is one that reached the program from the Eastern Province, Dammam, sent by one of the sisters from there, identified as (A. H. Q). Our sister asks about the appropriate time for naming a newborn, and who has the right to name it?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
The one most deserving of naming the child is the father, that is, the child's parent, if he is present. If he is not present, it is the eldest of the child's awliya (close friends of Allah). It is recommended to cooperate and consult between the father and the mother so that everyone chooses a good name. The best names are those that worship Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for men, such as 'Abdullah, 'Abd al-Rahman, 'Abd al-Malik, 'Abd al-Karim, and the like.
In the case of women, it is what was customary among the women of the Companions and the believing women after them: known names that are not ugly, and that do not indicate a choice like the names of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, the names of disbelievers and disbelieving women. The believer chooses the names known among Muslims; this is the best.
As for what is made a slave to other than Allah, it is not permissible, such as Abd al-Husayn or Abd al-Nabi or Abd al-Ka'bah; this is not permissible.
The best is that the naming takes place on the seventh day for both the boy and the girl; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 12:44 It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan with a valid chain of narration.
So the best is naming on the seventh day. If it is named on the day of birth, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named his son Ibrahim on the day of his birth, and he named the children of some of the Companions on the first day, so there is nothing wrong with it. It is a recommended practice as well, and on the seventh day it is a recommended practice; this is the best in terms of time.
And in the name, one chooses the good, beautiful names that Muslims have been accustomed to from the time of the Companions to this day. In the names of men, the best is what is a slave to Allah; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2834Sahih (Darussalam) What is a slave to Allah is the best. And so are the customary names, such as Muhammad, Salih, Sa'd, and Sa'id, and the like; they are all good names. But the best of them is what is a slave to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And the best of the days is the seventh day, and so is the first day. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
The first message in this episode is one that reached the program from the Eastern Province, Dammam, sent by one of the sisters from there, identified as (A. H. Q). Our sister asks about the appropriate time for naming a newborn, and who has the right to name it?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
The one most deserving of naming the child is the father, that is, the child's parent, if he is present. If he is not present, it is the eldest of the child's awliya (close friends of Allah). It is recommended to cooperate and consult between the father and the mother so that everyone chooses a good name. The best names are those that worship Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for men, such as 'Abdullah, 'Abd al-Rahman, 'Abd al-Malik, 'Abd al-Karim, and the like.
In the case of women, it is what was customary among the women of the Companions and the believing women after them: known names that are not ugly, and that do not indicate a choice like the names of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, the names of disbelievers and disbelieving women. The believer chooses the names known among Muslims; this is the best.
As for what is made a slave to other than Allah, it is not permissible, such as Abd al-Husayn or Abd al-Nabi or Abd al-Ka'bah; this is not permissible.
The best is that the naming takes place on the seventh day for both the boy and the girl; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Every boy is pawned against his 'Aqiqah, to be slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day of his birth, his head is to be shaved, and he must be given a name.
كل غلام مرتهن بعقيقته تذبح عنه يوم سابعه، ويحلق ويسمىSo the best is naming on the seventh day. If it is named on the day of birth, there is nothing wrong with it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named his son Ibrahim on the day of his birth, and he named the children of some of the Companions on the first day, so there is nothing wrong with it. It is a recommended practice as well, and on the seventh day it is a recommended practice; this is the best in terms of time.
And in the name, one chooses the good, beautiful names that Muslims have been accustomed to from the time of the Companions to this day. In the names of men, the best is what is a slave to Allah; because of his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
The most loved names to Allah are 'Abdullah and 'Abdur-Rahman.
أحب الأسماء إلى الله عبدالله وعبدالرحمنThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.