Rulings about Names in Islam
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His Slave and Messenger.
The basic ruling regarding names is permissibility. Nothing of them are prohibited nor disliked except what implies a meaning that entails prohibition or dislikeability, such as the names that imply enslavement to other than Allaah The Almighty and are thus prohibited, or the names that imply commendation and are thus disliked. The name “Aayah” does not imply a meaning that is Islamically prohibited and thus there is nothing wrong with using it as a name.
Aayah linguistically means “sign” and everything in this universe is one of the signs of Allaah The Almighty that indicate His absolute power and greatness, and humans are one of those signs.
Finally, it is more appropriate for the Muslim to choose for his children the names of the Prophets, and of the male and female companions and righteous predecessors.
Allaah Knows best.
Using Abdul as a Name
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad , is His slave and Messenger.
It appears – Allaah knows best – that this word, even if it has no meaning, is permissible to use as a family’s surname, however, it is more appropriate to use names that have a good meaning. The males and females are included in the family that has this surname without any difference between them.
As regards the names which you mentioned in the question, it is permissible to name with them. However, it is better to choose from them a name of a woman who was known for her righteousness, like Saarah (Sara), ‘Aasiyah (Asia) and Maryam (Mary).
Allaah Knows best.
Giving Child More than One Names
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
It is permissible to name the newborn child with more than one name as long as there is no prohibition in such names. The Prophet had many names but he had five well-known names which were mentioned in the Hadeeth (narration) which reads: ”I am Muhammad, Ahmad, Al-Maahi (by whom Allaah eradicates disbelief), Al-Haashir (after whose resurrection people will be resurrected and will collect around him) and Al-‘Aaqib (after whom there will be no prophet or messenger)” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Allaah Knows best.
1) What are the rulings for naming a child?
2) My in-laws follow this custom, that once a boy is born the circumcision is done only on 10th Muharram. What are the rulings for this? They say once someone tried to go against it and the life of the child was at sake.
Fatwa:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
There are some rulings related to naming a newborn child:
Firstly:
The newborn baby should be given a beautiful and appropriate name.
It is the child’s right to be named by his parents with a name which is beautiful and it is not forbidden by Islamic Law, like for example a name which is related to worshipping something beside Allaah, The Almighty, or a name which contains some attributes or characteristics that are exclusive to Allaah. Of course, all of this is forbidden.
Prophet Muhammad 
said: “The dearest names to Allaah are ‘Abdullaah and Abdur-Rahmaan.” [Abu-Daawood]
It is preferable to name your child after the names of Prophets and Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, because Prophet Muhammad named his newborn son Ibraaheem; he said: “I named him after my father’s name, Ibraaheem.” [Muslim]
Also, Prophet Muhammad named the child of the companion ‘Abdullaah Ibn salaam, after Prophet Yoosuf . [Al-Bukhaari] He also gave the name Ibraaheem to the son of Abu Moosaa Al-’Ash’ari. [Bukhaari and Muslim]
Secondly:
The naming should be:
1. On the seventh day after the child’s birth as the Prophet Muhammad said: “Every child bonds to his/her ‘Aqeeqah, (i.e. his dutifulness to parents and him being protected by Allaah and blessed is subject to his parents slaughtering) which should be slaughtered on the seventh day (after the birth), and on that day he (she) should be named and his (her) hair should be shaved off.” [Ahmad]
2. On the first day after the child’s birth. Prophet Muhammad said: “Tonight a son was born to me and I named him after my father’s name, Ibraaheem.” [Muslim]
Regarding the time of circumcision, Ash-Shaafi’ee scholars said that it is recommended for a newborn child to be circumcised on the seventh day after his birth based on two narrations but both are weak.
On the other hand some of our Salaf (who lived in the first three generations after Prophet’s migration to Madeenah) say that circumcision on the seventh day is not recommended, because it is a practice of the Jews. This is the opinion of Al-Hassan and Maalik .
Ibn Al-Munthir said: ‘There is nothing regarding this issue – circumcision on the seventh day – which proves its prohibition nor is there any report which proves this practice, or (even in) ‘Sunnah’, nothing at all. Everything is permissible, and it is not allowed to forbid something except with evidence, we do not know who forbade circumcision on the seventh day.’
Believing that circumcision should be on the tenth day of month Muharram, or seeing an evil omen if a child is circumcised on other days is indeed forbidden. This kind of belief is pessimism, while Prophet Muhammad said: “Not from us, he who sees an evil omen (in something), or if somebody does something in which he sees an evil omen.” [At-Tabraani, Al-Bazaar]
In addition, choosing a particular day (for circumcision) which is not specified by Islamic Law is an innovation. Prophet Muhammad said: “Whoever innovates in this matter (Islam) of ours anything which is not a part of it, will have it rejected.” [Bukhaari and Muslim]
So believing in such things without a legal source from Islamic legislation and strong evidence is nothing but Satan’s work and the work of ignorant people. It is their duty to fear Allaah, The Almighty, and to repent to Him for false belief, because Allaah is the only one who can benefit or cause harm.
Allaah Knows the best.
When to Name a Muslim Child
The Hadith about when a Muslim child is to be named falls into two classes:
1. Those which mention naming the child on the seventh day after the birth. Like the Hadith of Samurah – (RA) who said: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:
“Every child is held in pledge for his’ Aqeeqah which is sacrificed for him on his seventh day, and he is named on it and his head is shaved” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and the remaining 3 Sunan)
The Hadith that the Messenger (SAW) ordered that the child be named on the seventh day, that the harm be removed from him and the sacrifice (the ‘Aqeeqah) be performed. (Reported by Al-Tirmidhee)
2. And those which indicate naming the child on the day of its birth. From these is the Hadith of Anas (RA) who said: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said:
“A boy was born to me this night and I have given him the name of my forefather Ibrahim. (Reported by Muslim and Abu Dawud)
Allah’s Messenger (SAW) also named ‘Abdullaah ibn Abee Taihah. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) Another baby was brought to him after birth and he called it al-Mundhir (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and there are many examples like this.
So from the previous Hadith we can see that the time for giving the name is something flexible – and all praise and thanks are for Allah (SWT) – so it may be named on the day of the birth, or delayed until the seventh day after birth – just as it is allowed between the two and later on. However, the time when it is recommended to name the child is the seventh day after the birth since that occurs in the words of the
Prophet (SWT) and so it is taken to be a recommendation, and the Hadith mentioning the day of its birth report the Prophet’s (SAW) action – and are, therefore, taken to show & what is permissible.
Who names the child
The father and mother are the ones who are to choose a good name for their child, but if they disagree about the name, then the father has the right to choose the name. If he wishes, he may name it himself and if he wishes, he may give the choice to his wife, and if he wishes he may draw lots with her.
The fact that naming the child is the right of the father is shown by the fact that the child in this world is ascribed and attributed to his father. Allah (SWT) says:
“Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just in the Sight of Allah…” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:5)
They will likewise be ascribed to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he (SAW) said:
“For every treacherous one a banner will be raised saying: This is the treachery of so and so, son of so and so.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and others)
And the Hadith:
“On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and your fathers names, so make your names good.” (Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and other)
It is also allowed for the parents to allow someone else to choose the name his grandfather, or grandmother, or someone else, i.e. that they should say: ‘Call him so and so’, or ‘Your name is so and so’, or ‘His name is so and so’ etc., since our Messenger and teacher Muhammad (SAW) used to name some of the children of his Companions – for example he named ‘Abdullah ibn Abee Talhah as has preceded and he said to a man: “Call your son ‘Abdur-Rahman.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) And just as he named his grand children – the children of Fatimah. Her husband ‘Ali (RA) said: “When al-Hasan was born, I called him ‘Harb’ (war), then the Prophet (SAW) came and said: “Show me my son, what have you called him?” We said: “Harb.” He said, “Rather he is Hasan.” Then when al-Husayn was born I called him Harb, then the Prophet (SAW) came and said, “Show me my son, what have you called him?” We said, “Harb.” He said, “Rather he is Husayn.” Then the third was born I called him Harb, then the Prophet (SAW) came and said, “Show me my son, what have you called him?” We said, “Harb.” He said, “Rather he is Muhassin.” Then he said, ” I have called them with the names of the children of Haaroon: Shabbar and Shabeer and Mushabbir.” (Reported by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari in ‘al-Adabul-Mufrad and declared Sahih by al-Haafiz in ‘al-Isaabah. Declared weak by Shaikh al-Albaanee in his checking of: ‘al-Adabul-Mufrad’)
The Rulings for Naming the Miscarried Fetus and the one who dies before being names
If it happens that the new-born child dies before it is named, then it is prescribed to give the child a name in this case – just as other children are named, and Funeral Prayer is said upon him, and the rulings for the deceased apply to him. As regards the fetus that is miscarried before the completion of six months – and that is the earliest that life would have been possible for it – then the scholars of the Shaafi’ees and the Hanbalees hold that it is recommended to name him, and they add that if the sex of the fetus is unclear then it should be given a name suitable for either such as: Talhah, Rajaa, Hind and Tarafah. Their support for the first and second questions is that the child will be called on the Day of Resurrection by his name, and this is a good and reasonable argument – if Allah (SWT) wills.
It should also be noted that there are some Hadith reported concerning the encouragement to name the miscarried fetus, however, nothing from them is authentic – and Allah (SWT) knows best.
Websites for Islamic Names-
www.names4muslims.com
www.muslimnames.info
www.muslimbabynames.net
www.muslimchildnames.com
Excellent articles about Islamic names:
List of Muslim girls’ names and their meanings.
List of Muslim boys’ names and their meanings.
Manners of Welcoming the New Born Child in Islam by Yoosuf ibn Abdullaah Al-’Areefee
The Islamic Naming System by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Prohibited Names in Islam by Yoosuf ibn Abdullaah Al-’Areefee
Praiseworthy Names.
Naming Issues in Islam.
The Fiqh of Naming Children (according to the Shafi`i school)
Call Them by Their Fathers’ Names by Sheikh Wajdi al-Ghazzawi
New Muslim Convert: Is Changing My Name Necessary? By Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
Guyana Muslim Names
Credits in Chronological Order
islamweb.net
zawaj.com
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