5 Important Things You Need To Know About Naming Your Child | Al-Ihsan Media| Baby Names

Bismillahi-r-Rahmāni-r-Rahīm

All thanks to Allah, The First and The Last, The Hidden and The Manifest. May the blessings of Allah be upon the leader of all creations, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, including his households and his companions till the day of Judgement. Aameen.

Islam is a complete religion. It covers every aspect of human life and guides him in all of his activities. It is not based on the five pillars of Islam only but, rather, Islam spreads its wings beyond that to make it known to us that 'Islam is the total way of life'. 

The value placed on name, in Islam, is undoubtedly very huge and great. Allah swt begins the Holy Qur'an with the word "In the name of Allah". The first task given to our Father, Prophet Adam A.S, was to name every object created by Allah, which he did perfectly. On setting his Eyes on our Grandmother, Hawā, he quickly named her in regards to her characteristics, and lots more after that. All these point at the dignity given to "name".

Name serves as an identification placed upon an object or a person. It is an indication of tribe, religion, family, group or a community that someone belongs to. It is also an adornment or a blemish that either beautifies or dishonors someone. This is the reason why Islam emphasizes that parents should choose a beautiful and a meaningful name for their babies. The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once advised a man who came to him to ask about his responsibility on his son, The Holy Prophet ﷺ replied : 

"Give him a good name, and train him well (with good manners, so that he/she might live up to that name), and choose a good job or profession for him". 

Names are not just given to children, there are some factors that contribute to name designation to a child. As a parent, these are:

 5 Important Things You Need To Know About Naming Your Child.

 Names are given in regards to the following: 

1. Popularity and fame : This is one of the most common reasons , why parents , nowadays, name their children. They search for celebrities' names with the believe that names that are trending at a particular time are better than those that are unheard of. While some tend to look for the meaning of these names, some don't even make any attempt towards doing the same. This isn't an act recommended by Islam.

2. Beautiful pronunciation: It is also common for parents of these days to just Google search for names or ask scholars for beautiful Islamic names which are easy and sweet in hearing. I have been asked such a question several times but I'll advise that this isn't a good path to walk for any good parent, as sweet names doesn't mean positive influence upon the child who will take the name.

3. Unprecedentedness : This means bringing a name that has never been heard before into existence. Some parents go to extremes in search for scarce or names which have never been in existence before because they want their child to be different and unique among other kids who bear a commonly known names in the Muslim community.  Truly, Islam doesn't prohibit any name as long as it is good, sound and meaningful, but at times, we hear of new names, and we ask one another, 'What does it mean?, 'Have you ever heard of it before?'. The meaning might be good and understandable but that is not the way of the believing Muslims, The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who is also our role model didn't admonish such act.

4. Commemoration, Love and Blessings : The believing Muslims , out of their love and respect, they name their children after great men in Islam. Who are the great men? "The Prophets, The Companions of the Holy Prophet, The Saints, The Martyrs, The Eminent Women, The Pious Scholars e.t.c. This is the effect of their love for the men of Allah, and this is one of the commendable acts of a believer. 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, "Whoever gives birth to a male child and names him Muhammad, out of love for me ﷺ, and to derive blessings from my name, he (the father) and his child will be in Jannah". 

This Hadith made it clear that a child definitely gets a share from the blessings of those who bore the name before him. Names are also given to remind us of the good deeds of another, and to make us feel their closeness to us. All these are permissible by The Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.

5. Dreams : Good dreams are revelations from Allah to guide the believers. The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained the importance of dreams in an Hadith where he said,

"Nothing is left from Prophethood except glad tidings", He was ask what the glad tidings were, He said, "The good dreams". [Al-Bukhari]. 

Allah swt uses dreams to indicate a step or an action which is necessary for one to take at a particular time and in a certain situation. Such was the case of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, named him in regards to a dream he had prior to his birth. It is the same for some other people who also believed in Allah. Names given to children from good dreams are names revealed by Allah, thus, such names usually have a massive impact and positive influence upon the owner.

Names have huge influences upon the bearer, this is why Islam prohibits bad names and set the stage for good and meaningful names. It is advised that a good parent should choose from the list of good names for his/her child, because this is one of his responsibilities upon him/her, and this name will also guide him/her towards being among those Allah swt is pleased with in this life and hereafter.

May Almighty Guide us all. 

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The Best Of Names In Islam | Al-Ihsan Media

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