Giving good names is the right of children

Dear Islamic brothers, we learn from the life of Sayyiduna Talha bin Ubaydullah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ that naming one’s children after the righteous people of Allah Almighty is the sunnah of the noble Companions رِضْوَانُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَیْہِمْ اَجْمَعِیْن. Therefore, parents should give good names to their children, because this is their first and foremost gift to their children, which they carry for the rest of their lives. When the Day of Judgement is established, they will be called to the Court of Allah Almighty with that name.

Just as Sayyiduna Abu Darda رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “On the Day of Judgement, you will be called by your names and the names of your forefathers, so give yourself good names.”^[1]

Those people who مَعاذَ الـلّٰـه name their children after film actors, singers, artists and non-Muslims should take heed from this hadith; what greater disgrace is there than the children of Muslims being called by non-Muslim names on the plains of resurrection tomorrow.

It is often observed that the responsibility of selecting a name for a child is given to a close family member, such as the grandmother, aunt, uncle, etc., and due to not being aware of the relevant shar’i rulings, they commonly give children names that have no meaning altogether or ones that have a bad meaning; one should avoid giving such names. Names should be kept after the noble Prophets عَـلَـيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوة وَالسَّلام, Companions, Tabi’een and Awliya رِضْوَانُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَیْہِمْ اَجْمَعِیْن. One benefit of this is that the child will establish a spiritual link with the people of Allah Almighty, and another benefit is that through the blessings of being named after these righteous individuals, their life will be positively affected. اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه

Dear Islamic brothers, in order to learn the shar’i rulings in relation to naming children, read the book of Maktaba-tul-Madinah, entitled, “Naam