In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…
The following question was posed to the great scholar, Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have Mercy on him):
My name is Muhsin*, and a student of knowledge told me that this name was not allowed. He advised me to change my name. What is your opinion, may Allaah reward you with goodness?
*Muhsin literally means one who does things proficiently, with sincerity to Allaah. It also carries the meaning of one who is kind and graceful to others.
The shaykh responded, saying:
There is no problem [with this name], since it is one of the names which can be used [for people], like ‘Azeez (Mighty), Samee’ (one who hears), Haleem (gentle), and their likes. Allaah’s Names are not something forbidden for the people to use, except for those which are exclusive to Him, the Exalted, like:
- al-Khallaaq (the Ever-Creating)
- ar-Razzaaq (the Ever-Providing)
- Maalik al-Mulk (the Owner of the Dominion)
- ar-Rahmaan (the Most Gracious)
- and the likes of these Names.
As for names which are not exclusive to Him, then a person may take one which suits him, and for Allaah are Names that suit Him. So, a person can be called Haleem, Ra’oof (kind), or Raheem (merciful), since Allaah has described His Prophet, Muhammad (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) as:
بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
With the believers, he is kind and merciful [9:128]
Similarly are the names as-Samee’ (one who hears) and al-Baseer (one who sees), as found in the Statement of Allaah the Mighty and Most High:
إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
Verily We created mankind from a droplet, mixed, to be put through difficulties, and We made him someone who hears and sees [76:2]
He referred to him (mankind) as Samee’ (hearing) and Baseer (seeing).
To summarize, people can use some of the Names of Allaah, those which are not exclusive to Him, the Exalted, like Samee’, Baseer, Qadeer (capable), Haleem, Ra’oof (kind), Raheem (merciful), etc. And Muhsin is from this category.
Source: One of the shaykh’s answers on the Noor ‘alad-Darb radio program, as found here on the shaykh’s official website, or here in this audio clip.
Translation by: Moosaa Richardson for bakkah.net (1437.04.06)
asalam mahlaikoem admin/ustadh moosa richardson,
djazakkallahoegaiyran for this fawaid. I wanted to know if the name maalik is also permissible to use(ya’ni to name yourself maalik)?
may allah reward you all
Wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. I don’t think anyone has ever taken Imaam Maalik ibn Anas to task about his name! ِAnd there were many Companions named Maalik, and Allaah is pleased with all of them.
na’am didn’t thought about that.
May allah preserve you!
as salamu-alaicum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
dear ustadh moosa,
how about mutakabbir and muhaymeen? are these names exclusive only to allah-subhana wa ta’ala?
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. Mutakabbir is not allowed as a name for people as kibr (pride) is not allowed for them. Thus, that Name is exclusive to Allaah. As for Muhaymin, I don’t know.
If pride is seen as a negative attribute then how can we ascribe it to Allah the most perfect?
It is a blameworthy attribute with people, because they are deficient, weak, and in need, and thus they have no grounds to have pride. Yet, Allaah, is different than His Creation. He is Perfect, and all His Attributes are Attributes of Perfection, and thus He is al-Mutakabbir, the Justly Proud. As Muslims, we understand there are things befitting Allaah that are not befitting His Creation (He is worshipped, He is justly proud, He is not asked about what He does, etc.), just as there are things allowed for Mankind which are not befitting unto Allaah (having a wife, a son, partners, and associates, sleep, illness, etc.). All of these differences are based on Allaah being the Perfect and Flawless Creator, and Man being the imperfect and deficient Creation. And Allaah knows best.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh,
I would like to know if it is better to have « ‘Abdul- » as a prefix for names such as Muhsin, ‘Azeez etc..
Jazaaka l-laahu khayraan.
No, since Al-Muhsin is not one of Allah’s Names, according to the consensus of scholars.
FACT CHECKED: There is no consensus of scholars on this issue. The name, al-Muhsin, was included in some of the scholars’ lists of Allah’s Names, like al-Qurtubee and Ibn al-Qayyim, based on the hadeeth: (فإن الله محسن يحب المحسنين), declared authentic by some of the scholars of Hadeeth, like Al-Albaanee in Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (no.2231). And Allah knows best.
as-salāmu ʿalaykoum waa Raḥmatullāhi waa Barakātuh,
From what I’ve understood thus far is that you can name your child any good, appropriate name just as long as it isn’t a name that befits Allāh Alone, i.e., al-Raḥmān, al-Khāliq, al-Razzāq (without adding ʿAbd at the beginning) etc. and a name that shouldn’t be too praiseworthy like adding ad-Dīn. Would this also apply to the name Mukhliṣ or is it too praiseworthy?
In addition, I’ve heard that it is good/a Sunnah to call your child by a nickname for example, a boy whose birth name is Aḥmad but he is nicknamed Abū (something attributed to him) or even Abū Bakr to help motivate him to become a better person, etc.
Please could you clarify both these questions In shāʾ Allāh, JazākaAllāhu khayran.
As salam alaikum warahmathulahi barakathuhu ahkee
Once I saw someone name as Nabi. Can we name someone as Nabi ?
Assalamu Alaykum
Is it permissible to say ‘oh my god’? If no then why not?
Wa’ alaikum Salam.
Maybe this will help, In Sha’ Allaah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fy3hHooZ_Y
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Ustaadh what is the principle that one can use to underatand names that are exclusive to Allah and thus obligate to have ‘Abd” if one wishes to use it to Name a child after it.. and other which are pernissible to use without ” Abd “?
Asalamualykum
Is it permissible for someone to return to their country of origin (kuffar) after making hijrah if things get hard or they can’t get a visa in the Muslim country.
Also could you please put all the tafsir lessons into one playlist/collection when you get the time
May Allah bless u and your family. ameen
Assalamualaykkum,
Regarding, “Allaah’s Names are not something forbidden for the people to use, except for those which are exclusive to Him, the Exalted, like:….”
Any reference to all the names exclusive to Allah, that cannot be named? so that we are aware in advance.
BaarakAllahu feek
Abu AbdirRahman Rajeef
Dubai
First I would like to correct some of the people who seemed their questions have some confusions, because allah,s names are all exclusive to him and anything else is abdi or his slaves, therefore you want your child name one of the names of allah its must, you say abdi-majeed or muhsin or any one of the 99 names of allah,and they are all same means saying my child is the slave of majeed for example, therefore we cannot say my child his name is majeed or muhsin these names are exclusive to only allah and allah knows best
Welcome to Bakkah.net Abaa Uthman. I invite you to correct your understanding of the topic by reading the article above and understanding the evidences. Be warned, dear brother, and may Allaah grant you success, be warned against forbidding the servants of Allaah from what Allaah has not forbidden them from, as He has said:
وَلا تَقُولُوا لِما تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ الْكَذِبَ هَذَا حَلالٌ وَهذا حَرامٌ لِتَفْتَرُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ الْكَذِبَ لا يُفْلِحُونَ
“And do not say, regarding what your tongues depict dishonestly: ‘This is permissible, and that is impermissible…’ that you invent lies upon Allaah! Certainly, those who invent lies upon Allaah are not successful.” [an-Nahl: 116]
And the door of repentance is wide open, and Allaah is the Oft-Forgiving, the Ever Merciful, and Allaah knows best.
Assalaamu’alaykum Ustaadh..
A brother I met has the name ‘abd al-Sattaar.
This is probably the first time I am hearing such a name.
Is al-Sattaar a name from the names of Allaah?
As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullaah,
How should الله be written in english? Is it “Allah” as it’s most commonly spelled? Or is it “Allaah”? Also, assuming one of them is right & the other is wrong, would the latter have an effect on the meaning of the Name?
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. We do not know of any names of Allaah in English. We only say “Allah” or “Allaah” as a transliteration of His Name الله.
Assalamu Alayk,
In regards to the above article, it mentions that the name Ar Rahman is exclusive to Allaah Taa’la. So if the surname of an individual was Rahman – eg: It would appear as Rabee Rahman, is this a surname that is acceptable or does Abdul need to be adding before the word Rahman?
Jazak Allaahu Kheiran
Assalamu alaykum
My brother’s name is Abdur Rasheed. I heard that Rasheed is not from one of Allah’s names, is that true ?
If that is the case, does he has to change his name ?
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Short answer: A number of highly qualified scholars have affirmed “ar-Rasheed” as a Name of Allaah. Long answer: http://www.salafitalk.net/st/viewmessages.cfm?forum=15&topic=2631 And Allaah knows best.
As salaamoe alaykoem wa rahmatullaahi wa baarakatuh,
Djazaakum Allaahu khayraan for this most beneficial post. May Allaah Grant us more benefits and increase our ilm.
Is there an article available about disapproved or disliked names, or even about prohibited names?
If so, can you please provide a link? If not, how about for example the names Aya (Ayah etc) or Lina (Leena etc) or Deen (Dean etc)?
Djazaakum Allaahu khayraan wa salaamoe alaykoem wa rahmatullaah.
Assalaamu aleikum wa rahmatullah ya Ustadh Moosaa. May Allah be good to you.
Do you know if the names Jennah or Ayah are considered too lofty for someone to name their child with?
Jazakallahu khaira.
Assalaam aleikum,
What about the name Aleem? Is it permissible or not? Jazak Allah Khairan.
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. Yes, people may be referred to as ‘Aleem. See: Quran 12:76, which means: “And above every possesser of knowledge is an ‘aleem (someone of knowledge)” along with the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer which includes the statement of al-Hasan al-Basree: ليس عالم إلا فوقه عالم، حتى ينتهي إلى الله “There is no scholar except that another scholar has more knowledge than him, until that reaches up to Allah (being more knowledgeable than anyone).” And Allaah knows best.
Assalaamu’alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu..
Is the name ‘rahmaan’, ‘razzaaq’, etc. allowed for a person without using ‘al’?
When a name is exclusive to Allaah, then it is not used for the Creation with or without “AL”. Yet, when a name is allowed for the creation, then they may use the name without “AL” or with “AL” in limited scenarios of reference, not as a title in an absolute way. Like: A generous man arrived yesterday (جاء رجل كريم بالأمس), and then someone says: Where is THE KAREEM (AL-KAREEM) today? (أين الكريم اليوم) In such a usage, the ALIF-LAAM definite article does not mean THE ABSOLUTELY GENEROUS ONE, rather it means: THAT generous man that we were talking about. And Allaah knows best.
Assalaamu’alaikum
I was going through an explanation of tawheed Al asma wa sifat and I’m abit confused because if we are to single out Allaah with His names then what does that mean in regards to the creation using some of His names (which are not exclusive to Him)?
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. When you refer to someone as Raheem (merciful), it is permissible, however you are describing him with flawed human mercy. So he is not Ar-Raheem, THE EVER MERCIFUL, so ALIF-LAAM is not used in a context of absoluteness. You may use the ALIF-LAAM prefix for what is called ‘ahd (previous reference), like: أين الرجل الرحيم الذي كان هنا؟ “Where is THE RAHEEM (that merciful man) who was here before?” (Not that his mercy is perfect or anything, or that he is “THE MERCIFUL ONE” whose mercy is beyond all others.) So only Allah is AR-RAHEEM, THE EVER MERCIFUL, whose Mercy is perfect and complete, in coinciding with His perfect Wisdom. No one’s mercy resembles this. Only Allah is described like this, so He is singled out with this Name, with this understanding and meaning. And Allah knows best.