Naming your child

7:0:13

2018-11-19

1478

What you name is your child is the first huge responsibility you have as a parent.

That name will be stuck with him or her forever - well some countries do allow a name change but even then his original name is still there.

Most people give their children religious names, named after saints, prophets, angels or noblemen like Michael, John, Noah, Jacob, or the most common name in the world Muhammad.

Others choose to name the newborn after celebrities or athletes or just people they admire.

Now some names are very meaningful and nice. However in some societies in today’s world, there are people with names that when you hear, you’d say their parents just didn’t really care.

Now how important is the name?

Let’s keep in mind that the names we choose for our children are what recognizes our family in society.

If the name is pleasant the person will be well received by the people. However if not, that person will not get good attention from others and sometimes even they might ridicule them.

Therefore Islam requires the parents to take good care in selecting good names for their children.

The Holy Prophet has said:

“It is the responsibility of every father to choose a good name for his child."

He also says:

“The children have three rights over their fathers. The first is that they are given good names. Secondly, they are provided good education; and lastly, they help them to select good spouses."

Now one thing to ponder upon is the fact that the naming is somehow influenced by the nature of the parents.

This will have a definite impact on the nature and thinking of the child when he grows up.

The Holy Prophet has said:

“Keep good names, because on the Day of Judgment you will be called by these names only. It will be proclaimed, ‘so-and-so son of so-and-so’ rise and get associated with your light or ‘So-and-so, son of so-and-so’ rise there is no light for you!’”

A responsible and devoted Muslim should take every opportunity to perpetuate the names of the great personalities of Islam and one of such acts is to name his children after them.

Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Hussain, Abul Fadhl, Ali Akbar, Hur, Qasim, Hamza, Ja’afer, Abu Dhar, Ammar are amongst the names which enliven the spirit to remember the valiant acts of the great persons and encourage the coming generations to groom themselves on those models.

They asked Imam Hussein, “Why all your boys are named Ali?”

The Imam replied, “I swear if I was given one thousand boys, I would name them all Ali.”

”Beware of the Satan When he hears that someone is called as Mohammed and Ali, he melts in such a way as the lead melts and when he hears that someone is named after one of our enemies he is overwhelmed with happiness." (Wasail al-shiah, p. 127)

The Holy Prophet attached so much importance to names that if he did not like the name of any companion or a place, he would immediately change the name. He changed the name of Abd al Shams to Abd al Wahab. He named Abd al Uzza ( the slave of Uzza the idol) to Abd Allah. Abd al Haris (the tiger) to Abd ar Rahman and Abd al Ka’aba to Abd Allah.