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I have seen muslims changing thier children`s name when something bad happens to the child

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother, Assalamualaikum


I have seen muslims changing thier children`s name when something bad happens to the child or the child behaves abnormally or sometime when the child is suffering from prolonged sickness.

Is there any thing like changing the name will make things better in Islam ? What if the names are like Muhammad, Khadija or Ayesha. I personally feel that these names are the best in the world. Please comment. 

 

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Answer:

 

Change names when evil happens

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Beloved brother in Islam, a name is no more than an appointed form of recognition of a said person and the name by itself has absolutely no power or ability to change or influence ones characteristics, habits, or conditions!

 

For example, ‘Salmaan’ (Al-Farsi) was the name of one of the noble companions of the Noble Prophet (saws), whose belief and sacrifices for Allah and His deen were so accepted that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would say about this noble companion:

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘Salmaan (Al-Farsi) is from amongst my ‘ahlal-bayt’ (my household)’

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 6225 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Paradise is desirous of three people: Ali (ibn Abi Taalib), Ammar (bin Yassir) and Salman (Al-Farsi)."

 

But when the same exact name is applied or appointed to Salman (Rushdie), the contemporary author who chose to blaspheme against Prophet Mohamed (saws) and Islam in his evil writings….it is not the name which is evil, but the person and his actions which are heinous!

 

Your Question: I have seen muslims changing thier children`s name when something bad happens to the child or the child behaves abnormally or sometime when the child is suffering from prolonged sickness. Is there any thing like changing the name will make things better in Islam ?

Both good and bad conditions are from Allah Subhanah, Who tests His slaves to see who does what in the given conditions ordained by Allah!

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran in Chapter 67 Surah Al Mulk verse 2:

He (Allah) created death and life that He may test you, to see which of you is the best in deeds.

 

If one is blessed with some good (health, wealth, life, etc.) from the Merciful Lord, then their test is whether they are grateful for this favor from their Lord or not; and when one is tested by the All Wise Lord with an affliction (loss of health, or wealth, or with sickness, etc.), their test is whether or not such a person is patient in the condition laid upon him by the Lord All Mighty.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:

155 Be sure We shall test you with something of fear, and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, or the fruits (of your toil); but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.

156 Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157 They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.

Abu Hurairah reports that Allah's Messenger (saws) said: "For every misfortune, illness, anxiety, grief, or hurt that afflicts a Muslim -even the hurt caused by the pricking of a thorn - Allah removes some of his sins."

 

Ibn Mas'ud said: "I visited the Messenger of Allah (saws) while he had a fever. I exclaimed: 'O Messenger of Allah (saws)! You have a high fever!' He (saws) said: 'My fever is as much as two among you [might have].' I asked: 'Is it because you have a double reward?' He (saws) replied: 'Yes, that is right. No Muslim is afflicted with any hurt, even if it is no more than the pricking of a thorn, but Allah wipes off his sins because of it, and his sins fall away from him as leaves fall from a tree'."

 

Beloved brother in Islam, know with absolutely conviction that one’s appointed or chosen name is not responsible for the good or evil that befalls a person. Yours and ours, and the condition of every animate and inanimate object in the Universe is at the Sole Discretion of the All Mighty, All Powerful Lord, and He Alone has Power over all things!

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 35 Surah Faatir verse 2:

2 What Allah out of His Mercy doth bestow on mankind, there is none can withhold: what He doth withhold, there is none can grant apart from Him: and He is the Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.

 

Thus my beloved brother, those who sincerely believe in Allah and the Last Day fear none and keep their hopes on none but their Lord, Allah Subhanah. If He Wills to cure or and help one amongst His slaves, none can withhold His Mercy and Grace; and if He Wills to test one with some trial and tribulation, none except He can remove that tribulation.

 

Is there any thing like changing the name will make things better in Islam ?

To believe that some name, or some object, or some thing can relieve one from the affliction or condition their Lord has inflicted upon them as a test is an absolutely baseless and unjustified superstition…and superstitions have absolutely no place in the pure and perfect way of life called Al-Islam.

 

A name is no more than an appointed form of recognition of a said person and the name of the person by itself has absolutely no power or ability to change or influence ones characteristics, habits, or conditions in the least!

 

The only reason one may change their name or the name of their children is if the appointed name has an inherently evil meaning…..for it does not befit a believer that he be recognized or called by an evil or degrading name.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4938 Narrated by Abu Wahb

The Prophet (saws) asked: ‘What is your name?’ He replied: ‘Hazn (meaning ‘rugged’).’ He (saws) said: ‘But you are Sahl (meaning easy or smooth.).’ The Prophet (saws) also changed the name of one called Harb (war) and called him Silm (peace). He (saws) changed the name al-Munba'ith (one who lies) and called him al-Mudtaji' (one who stands up). He (saws) changed the name of a land Afrah (barren) and called it Khadrah (green). He (saws) changed the name Shi'b ad-Dalalah (the mountain path of a stray), the name of a mountain path and called it Shi'b al-Huda (mountain path of guidance). He (saws) changed the name Banu az-Zinyah (children of fornication) and called them Banu ar-Rushdah (children of those who are on the right path), and changed the name Banu Mughwiyah (children of a woman who allures and goes astray), and called them Banu Rushdah (children of a woman who is on the right path).

 

The few names which the Prophet (saws) changed were not because of the condition or affliction the name itself would bring upon the person; but because of the inherent evil meaning of the term which was chosen or appointed as their name.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 

 

 

 

 


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