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 Sir(s),

I have been following your forum for one year now by virtue of your newsletter reaching me by email. Anyway its really a very good thing to devote once`s time and efforts in `Khidmat-e-Khalq` I thank Allah that he has showed us a path through your forum.

My question is:

1. Can we as Muslims keep names that are not from the Holy Qur`an, or basically speaking, from Arabic. Like they are from Hindi or English language ? Is it permissible in Islam ?

2. One of my colleagues at work was telling me about a certain document which was written by some Muslim in which the author has written that Prophet Isa`a ( Alaihi Salam ) had a father in contradiction to the norm that the birth of Prophet Isa`a was a miracle of Allah and His sign to Mankind. In the document and in support of his theory (???) he has quoted many Aya`ahs from the Holy Qur`an to justify his cause. I request you to comment on this. If you want I can forward you the document in which this gentleman has discussed this topic.

Thanking you for your help in guiding us to the right path.

Your brother

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Birth of Prophet Jesus

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.

Q-1: Can we as Muslims keep names that are not from the Holy Qur`an, or basically speaking, from Arabic. Like they are from Hindi or English language ? Is it permissible in Islam ?

There is absolutely no obligation in Islam for a believer to keep his name from the Holy Quran or even in the Arabic language, if one does not wish to do so. Allah Subhanah does not Judge a person because of what language his name was kept in, but rather the Justice and Mercy of the Lord will depend on the deeds a person does in his test of life.

If a believer wishes to keep his name in the language of his choice, there is absolutely no harm; provided two conditions are met:

The name should not have a connotation of ‘shirk’ or the association of any deity with Allah Subhanah. (eg. Ramdas, Bhagwandas, etc.).

The name should not have an evil meaning.

If the above two conditions are met, it is permissible for a believer to keep a name in any language of his choice, if he wishes to do so.

Q-2: One of my colleagues at work was telling me about a certain document which was written by some Muslim in which the author has written that Prophet Isa`a ( Alaihi Salam ) had a father in contradiction to the norm that the birth of Prophet Isa`a was a miracle of Allah and His sign to Mankind. In the document and in support of his theory (???) he has quoted many Aya`ahs from the Holy Qur`an to justify his cause. I request you to comment on this.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imran verses 45-47:

45 Behold! The Angels said "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.

46 "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth; when He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it `Be' and it is!”

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 19 Surah Maryam verses 19-34:

19 He (the Angel) said: "Nay! I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son."

20 She (Mary) said: "How shall I have a son seeing that no man has touched me and I am not unchaste?"

21 He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) Decreed."

22 So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place.

23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! Would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!"

24 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-free): "Grieve not! For thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee;

25 "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee.

26 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man say `I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.'"

27 At length she brought the (babe Jesus) to her people carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!

28 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!"

29 But she pointed to the babe (Jesus). They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?"

30 He (Jesus) said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me Revelation and made me a Prophet;

31 "And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live;

32 "(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable;

33 "So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!

34 Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a Statement of Truth about which they (vainly) dispute.

In light of the above absolutely crystal clear Aayahs of the Quran regarding the miraculous birth of Prophet Isa (a.s.), we honestly cannot understand how someone can claim to be a believer in Allah and the Last Day and deny the Truth that Prophet Isa (a.s.) was miraculously born to Maryam without any male intervention.

It is the ardent belief of every believer who believes in Allah and His Last Messenger (saws), that Prophet Isa (a.s.) was born miraculously to Maryam without any male intervention as a Sign unto mankind from the Lord All-Mighty; and the Quran absolutely confirms this belief without an iota of a doubt whatsoever.

The Christians believe in this Truth, the Muslims believe in this Truth; it was only the Jews who denied and continue to deny this truth and accuse Maryam, the mother of Prophet Isa (a.s.) of being unchaste.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verses 59-63:

59 This similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam (both were a Word from Allah Subhanah and both were born without a father): He created him (Adam) from dust then said to him: "Be" and he was!

60 The Truth (comes) from Allah alone; so be not of those who doubt.

61 If anyone disputes in this matter with thee now after (full) knowledge hath come to thee say: "Come! Let us gather together our sons and your sons our women and your women ourselves and yourselves: then let us earnestly pray and invoke the curse of Allah on those who lie!"

62 This is the true account: there is no god except Allah; and Allah He is indeed the Exalted in Power the Wise.

63 But if they turn back Allah hath full knowledge of those who do mischief.

Your Statement: In the document and in support of his theory (???) he has quoted many Aya`ahs from the Holy Qur`an to justify his cause. If you want I can forward you the document in which this gentleman has discussed this topic.

We would sincerely appreciate your effort if you could kindly send us that document, so that we can address a reply to the brother who has put his own faith on trial and erroneously believes in the Jewish accusation that Prophet Isa (a.s.), son of Maryam, was born through male intervention.

Allah is our witness, there is not one Aayah in the Book of Truth, The Al-Quran, which even remotely suggests that Prophet Isa (a.s.) was born through male intervention; but rather the Quran confirms the belief of our Christian brethren who believe that Prophet Isa (a.s.) was born miraculously to Maryam without any male intervention whatsoever. He was but a Word (Be!) from Allah Subhanah, and a Sign unto mankind from the Lord of the Worlds.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan