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:

assalamualaikum,
i have a doubt regarding names

can we keep names of angels .like -malik,jibreel,munkar,nakir.etc

other doubt is that i would like to know the meaning of the names of the prophets

mentioned in the QUR`AN. and the meaning of names of the angles mentioned inside the QUR`AN and the hadith
ALLAH HAFIZ  

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Answer:

Meaning of the names of the Prophets

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.

Your Question: i have a doubt regarding names

Islam has permitted the believers to assign any good name for their children they wish, and there is absolutely no condition in Islam that one has to assign their children an Islamic or Arabic name. If one wishes and pleases, one may even assign a name in their own language, provided:

1. The name does not denote disbelief or shirk (eg. Ram, Ramdas, etc.)
2. The name does not have an evil meaning (liar, insane, etc.)

Amongst the best and recommended names one may assign their children are:

1. Names which profess one’s absolute slavery to their Lord Most High ( Abd-Allah, Abdur-Rahmaan, Abdus-Shukoor, etc.)
2. Names of the Prophets of Allah (Adam, Nuh, Ibraheem, Mohamed, etc.)
3. Names of the noble Companions (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthmaan, Ali, etc.)
4. or any term found in the Quran or the Arabic language which has a good meaning (Aabid, Saajid, Taahir, etc.)

Your Question: can we keep names of angels .like -malik,jibreel,munkar,nakir.etc

Although there is absolutely no prohibition or restriction in Islam in naming children after the names of the Angels of Allah, there is a fear that some people might ridicule the person because of his name aligned to an Angel of Allah.

For example, if one were to name someone Jibrael, some ignorant ones might say whenever they see him whether he has brought a new Revelation, etc. Or if one were to name their child say Munkar or Nakeer, the ignorant would ridicule them by saying that what is the ‘punishment of the day’….etc.

But if one wishes to name their children by the names of the Angels of Allah, there is absolutely no restriction or prohibition in Islamic Law.

Your Question: i would like to know the meaning of the names of the prophets mentioned in the QUR`AN.

Beloved brother, all of the Prophets save four mentioned in the Glorious Quran by name were non-Arabs and although their names might have some meaning in the native language of the community they were sent to, their names have no assigned meaning in the Arabic language.

The four Prophets of Allah who were sent to the Arabs and mentioned in the Quran by name are:

1. Saleh: virtuous, devout.
2. Shuaib: diminutive
3. Ismail: Prophet Ibraheem (a.s.) spoke the Syriac language, and he named his son Ismail in the Syriac language which means ‘Hear and grant my prayer O Allah’.
4. Mohamed: One who is praised, commendable.

Your Question: and the meaning of names of the angles mentioned inside the QUR`AN and the hadith.

Although a few Angels of Allah are mentioned by name in the Quran and the Sunnah, to the best of our knowledge, their names do not have any assigned meanings in the Arabic language.

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