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:

We often keep nick names just to conceal identity of the person we are talking about. It creates a suspicion in others mind even when we are praising that person. This happens in a multi-lingual society like Saudi Arabia where you have lot of people belonging to different nations and speaking different languages. Is it correct to keep nick names? I also want to be true sometimes we also talk about the persons mistakes and failures as far as business is concern.

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Answer:

Nick names and backbiting

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 none 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: Is it correct to keep nick names?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 11:

11 O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (Indeed) doing wrong.

It is absolutely against the guidance of Islam and a sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah to appoint or call others by offensive or derogatory nicknames; or nicknames which are derived out of hatred, mockery, sarcasm, envy, jealousy, etc.

But there is absolutely no harm in assigning or calling another by a good nickname, a name which has been derived out of love and compassion, not out of hatred, or sarcasm, or mockery, etc.

For example, The Lord Most High has Himself assigned ‘nicknames’ for His Noble and Beloved Messenger (saws) like Muzammil and Mudatthir meaning one who is wrapped up in a cloth or blanket; or the nickname Prophet Mohamed (saws) assigned to his beloved cousin and son-in-law, Hadrat Ali (r.a.) by calling him Abu-Turab (literally meaning ‘father of dust’ or ‘one who lies upon dust’).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.223 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

The most beloved names to Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) was ‘Abu Turab’, and he used to be pleased when we called him by it, for none named him Abu Turab (for the first time), but the Prophet (saws). Once Ali got angry with (his wife) Fatimah, and went out (of his house) and slept near a wall in the mosque. The Prophet (saws) came searching for him, and someone said, "He is there, lying near the wall." The Prophet (saws) came to Ali while his ('Ali's) back was covered with dust. The Prophet (saws) started removing the dust from his back, saying, "Get up, O Abu Turab!, Get up, O Abu Turab!"

It is only the assigning and calling of offensive or derogatory nicknames which has been absolutely forbidden by Allah Subhanah; but if one assigns or calls another by a good nickname in their love, compassion, and honor for their brother-in-faith, there is absolutely no harm.

Your Question: I also want to be true sometimes we also talk about the persons mistakes and failures as far as business is concern. 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 12:

12 O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible), for suspicion in some cases is a sin: and spy not on each other, nor speak ill of each other behind their backs. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay ye would abhor it...but fear Allah: for Allah is Oft-Returning Most Merciful.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4862 Narrated by AbuBarzah al-Aslami

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘O community of people, who believed by their tongue, and belief did not enter their hearts, do not back-bite Muslims, and do not search for their faults, for if anyone searches for their faults, Allah will search for his fault, and if Allah searches for the fault of anyone, He disgraces him in his house!’

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4860 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘When I was taken up to heaven I passed by people who had nails of copper and were scratching their faces and their breasts.’ I asked: ‘Who are these people, O Jibrael?’ He replied: ‘They are those who were given to back biting and who aspersed people's honour.’

Sahih Muslim HadithHadith 6265 Narrated byAbuHurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘Do you know what is backbiting?’ They (the Companions) said: ‘Allah and His Messenger (saws) know best. Thereupon he (the Prophet (saws)) said: ‘Backbiting implies your talking about your brother (behind his back) in a manner which he does not like.’ It was said to him: ‘What is your opinion about this that if I actually find (that failing) in my brother which I made a mention of?’ He (saws) said: ‘If (that failing) is actually found (in him) what you assert, you in fact backbited him, and if that is not in him it is a slander!.’

To talk about an individual’s mistakes or fault behind his back to another, in a manner that if that individual was present amongst them, he would dislike it is back-biting, which is a sin and absolutely forbidden in Islam.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.107b

The Prophet (saws) said, "The atonement for backbiting is to pray for forgiveness of the person who was slandered and to say, 'O Allah, forgive us and him'."

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