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:

As salam,

While reading aa book on seerat-e-rasool (pbuh) I came across the dynamic sahaba, Musab Bin Umair (ra). I was impresssed by his contribution and devotion. So I made up my mind to Name My son Musab if Allah Awards me so. But later on I searched meaning of Musab and found to be something `like one who suffers`; It is famous to have teachings of Islam to give name one that has good meaning. so now I am confused what to do? should I name Musab or not? (I have a time of around one month to decide). Can we have some derivatives of this name that will keep name Musab but still change its meaning? 

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Answer:

Name musaib bin umair

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.

A name assigned to each individual is no more than a sign or recognition of that person; and there is absolutely no obligation or compulsion in Shariah that a believer is obliged or required to keep a ‘traditional’ Islamic or ‘muslim’ name. One is at complete liberty to assign any good wholesome name to their off-spring in absolutely any language they will or please.

The only names which Islam prohibits from assigning to a believer are names which connote or denote polytheism or disbelief (Abdul-Lat, Abdul-Uzza, (slaves of the pagan gods like Lat and Uzza, etc.) or names like Ramdas (slave of the Hindu god Ram), etc.; or names which have an inherit evil or vile meaning.

Other than names which connote polytheism and disbelief, or names which have an inherently evil meaning….Islam has allowed the believers the complete freedom to chose and assign any good wholesome name in any language they will and please.

Your Question: should I name Musab or not?

What can one say about the qualities and the piety of the noble companion of the Prophet (saws), martyr in the Cause of Allah in the Battle of Uhud, Hadrat Musab ibn Umair (r.a.)!

Beloved brother in Islam, even if as you say, the literal meaning of the term ‘Musab’ were to mean ‘one who suffers’….the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) did not see reason to change this name of his noble and beloved companion, Musab ibn Umair (r.a.)…..thus rest absolutely assured that it is a perfectly acceptable and a good name to be assigned to a believer.

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