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:

My name is zeeshan and im facing problems no matter how much i try. elders have suggested my name `zeeshan` is not good for me and causing stopages in my life. i know what my name means although iam not vien person i think my name means something that allah is not pleased with. Could you please help me with this situation tell me if i should change my name and if so what woulod be good names for me?

Jazak Allah

(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:

Change Name

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.

The only names which Islam prohibits from assigning to a believer are names which connote or denote polytheism or disbelief (eg. 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.

A name assigned to each individual is no more than a sign or recognition of that person; and the name itself has absolutely no bearing or relation to what happens or does not happen to that person.

We absolutely assure you in the Blessed Name of Allah Subhanah that afflictions and trials do not befall an individual because of the ‘quality’ of one’s assigned name….The literal meaning of your assigned name ‘Zeeshan’ is one who is on a high standard, and is an absolutely acceptable name in Islam….. and there is absolutely no need or reason to change it.

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