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 Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh Brother,

I am a new muslim, Alhamdullilah with Allah Subhanah's guidance my wife is now a muslim also. Bro. i have a new born baby boy and i named him Ahmed Jibraeel. I want to know if it is right to give him a name after the prophet (saws) and angel Jibraeel because my brother-in-law have ask someone and told him that muslim usually don't mixed the name of the prophet (saws) and angel's?Actually i had given that name already to the hospital to make him the birth certificate.could you pls. enlightened me about this matter? thnks and As Salamu Aleikum...

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Answer:

Names Ahmed Jibrael appropriate

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: …..Bro. i have a new born baby boy and i named him Ahmed Jibraeel. I want to know if it is right to give him a name after the prophet (saws) and angel Jibraeel

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1.110 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Name yourselves with my name (use my name; ie. Mohamed and/or Ahmad) but do not name yourselves with my ‘Kunya-name’ (i.e. Abul Qasim (the father of Qasim)).”

Respected brother in Islam, there is absolutely no harm or restriction in Islam in naming one’s children from the names of one of the many Prophets or the Angels of Allah Subhanah. The names ‘Ahmad’ and ‘Jibrael’ are appropriate to be assigned to one’s off-spring, if one wishes to do so.

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