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:

Assalamwalekum !!! Dear brother, I want to know whether name can effect baby`s life or future? how shall we decide a name of our new born baby, is there any technique to decide the first letter of name like closing eyes and opening Quran sharif or something like that ? We have decided our baby boy name as Muhammed Sufiyan but some people are objecting on this name. As far as I know Sufiyan was one of the greatest companion of our beloved prophet Muhammed S.A.W but still some people object on this name because our child is suffering from different kind of problems since his birth, is it the effect of his name ? can we keep our boy name as Sufiyan ?

Kindly guide us.

Jazakallah

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Answer:

Baby name Sufyan

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: ….I want to know whether name can effect baby`s life or future?

The name assigned to a person does not necessarily effect the baby’s life or future, but it is the right of a baby born to believing parents that its parents choose and assign a decent and honorable name for their offspring.

How shall we decide a name of our new born baby, is there any technique to decide the first letter of name like closing eyes and opening Quran sharif or something like that ?

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.

There is absolutely no special ‘technique’ in choosing a name for a child, especially those like closing one’s eyes, or open the Glorious Quran, etc. (as these would constitute a manifest form of ‘bida’!!!). One is at liberty to choose any name from the rich history of the believers, or any good honorable name one wills and pleases.

Your Question: …We have decided our baby boy name as Muhammed Sufiyan but some people are objecting on this name.

Muhammad: The literal meaning of the term ‘Muhammad’ means praiseworthy in the Arabic language and the significance of the name being associated with the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws) is absolutely undisputed.

Sufyan: The literal meaning of the term ‘Sufyan’ is walking quickly or a sand-storm. Historically, the name ‘Sufyan’ or ‘Abi-Sufyan’ was assigned to a leader of the Quraysh tribe, who was initially an enemy of Islam and the Prophet (saws), but at the conquest of Makkah by the Prophet (saws) in 8^th Hijra, Abi-Sufyan reverted to Islam and is indeed considered one amongst the companions of the Prophet (saws).

If indeed you have decided with the name Muhammad Sufyan, rest assured it is indeed a good and honorable name to be assigned to a believing offspring.

Your Question: …our child is suffering from different kind of problems since his birth, is it the effect of his name ? can we keep our boy name as Sufiyan ?

Respected brother, rest absolutely assured that the name ‘Sufyan’ is perfectly acceptable for a believing offspring. Whatever kinds of problems your beloved child might be experiencing since its birth, rest absolutely assured that it has got absolutely nothing to do with your choice of its name.

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