I have a friend who named his son ‘Ahmad’. Very nice name and very cute boy. However, my friend now says that it was perhaps not the best of the ideas cz “it is forbidden” to scold anyone whose name is Ahmad (or any other name of a Prophet or a respected personality). I was never too sure about this and told him that ‘Ahmad’ is a beautiful name and at the same time he should treat his boy like a boy and rear him in a normal manner.
So, today while I was reading the new answers on Islam Q&A, came across this ruling. Sharing it for those who are interested.
The fact that the child is called after a Prophet or a Sahaabi does not mean that he cannot be scolded or rebuked.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz was asked about the soundness of the hadeeth, “Whoever is called Muhammad should not be beaten or insulted.”
He said: This hadeeth is fabricated and falsely attributed to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and it has no basis in the pure Sunnah. The same applies to the saying, “Whoever is called Muhammad under the protection of Muhammad and his name will bring him close to Paradise.” The same applies to those who say, “Whoever is called Muhammad his household will have such and such…” All of these reports have no sound basis. What matters is following Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), not being called by his name. How many of those who are called Muhammad are evil, because they do not follow Muhammad or implement his sharee’ah. Names do not purify people; what purifies them is their righteous deeds and their fear of Allaah. So whoever is called Ahmad or Muhammad or Abu’l-Qaasim and is a kaafir or an evildoer will not benefit from his name. Rather what each person must do is fear Allaah and strive to obey Allaah and adhere to the sharee’ah of Allaah with which He sent His Prophet Muhammad. This is what will benefit him, and this is the way to salvation. As for names without acting in accordance with sharee’ah, they have nothing to do with salvation or punishment.
I think naming your kid with any of the 99 names of prophet Mohammad :saw: is just a beautiful thing to do. And not naming your child because you are afraid that your child will be cursed at some point is just rubbish.
Your friend should be told that it is recommended to name your child after the names of prophet Mohammad :saw:.
-Salman
On second thoughts… There is nothing wrong with the way he is thinking. Its all about ‘Niyaat’, though he is wrong but he is doing it out of the respect of prophet Mohammad :saw:. He is not aware of the fact that he is techinicaly worng, indeed he will NOT be held responsible for it because his niyaat is to respect the name of prophet mohammad :saw:.
wrong is wrong…
people kissing their thumbs and holding them to their eyes during the adhaan on hearing the propeht’s (saw) name, also do it out of respect…
but its wrong and should be avoided…
muhammad (saw) is not to be idolized in any form…
wrong is wrong....
people kissing their thumbs and holding them to their eyes during the adhaan on hearing the propeht's (saw) name, also do it out of respect....
but its wrong and should be avoided....
muhammad (saw) is not to be idolized in any form....
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Agreed, but didn't you hear that old story of I fink it was Hazrat Musa (a.s) when this shepherd who newly accepted the Ahle-kitaab of that time was talking like this about Allah s.w.t :
" Aye Allah tu mairaye pass Aaa, mein tujhaye Nehlaoun ga, Naye kapraye Phenaoun ga blah blah blah ".. Hazarat Musa stopped him with high temper that this is kufar what you are doing. Allah is not a body that you could say stuff like that.
Later Kaleem-ul-Allah ( I think indeed it was Hazara Mussa a.s correct me if I am wrong), when he talked to Allah s.w.t, Allah s.w.t asked him why you stopped that shepherd from praising ME.
Hazarat Musa a.s replied " He was talking nonsense about you how he should give you a bath and all when you are nooor".
Allah s.w.t told him to go back and tell him to carry on with his imagination as he told Hazarat Musa A.S that I liked the very innocent way he was loving me and caring for me. "Its not for you to decide how he should talk to me, I decide that".
Hazara Musa A.S had to go back and apologise from that shepherd.
I have heard that story long time ago, I can try to find references if you find the story a fake. But Yes I would agree with what you have to say that wrong is wrong no matter what form it is in. But it depends solely on case-to-case basis of what you are doing wrong.
-Salman
Regardless how authentic the story might be, I am only saying there are SOME actions such as the above story same as that friends of Faisal who’s thought was to protect prophets mohammad :saw: name and not get it cursed, Allah knows better that he will be rewarded for such great Niyaat, but on the other side he might be punished for putting such a great name and replacing with some other…
-Salman
Ps, The point of the story was to tell you that, Niyaat of a person makes a HUGE differnce of the Amaal he does in life.
That was only whilst the Prophet (saw) was alive (it wasn't allowed to combine the name Muhammad with the qunya Abul Qasim)... after his passing away you can combine Muhammad with Abul Qasim...
Prohibition: "Name with my name but do not give my kunya."
Permission: Ali (ra) asked: "O Messenger of Allah, if a son is born to me after your passing away, may I give him your name and your kunya?" The Prophet (saw) replied: "Yes."
Both hadith are in Sunan Abu Dawud if memory serves me right... but i can check for you (unless someone else here knows)...
I told a female friend of mine that it is compolsory for ladies to cover thier head and she quoted the same hadith. I hope you are not inappropriately using it.
It is not regardless my brother. If it is not authentic you are lying.
Another brother had already cleared this point but since you write again I would like to explain again:
You see if he intended to respect the name he should have first tried to find out what does the Islam[Quran & Sunnah] say abou it. To tell you the truth if it was me, I would have tried to look into the matter before I named my child. However since once he has done it then he should look for the islamic ruling. You see Islam is complete way of living. Why dont you consult Quran & Sunnha? And once you take the step in ignorance you say that you had respect in heart that the ‘deeds depend on intention’.
If he respects Muhammad [s] ask him to see Muhammad [s] rulling and follow it as a follower of Muhammad [s]. What respect is this that you do what you think is good without even knowing what did the messenger of Allah [swt] has said about it?
Point one is that you are yourself doubtful about the authenticity of the story and you are basing your argument on that. Suppose if the story is not true, what then?
Point two: last para of my above writing.
Perhaps the father formed the opinion that it is "forbidden to scold anyone" named Ahmad only after he'd already named his son... he might not have held this view previously... maybe someone convinced him - rightly or wrongly – later on... he shouldn't be blamed...
And even if he named his son knowing the forbiddance... again, make an excuse for him... perhaps he genuinely believed that particular view...
Sometimes some things become so common... such as naming a son Muhammad in some societies in the hope of reward... that no one really questions it... hopefully Allah will reward them for their sincerity... they didn't deliberately defy His command...
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
Perhaps the father formed the opinion that it is "forbidden to scold anyone" named Ahmad only after he'd already named his son... he might not have held this view previously... maybe someone convinced him - rightly or wrongly – later on... he shouldn't be blamed...
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suppose s'one is cinvinced rightly or wrongly that you can have your back facing Ka'aba while praying. Would that justfy his wrong doing. No it would not. Quran says:Ask the people of knowledge if you do not know. [an-Nahl 16:43]
Suppose you dont do that. Are you not disobbeying Allah [swt]?
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
And even if he named his son knowing the forbiddance... again, make an excuse for him... perhaps he genuinely believed that particular view...
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You see beliveing in s'thing that has no evidence in Islam is wrong. That is what I'm trying to tell you from the very begining.
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
Sometimes some things become so common... such as naming a son Muhammad in some societies in the hope of reward... that no one really questions it... hopefully Allah will reward them for their sincerity... they didn't deliberately defy His command...
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What you are reffering to is innovation. And it is a sin.
suppose s'one is cinvinced rightly or wrongly that you can have your back facing Ka'aba while praying. Would that justfy his wrong doing.
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He may be excused because he genuinely believed what he was doing was right... everyone makes mistakes... don't be so hasty in criticising people for making unintentional errors... if the evidence is presented to him and he rejects it, that's a different matter...
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What you are reffering to is innovation. And it is a sin.
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I'm talking about someone making a genuine mistake, sincerely believing that what he is doing is correct according to Islam... such a person is neither a sinner nor an innovator... he is excused by his ignorance and genuine error as in the hadith...
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
He may be excused because he genuinely believed what he was doing was right... everyone makes mistakes... don't be so hasty in criticising people for making unintentional errors... if the evidence is presented to him and he rejects it, that's a different matter...
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You see my brother I'm no one to criticise any one. I'm an ignorant my self. I try to look at things from Islamic prospective.
I dont know which part of the world you live in but where I live you can find people doing 'sajda' to the graves and asking for help from the dead. You see they 'genuinely believe' what they are doing is right. Is there act justified. And point two is that while you keep on doing this you develop a state of mind where you dont care about the evidence. Come to me I'll take you to people who are worshipping the graves try to explain things to me. Not all five fingures are equal but you see you have to stop things as they start. And what is wrong is wrong. And who does wrong should accept that he had done wrong.
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
I'm talking about someone making a genuine mistake, sincerely believing that what he is doing is correct according to Islam... such a person is neither a sinner nor an innovator...
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Let us not pass judgements as it is Allah [swt] who decides who is a sinner or who is not a sinner. Point two the grave worshipers thing they are correct according to islam are they not sinner in that case?
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
he is excused by his ignorance and genuine error as in the hadith...
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I'll see the hadith inshaAllah. But if he didnt know then he should have gone to the people who know. You quoted it yourself in one of your posts why dont you quote it here as well?
I dont know which part of the world you live in but where I live you can find people doing 'sajda' to the graves and asking for help from the dead. You see they 'genuinely believe' what they are doing is right. Is there act justified.
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You've gone from a discussion about a father naming his son - and the excuses we might make for such an individual - to examples of people worshipping graves!!! There are some things known in Islam by necessity... namely, no Muslim has any real excuse for not knowing such things... for example a Muslim says i didn't know there was only One God or i didn't know we couldn't worship other things along with Allah... he has little excuse... however, comparing this with a father perhaps making a mistake in naming his son is ridiculous to say the least... try to stay focused…
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I'll see the hadith inshaAllah. But if he didnt know then he should have gone to the people who know.
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You sound confused... you and I were discussing a hypothetical wherein the individual is someone who is "convinced" that what they are doing is correct according to Islam... so the question of him "not knowing" is irrelevant...
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
You've gone from a discussion about a father naming his son - and the excuses we might make for such an individual - to examples of people worshipping graves!!! There are some things known in Islam by necessity... namely, no Muslim has any real excuse for not knowing such things... for example a Muslim says i didn't know there was only One God or i didn't know we couldn't worship other things along with Allah... he has little excuse... however, comparing this with a father perhaps making a mistake in naming his son is ridiculous to say the least... try to stay focused…
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I just tried to elaborate the example in which s'one doing s'thing because he thinks it is part of islam doesnt meant that what he is doing is right.
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*Originally posted by gupguppy: *
You sound confused... you and I were discussing a hypothetical wherein the individual is someone who is "convinced" that what they are doing is correct according to Islam... so the question of him "not knowing" is irrelevant...
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okay, I'm confused. Your friend did s'thing very good. : )
I just tried to elaborate the example in which s'one doing s'thing because he thinks it is part of islam doesnt meant that what he is doing is right.
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