حَدَّثَنَا
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا
عَبْدُ الْرَّزَّاقِ ، عَنْ
مَعْمَرٍ ، عَنْ
الزُّهْرِيِّ ، عَنْ
سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيِّبِ ، عَنْ
أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ
جَدِّهِ ، أَنّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، قَالَ لَهُ : " مَا اسْمُكَ , قَالَ : حَزْنٌ , قَالَ : أَنْتَ سَهْلٌ , قَالَ : لَا ، السَّهْلُ يُوطَأُ وَيُمْتَهَنُ " , قَالَ سَعِيدٌ : فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُصِيبُنَا بَعْدَهُ حُزُونَةٌ ، قَالَ أبو داود : وَغَيَّرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اسْمَ الْعَاصِ ، وَعَزِيزٍ ، وَعَتَلَةَ ، وَشَيْطَانٍ ، وَالْحَكَمِ ، وَغُرَابٍ ، وَحُباب ، وَشِهَابٍ ، فَسَمَّاهُ : هِشَامًا ، وَسَمَّى حَرْبًا : سَلْمًا ، وَسَمَّى الْمُضْطَجِعَ : الْمُنْبَعِثَ ، وَأَرْضًا تُسَمَّى عَفِرَةَ سَمَّاهَا : خَضِرَةَ ، وَشَعْبَ الضَّلَالَةِ سَمَّاهُ : شَعْبَ الْهُدَى ، وَبَنُو الزِّنْيَةِ سَمَّاهُمْ : بَنِي الرِّشْدَةِ ، وَسَمَّى بَنِي مُغْوِيَةَ : بَنِي رِشْدَةَ , قَالَ أبو داود : تَرَكْتُ أَسَانِيدَهَا لِلِاخْتِصَارِ .
Saeed bin Musayyab told that his father said on the authority of his grandfather (Hazn): The Prophet ﷺ asked: What is your name? He replied: Hazn (rugged). He said: You are Sahl (smooth). He said: No, smooth is trodden upon and disgraced. Saeed said: I then thought that ruggedness would remain among us after it. Abu Dawud said: The Prophet ﷺ changed the names al-As, Aziz, Atalah, Shaytan, al-Hakam, Ghurab, Hubab, and Shihab and called him Hisham. He changed the name Harb (war) and called him Silm (peace). He changed the name al-Munba'ith (one who lies) and called him al-Mudtaji' (one who stands up). He changed the name of a land Afrah (barren) and called it Khadrah (green). He changed the name Shi'b ad-Dalalah (the mountain path of a stray), the name of a mountain path and called it Shi'b al-Huda (mountain path of guidance). He changed the name Banu az-Zinyah (children of fornication) and called them Banu ar-Rushdah (children of those who are on the right path), and changed the name Banu Mughwiyah (children of a woman who allures and goes astray), and called them Banu Rushdah (children of a woman who is on the right path). Abu Dawud said: I omitted the chains of these for the sake of brevity.
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
The meanings of the aforementioned names are as follows: ‘Aas means one who disobeys, one who does not accept.
‘Aziz means the Mighty and Dominant—this is a name of Allah ‘azza wa jall.
‘Atlah means harsh-natured.
Hakam means one who makes excellent judgments.
This is also a name of Allah ‘azza wa jall.
Ghurab refers to a crow, and it also carries the meaning of distance and separation.
A crow also eats impurities.
Habbab is a name of Shaytan, or of a snake, or it is also a type of snake.
Shihab refers to a flame of fire.
Harb means war or one who fights excessively.
Silm means one of peace and reconciliation.
Mudtaji‘ means one who lies down and sleeps.
Munba‘ith means one who wakes up and rises.
‘Afrah means barren land.
Khadirah means lush and verdant land.
Sha‘b al-Dalalah means a gorge that leads astray.
Sha‘b al-Huda means a gorge that leads to the straight path.
Banu al-Zaniyyah means the children of the immoral (fornicators).
Banu al-Rushdah means the children of the rightly guided.
Banu Maghwiyyah means the children of the misguided.
In the narration of Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah: Huzn said, “No, I will not change the name that my father has given me.”
Ibn al-Musayyib rahimahullah says: Thus, because (the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam’s suggestion was not accepted), the effects of sadness remained apparent among us.
Wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
See: (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Adab, Chapter: The Name al-Huzn, Hadith: 6190)
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 4956
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
This was the punishment for not accepting the advice of the Noble Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and for not preferring the name "Sahl" (meaning gentleness) in place of "Huzn" (meaning harshness, severity), and for not realizing that the effect of a name is certainly found in the one who is named.
It is understood from this that if parents give a child an inappropriate name, then that name should later be changed to a good name.
Most common people give their children incorrect or mixed-up names.
Whereas the best names are those in which servitude to Allah the Exalted is found, such as Abdullah, Abdur-Rahman, etc.
It is also permissible and correct to name after the names of the noble Prophets, such as Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Isa, Musa, and so on.
Some people give names containing shirk; these are very wrong, such as Abdun-Nabi, Abdur-Rasul, Ghulam Jilani, and so on.
"Sahl" is the opposite of "Huzn".
That is, soft and level ground.
From this, it is also derived that if a great person gives some beneficial advice, it is better to accept it, even if it goes against the customs of one's forefathers.
The ways and customs of parents are only to be followed as long as they are in accordance with Islamic Shariah; otherwise, blind imitation of parents is of no value.
Hazrat Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib was among the major Tabi'in.
He was born in the second year of the caliphate of Umar (radi Allahu anhu), and passed away in the caliphate of Walid ibn Abd al-Malik in 94 AH.
His father, Hazrat Musayyib radi Allahu anhu, was among those who pledged allegiance under the tree.
The name of Musayyib's father was Huzn.
Huzn ibn Dhibib ibn Amr al-Qurashi al-Makhzumi, who was among the Muhajirun, and in the time of Jahiliyyah was counted among the nobles of Quraysh.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6190
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Hazrat Huzn radi Allahu anhu did not accept the correct advice of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, for which he received the consequence that his grandson Ibn al-Musayyib narrates, because "Huzn" means: difficult and harsh, whereas "Sahl" means: gentleness and softness.
(2)
From this, it is understood that a name certainly has an effect on the one who is named.
If parents, out of ignorance, give an incorrect name, it can be changed later.
The best name is one in which servitude ('ubudiyyah) to Allah Almighty is attributed, and then names can also be given after the names of the noble Prophets alayhim as-salam.
It is necessary to avoid polytheistic and incorrect names.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6190