Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
سنن ابي داود
Abu Dawud
كتاب الأدبGeneral Behavior (Kitab Al-Adab)
باب فِي تَغْيِيرِ الاِسْمِ الْقَبِيحِChapter: Changing bad names.
Hadith 4959
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ ، قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ الرُّكَيْنَ يُحَدِّثُ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ ، قَالَ : " نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ نُسَمِّيَ رَقِيقَنَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْمَاءٍ : أَفْلَحَ ، وَيَسَارًا ، وَنَافِعًا ، وَرَبَاحًا " .
Samurah said: The Aposlte of Allah ﷺ forbade giving four names to our slaves: Aflah (successful), Yasar (wealth), Naf (beneficial) and Rabah (profit).
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation:
1: (Rabah) means one who brings benefit; (Aflah) means one who is successful; (Yasar) means ease; (Najeeh) means one who remains successful.
The reason for the prohibition of keeping these names is that if someone is asked:
“Is ‘Aflah’ here?” and the answer is given in the negative, then people, considering it a bad omen, will not regard it favorably.
1: (Rabah) means one who brings benefit; (Aflah) means one who is successful; (Yasar) means ease; (Najeeh) means one who remains successful.
The reason for the prohibition of keeping these names is that if someone is asked:
“Is ‘Aflah’ here?” and the answer is given in the negative, then people, considering it a bad omen, will not regard it favorably.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 2836
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
In one hadith, the wisdom behind this prohibition is stated: because you will say, "Is he present here?" If he is not there, then the one answering will say, "No." (Sahih Muslim)
The meaning is that if someone asks, "Is Nafi‘ at home?" and in response it is said, "He is not present," it is as if you have said that there is no beneficial person present in the house, that all are useless.
Even though the speaker's intention may not be this, outwardly it becomes an inappropriate statement. Therefore, giving such names is disliked (makruh), but not forbidden (haram).
In one hadith, the wisdom behind this prohibition is stated: because you will say, "Is he present here?" If he is not there, then the one answering will say, "No." (Sahih Muslim)
The meaning is that if someone asks, "Is Nafi‘ at home?" and in response it is said, "He is not present," it is as if you have said that there is no beneficial person present in the house, that all are useless.
Even though the speaker's intention may not be this, outwardly it becomes an inappropriate statement. Therefore, giving such names is disliked (makruh), but not forbidden (haram).
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3730
