Toggle above to switch between keyword search and direct hadith lookup
سنن ابن ماجه
Ibn Majah
كتاب الأدبChapters on Etiquette
بَابُ : تَغْيِيرِ الأَسْمَاءِChapter: Changing Names
Hadith 3732
اُردوEn
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ , حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ , عَنْ شُعْبَةَ , عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ , قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ أَبَا رَافِعٍ يُحَدِّثُ , عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ , أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ كَانَ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةَ , فَقِيلَ لَهَا تُزَكِّي نَفْسَهَا , " فَسَمَّاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ زَيْنَبَ " .
´It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that:` "Zainab used to be called "Barrah" (good), and it was said that she was praising herself. So the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) changed her name to Zainab."
Related hadith on this topic
Brief Explanation
1؎: The name of Umm al-Mu’minin Juwayriyyah radi Allahu anha was also previously Barrah, so the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed her name to Juwayriyyah. This is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and it is incumbent upon every person that if their parents or family members, out of ignorance, gave them a bad name in childhood, then when they grow up and attain understanding, they should change that name.
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
➊ In a good name, there is always an aspect of praise, but in some names, this is more apparent. It is better to avoid such names.
➋ "Zaynab" is the name of a type of fragrant plant.
➊ In a good name, there is always an aspect of praise, but in some names, this is more apparent. It is better to avoid such names.
➋ "Zaynab" is the name of a type of fragrant plant.
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 3732
Maulana Dawood Raz
Hadith Commentary:
Some people have said that this name was given to Zaynab bint Jahsh, the Mother of the Believers.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has narrated in *Al-Adab Al-Mufrad* that the previous name of Juwayriyyah was also Barrah, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed it to Juwayriyyah.
The word "Barrah" means "very pious" or "very righteous."
This was not liked by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam because it carried a hint of self-praise.
The word "Zaynab" means "a woman of stout body."
Zaynab radi Allahu anha was indeed aptly named.
Some people have said that this name was given to Zaynab bint Jahsh, the Mother of the Believers.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has narrated in *Al-Adab Al-Mufrad* that the previous name of Juwayriyyah was also Barrah, then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed it to Juwayriyyah.
The word "Barrah" means "very pious" or "very righteous."
This was not liked by the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam because it carried a hint of self-praise.
The word "Zaynab" means "a woman of stout body."
Zaynab radi Allahu anha was indeed aptly named.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 6192
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
It is possible that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed the name of Zaynab bint Jahsh (radi Allahu anha), and it is also possible that this refers to Zaynab bint Abi Salamah (radi Allahu anha), as is explicitly mentioned in some narrations.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5609(2142))
The name of Juwayriyyah (radi Allahu anha) was also Barrah.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed her name to Juwayriyyah, and he disliked that it be said:
“They have gone to Barrah.”
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5606(2140))
The name of Maymunah (radi Allahu anha) was also Barrah, so the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) named her Maymunah.
(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith: 832)
One of the daughters of Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was named Asiyah, so the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) named her Jamilah.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5605(2139))
In any case, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed the names of many male and female Companions, the list of which can be seen in the books of hadith.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Adab, Hadith: 4956)
It is possible that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed the name of Zaynab bint Jahsh (radi Allahu anha), and it is also possible that this refers to Zaynab bint Abi Salamah (radi Allahu anha), as is explicitly mentioned in some narrations.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5609(2142))
The name of Juwayriyyah (radi Allahu anha) was also Barrah.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed her name to Juwayriyyah, and he disliked that it be said:
“They have gone to Barrah.”
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5606(2140))
The name of Maymunah (radi Allahu anha) was also Barrah, so the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) named her Maymunah.
(Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Hadith: 832)
One of the daughters of Umar (radi Allahu anhu) was named Asiyah, so the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) named her Jamilah.
(Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Hadith: 5605(2139))
In any case, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) changed the names of many male and female Companions, the list of which can be seen in the books of hadith.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Al-Adab, Hadith: 4956)
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 6192
Shaykh Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi
Hadith Commentary:
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that the lifestyle, manner of living, and clothing of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam were like those of ordinary companions. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not have any specific or distinctive clothing, nor did gatekeepers sit at his door like the chiefs of the world. Therefore, someone unfamiliar could not recognize the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Benefits and Issues:
From this hadith, it is understood that the lifestyle, manner of living, and clothing of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam were like those of ordinary companions. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not have any specific or distinctive clothing, nor did gatekeepers sit at his door like the chiefs of the world. Therefore, someone unfamiliar could not recognize the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Source: Tuhfat al-Muslim: Commentary on Sahih Muslim, Page: 2141
