Keeping good names, changing bad names, and the commands to speak briefly

① Sayyiduna Abu Darda رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

إنكم تدعون يوم القيامة بأسمائكم وأسماء آبائكم فأحسنوا أسماءكم.

“On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and the names of your forefathers, so keep your names good.”

② Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrate, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

أحب الأسماء إلى الله تعالى عبد الله وعبد الرحمن.

“The most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman.”

③ Sayyiduna Abu Wahb Jushmi رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:

تسموا بأسماء الأنبياء، وأحب الأسماء إلى الله تعالى عبد الله وعبد الرحمن، وأصدقها حارث وهمام، وأقبحها حرب ومرة.

“Name yourselves after the names of the Prophets, peace be upon them. The most beloved names to Allah are Abdullah and Abdur-Rahman, the most truthful names are Harith and Hammam, and the worst names are Harb and Murrah.”

① It is narrated from Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to change bad names.

② Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) states that Juwayriya bint al-Harith’s name was “Burrat.” So the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) changed her name to Juwayriya, and he disliked it being said that they had come from “Burrat.”

③ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) changed the name Asiya and said:

أنت جميلة.

“You are Jameela (beautiful).”

Abu Dawood states: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) changed the names As, Azizah, Atlah, Shaytan, Hukm, Azaab, Hibaab, and Shihab, and the name Harb to Salam, Mudtaji’ to Munba’th, Ard Afrah to Khadra, Shu’b Dalaal to Shu’b Huda, Bani Raybah to Bani Rushd, and Banu Mughawiyah to Bani Rushd. Abu Dawood says: I have omitted the chains of narration for brevity.

① Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

لأنهين أن يسمى رافع وبركة ويسار.

“I forbid the names Rafi’, Barakat, and Yasar.”

② Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

إن عشت إن شاء الله أنهى أمتي أن يسموا نافعا وأفلح وبركة.

“Insha’Allah, if I live, I will forbid my Ummah from naming their children Nafi’, Aflah, and Barakat.”

① It is narrated from Abu Zubay’ah that Sayyiduna Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said: One day a man came and spoke a lot. He said: If he had spoken briefly and less, it would have been better for him. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:

رأيت – أو أمرت – أن أتجوز فى القول فإن الجواز هو خير.

“I have been commanded to be concise in speech, for brevity is better.”