Is It Permissible to Change the Name ‘Abdullah to Usamah?
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 545
Question:
Someone named my son ‘Abdullah, but I wish to change his name to Usamah. Would it be sinful to replace the name ‘Abdullah with Usamah?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
There is no sin in doing so. However, it is clear that the name ‘Abdullah is superior and more beloved to Allah than the name Usamah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
{أَحَبُّ الْأَسْمَآئِ إِلَی اﷲِ عَبْدُ اﷲِ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَانِ}
“The most beloved names to Allah are ‘Abdullah and ‘Abdur-Rahman.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Vol. 2, Bāb mā jāʾa mā yustaḥabb min al-asmāʾ)
Hādhā mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 545
Question:
Someone named my son ‘Abdullah, but I wish to change his name to Usamah. Would it be sinful to replace the name ‘Abdullah with Usamah?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
There is no sin in doing so. However, it is clear that the name ‘Abdullah is superior and more beloved to Allah than the name Usamah.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
{أَحَبُّ الْأَسْمَآئِ إِلَی اﷲِ عَبْدُ اﷲِ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَانِ}
“The most beloved names to Allah are ‘Abdullah and ‘Abdur-Rahman.”
(Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī, Kitāb al-Adab, Vol. 2, Bāb mā jāʾa mā yustaḥabb min al-asmāʾ)
Hādhā mā ʿindī wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
