This excerpt is taken from the book published by Maktaba Darussalam's Department of Compilation and Authorship, Dictionary of Names and Rulings and Issues of Newborns.
One of the initial stages prescribed by Islam for a newborn baby is giving the child a Kunya (a respectful nickname), meaning the child can also be called by this Kunya.
It is established from the noble Ahadith that giving a child a Kunya is recommended, and rationally, many great benefits of this practice have been observed. It has extremely fine, valuable, and precious effects on the child's temperament, some of which are as follows:
❀ From the very beginning, the child develops a sense of greatness, respect, honor, and reverence about their own personality, and a passion and enthusiasm to emerge as a respectable personality takes root in their heart. As a couplet also reflects this meaning:
أكنيه حين أناديه لأكرمه
ولا ألقبه والسوءة اللقب
When I call him with respect and honor, I remember him by his Kunya and do not mention a title because it does not bring honor.
Reference: Tuhfat al-Mawdud, p. 127
❀ The child's collective personality is highlighted because upon hearing their Kunya, the child develops the awareness and consciousness that they too must reach the status of great people and one day become a respectable personality.
❀ The child becomes accustomed to excellent and pure manners and ethics, and along with respecting elders, also shows respect, love, and affection towards peers.
◈ Evidence from the Noble Hadiths:
The above-mentioned noble benefits and great objectives were the reasons why the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to call children by their kunyas, so that the caretakers would know that this practice is permissible and it encompasses many wisdoms. We too should adopt the method of our guide, mentor, and leader, the embodiment of goodness and perfection, the Prophet of the Last Age, Muhammad ﷺ, and by following his exemplary conduct, give kunyas to our children and then call them by those kunyas.
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم أحسن الناس خلقا، وكان لي أخ يقال له: أبو عمير، قال: أحسبه فطيما، وكان إذا جاء قال: يا أبا عمير ما فعل النغير؟ نغير كان يلعب به
The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the embodiment of the best manners more than anyone else. I had a brother who was called Abu Umair. (The narrator says) I think this child had been weaned only a short while before. When the Prophet ﷺ came to him, he would call him and say: "O Abu Umair, how is Nughair?" Nughair was a bird with which he used to play.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Al-Adab, Chapter: Kunya for the child, Hadith: 6203 and Sahih Muslim, Al-Adab, Chapter: Permissibility of giving Kunya, Hadith: 2150
◈ The Methodology of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them:
❀ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ permitted Hazrat Aisha رضي الله عنها to take the kunya Umm Abdullah, even though Abdullah bin Zubair رضي الله عنه was the beloved son of her sister Asma bint Abu Bakr.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood Al-Adab, Chapter on Women Taking Kunya, Hadith: 4970, and it is in Sahih Hadith: 132
❀ Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه was famously known by the kunya Abu Hamza, even though he did not have any children at that time.
❀ Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه was called by his kunya, while his name was Abdul Rahman, although he did not have any children at that time.
❀ A person with children can also take a kunya other than the name of their children, as the following examples show:
(a) Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه was famous by his kunya, although none of his sons was named Bakr.
(b) Hazrat Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه had the kunya Abu Hafs, although none of his children was named Hafs.
(c) Hazrat Abu Dharr Ghifari رضي الله عنه was famous by the kunya Abu Dharr, but none of his beloved children was named Dharr.
(d) Hazrat Khalid bin Walid رضي الله عنه had the kunya Abu Sulayman, although none of his sons was named Sulayman.
Similarly, there are many other examples, but for the sake of brevity, we have mentioned only a few. Keeping these arguments in view, we have reached the conclusion that giving a kunya to a newborn is recommended, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ liked it. Likewise, it is also recommended for adults to have a kunya. It is not necessary to have children in order to have a kunya, nor is it necessary that the kunya be taken only from the names of one's own children.
