Excerpt from the book "Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq" by Shaykh Jāwēd Iqbāl Sīālkōṭī
The Worst Name Before Allah: "King of Kings" (Shahenshah)
◈ Ḥadīth 1 – Most Despicable Name on the Day of Judgement
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
«أَحْنَى الأَسْمَاءِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ تُسَمِّي مَلِكَ الأَمْلَاكِ»
(صحيح البخاري، كتاب الأدب، باب أَبْغَضُ الأَسْمَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: 6205)
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The most despicable name in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment is that of a man who called himself ‘King of Kings’ (Malik al-Amlāk).”
◈ Ḥadīth 2 – Most Hated Person Before Allah
وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ:
«أَغْيَظُ رَجُلٍ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَأَخْبَثُهُ، وَأَغْيَظُهُ عَلَيْهِ: رَجُلٌ كَانَ يُسَمَّى مَلِكَ الأَمْلَاكِ، لاَ مَلِكَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ»
(صحيح مسلم، كتاب الأدب، باب تَحْرِيمِ التَّسَمِّي بِمَلِكِ الْأَمْلَاكِ: 5611)
Translation:
In another narration:
“The most hateful, vile, and anger-inducing person before Allah on the Day of Judgement is the one who calls himself ‘King of Kings’, while there is no King except Allah.”
✔ Names like "Shahenshah" (شهِنشاہ) literally mean “King of Kings”, a title exclusive to Allah ﷻ.
✔ Such titles imply supremacy over all rulers, which is a grave transgression, as only Allah possesses absolute sovereignty.
Common phrases like: “Tu to bada shahenshah hai” (You’re a great emperor)
should be avoided and feared, as they resemble shirk in language, and are disliked by Allah.
🗒 Using titles reserved for Allah is not only impermissible but considered a major sin.
❖ Topic:
The Worst Name Before Allah: "King of Kings" (Shahenshah)
✿ Hadiths Condemning the Title "Shahenshah" (King of Kings):
◈ Ḥadīth 1 – Most Despicable Name on the Day of Judgement
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
«أَحْنَى الأَسْمَاءِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ تُسَمِّي مَلِكَ الأَمْلَاكِ»
(صحيح البخاري، كتاب الأدب، باب أَبْغَضُ الأَسْمَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: 6205)
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The most despicable name in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment is that of a man who called himself ‘King of Kings’ (Malik al-Amlāk).”
◈ Ḥadīth 2 – Most Hated Person Before Allah
وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ:
«أَغْيَظُ رَجُلٍ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَأَخْبَثُهُ، وَأَغْيَظُهُ عَلَيْهِ: رَجُلٌ كَانَ يُسَمَّى مَلِكَ الأَمْلَاكِ، لاَ مَلِكَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ»
(صحيح مسلم، كتاب الأدب، باب تَحْرِيمِ التَّسَمِّي بِمَلِكِ الْأَمْلَاكِ: 5611)
Translation:
In another narration:
“The most hateful, vile, and anger-inducing person before Allah on the Day of Judgement is the one who calls himself ‘King of Kings’, while there is no King except Allah.”
Important Note:
✔ Names like "Shahenshah" (شهِنشاہ) literally mean “King of Kings”, a title exclusive to Allah ﷻ.
✔ Such titles imply supremacy over all rulers, which is a grave transgression, as only Allah possesses absolute sovereignty.
❖ Practical Advice:
Common phrases like: “Tu to bada shahenshah hai” (You’re a great emperor)should be avoided and feared, as they resemble shirk in language, and are disliked by Allah.
🗒 Using titles reserved for Allah is not only impermissible but considered a major sin.
