❖ Introduction
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forbade the use of certain names such as Aflah (successful), Rabāḥ (prosperous), Yasār (ease), and Najīḥ (victorious). This prohibition is based not merely on semantics, but on deep psychological and spiritual wisdom, aiming to preserve the purity of belief and prevent superstition (تطير).
❖ ① The Prophetic Prohibition and Its Rationale
In authentic narrations, the Prophet ﷺ explained the reasoning behind this prohibition:
"For if you ask, 'Is Aflah there?' and the answer is 'No,' it may lead to a pessimistic assumption."
(Sahih Muslim)
This reveals a concern for linguistic outcomes that could lead to negative psychological impressions or superstitions, especially in speech involving denial of optimism-laden names.
❖ ② What Is "Tatayyur" (تطير)?
Tatayyur refers to taking bad omens from names, events, or actions. Islam strictly condemns this as it contradicts Tawakkul (reliance on Allah) and weakens one's spiritual strength.
✔ Using names like Aflah, Rabāḥ, Yasār, and Najīḥ may inadvertently lead to:
➊ Pessimistic speech patterns
➋ Superstitious fear
➌ Weakening of īmān
➍ Psychological discomfort in others
❖ ③ Linguistic Insight: The Word “ثَمّ”
To understand the context, consider the phrase:
"أثم هو؟" — Is he there?
Let’s break it down:
- "أ" = interrogative particle (Is?)
- "ثم" = adverb of place meaning there
- "هو" = pronoun (he)
❖ The complete sentence means:
“Is he (e.g. Aflah or Rabāḥ) there?”
If the answer is: “No”, it could be wrongly interpreted as:
“There is no success,” or “There is no prosperity.”
This leads to Tatayyur, which Islam prohibits.
❖ ④ Precedent and Wisdom in Name Selection
Islam encourages meaningful and positive names that do not lend themselves to superstitious interpretations. For example:
✔ Names like ʿAbdullah, ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, Muḥammad, etc., are preferred.
✔ Names that are clear, neutral, and free from subjective interpretation are safer.
❖ Scholarly References and Opinions
- The explanation is rooted in grammatical analysis and classical Arabic usage.
- Cited works:
❖ Niqāsh Shaykh Raḥmānī, p. 53–54
❖ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ādāb
❖ Conclusion
✿ The prohibition of names like Aflah, Rabāḥ, Yasār, and Najīḥ is not because the meanings are inherently bad, but due to the possible outcomes in speech and social contexts that may lead to pessimism or superstition.
✿ This prohibition promotes spiritual clarity, linguistic prudence, and psychological well-being in the community.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
