37- What is the ruling on naming someone with a name of Allah, the Most High?
There are two cases:
① If it is a name of Allah, the Most High, that has the definite article (alif lam) attached, or if the attribute found in that name is what is intended, then it is not correct to give this name to a created being, just as names such as al-Aziz, al-Sayyid and al-Hakim, etc. are not correct as the name of any human being.
This is why the Prophet ﷺ changed the kunya “Abu al-Hakam” and gave that Companion the kunya Abu Shurayh, after Shurayh, his eldest son, because people used to bring their disputes to this man for judgment. He ﷺ said:
« إِنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ الْحَكَمُ وَإِلَيْهِ الْحُكْمُ »
“The Judge is none other than Allah, the Most High, and all decisions are brought before Him.”
From this it is understood that when someone takes one of the names of Allah, the Most High, as a name and also intends the meaning found in it, then it is not correct to give this name, because it necessarily implies a resemblance of the creature to the Creator, which is not correct.
② The second case is that the name taken from among the names of Allah, the Most High, is without the definite article (alif lam) and the meaning contained in it is also not intended; there is then no harm in giving such a name, like Hakam and Hakim. Both of these are also names of some of the Companions, such as the Companion named Hakim ibn Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him), to whom the Prophet ﷺ said:
« لَا تَبِعْ مَا لَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ »
“Do not sell what you do not have in your possession.”
From this it is learned that when the specific meaning that is established for Allah, the Most High, in His name is not applied to a created being or not intended, then giving such a name is correct. However, one of the names of Allah, the Most High, is al-Jabbar, and it is not correct to give it as anyone’s name, even if the attribute of jabarut mentioned in it is not intended, because it is a name that has its own particular effect on the person himself, due to which loftiness and arrogance come into him and he begins to consider himself above the creation. Therefore, it is correct to avoid such names. (And Allah knows best.)
