Naming a boy 'Muhammad Nabi'

4-5-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the Islamic scholars' ruling on choosing the name 'Muhammad Nabi' for boys?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

It appears from the statements of the scholars that it is prohibited to name with names that are specific to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ); ar-Ruhaybaani may Allaah have mercy upon him said in Sharh Muntaha al-Iraadaat:

"It is forbidden to name (with what is only befitting to His Majesty, such as Quddoos, Khaaliq and Rahmaan) because their meaning is not appropriate to other than Allaah Almighty. The jurist Shams ad-Deen Ibn al-Qayyim said, 'There was a group of scholars who were very reserved regarding naming with Qadhi Al-Qudhaah (i.e. the Judge of Judges) and Haakim Al-Hukkaam (Ruler of the Rulers) in analogy to what Allaah and His Messenger hate of naming with Malik Al-Amlaak (King of Kings); and this is the exact inference.' He said, 'Also, it is forbidden to name with Sayyid An-Naas (Master of Mankind), or Sayyid Al-Kull (Master of All), and it is also forbidden to name with Sayyid walad Aadam (the Master of the Children of Aadam [Adam]) because it is not befitting except for the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )."

Also, it is better to avoid naming with compound names because of the confusion that it might cause and because our righteous predecessors may Allaah be pleased with them did not use compound names. For more benefit in this regard, please refer to fataawa 279862 and 289231.

Allaah knows best.

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