Picking good names and forbidding bearing improper ones

613

Fatwa no. 18986 All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon the Last of the Prophets. To proceed:The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has reviewed the question sent to the Grand Mufty from the general director of the Committee branch in `Asir, numbered 2407/9/24 and dated 16/6/1417 A.H., which was attached with the papers sent from the chairman of the Committee branch in Al-Wadiyyin, numbered 435/42 and dated 14/6/1417 A.H. It states that a Pakistani worker bears the name Rahmat `Ali Allah Luk, according to the identity card which copy is attached. The question has been referred to the Committee from the Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars, numbered 3364 and dated 22/6/1417 A.H. It includes a request about the legal ruling on giving a person the name "Rahmat Ali Allah Luk".

Reviewing the question, the Committee issues the following answer: There are many Hadiths urging Muslims to pick good names and forbidding them to bear (Part No. 10; Page No. 481) improper names or those suggesting invalid meanings. Rather, it instructs replacing such names with other good ones. Accordingly, it is not permissible to bear the name, (Allah Luk), since in case of inserting the word "Ibn" (i.e. son of), the name would read: "Rahmat Ali Ibn Allah Luk" and as such the name suggests an improper and invalid concept. Allah (Exalted be He) states: No son (or offspring or children) did Allah beget, and He (Glorified be He) further states: "He begets not, nor was He begotten. So, the name in question must be replaced with a name free of any improper or invalid concept.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.