Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. I’m given a name from my parents. However, after I’ve grown up, I found out that the meaning of the name is bad. Is it necessary for me to change my name? Hope for your opinion.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Islam commanded its ummah to use good names. The reason is they are called with these names in the hereafter. This is in accordance with a hadith from Abu al-Darda’ RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
إنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ
“On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and by your father's names, so give yourselves good names.”
In Hasyiyah al-Baijuri, it is explained that it is sunnah for a person to give and use good names based on the above hadith. (See Hasyiyah al-Baijuri, 2/305)
The same is for having bad names, then it is encouraged for a person to change his name for a better name with good meaning. In a hadith narrated from Ibn al-Musayyib from his father, where his grandfather came to meet the Prophet PBUH and the Prophet PBUH asked:
مَا اسْمُكَ ، قَالَ: حَزْنٌ ، قَالَ: أَنْتَ سَهْلٌ ، قَالَ: لاَ أُغَيِّرُ اسْمًا سَمَّانِيهِ أَبِي ، قَالَ ابْنُ المُسَيِّبِ: فَمَا زَالَتِ الحُزُونَةُ فِينَا بَعْدُ
"What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Hazn." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You are Sahl." Hazn said, "I will not change the name with which my father has named me." Ibn Al-Musaiyab added: We have had roughness (in character) ever since.
Sahih al-Bukhari (6190)
Among the evidences that mentioned the encouragement of changing a bad name is a hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Umar RA, he said:
أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيَّرَ اسْمَ عَاصِيَةَ وَقَالَ :أَنْتِ جَمِيلَةُ
“The Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) changed the name of ‘Asiyah (Sinner) and called her Jamilah (Beautiful).”
Sunan Abu Daud (4952)
The same is stated in a hadith narrated from Abu Hurairah RA, he said:
أَن زَيْنَب كَانَ اسْمهَا برة فَقيل تزكي نَفسهَا فسماها رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم
Zainab's original name was "Barrah," but it was said' "By that she is giving herself the prestige of piety." So, the Prophet (ﷺ) changed her name to Zainab.
Sahih al-Bukhari (6192)
In Hasyiyah al-Baijuri it is explained as the following: Bad names are makruh (undesirable), such as himar (donkey). While it is prohibited to name a person ‘Abd al-Ka’bah (slave of the Ka’ba), ‘Abd al-Hasan (slave of Hasan) or ‘Abd Ali (slave of Ali). It is obligatory for a person to change a prohibited name according to the authentic opinion. The reason is, it is to remove a transgression. (See Hasyiyah al-Baijuri, 2/305)
Whereas, in Tanwir al-Qulub, it is emphasized that it is obligatory to change prohibited names and sunnah to change makruh (undesirable) names. (See Tanwir al-Qulub by Syeikh Muhammad Amin al-Kurdi, pg. 234)
Thus, it should be understood that using bad names is makruh (undesirable) and it is sunnah to change it. Furthermore, if the name is prohibited in Islam, then it is obligatory for us to change it.
Conclusion
According to the sirah of the Prophet PBUH, it is clear to us that the Prophet PBUH changed the names of his Companions, whether they are men or women. For example, a female Companion named ‘Asiah (عاصية)(sinner), then the Prophet PBUH changed her name to Jamilah (beautiful). The same is what the Prophet PBUH did for his Companions whose names ‘abdu (slave to) other than Allah and changed to another name.
Thus, we advise parents when they are naming their children to at least ask the scholars, whether the name has a good meaning or not if he does not know the meaning.
Let us all name our children with good and honourable names. Hopefully, it could also be a supplication for the child, when the child is always called by the good name.
We end with the following supplication:
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
"Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."
Surah al-Furqan (74)