Using some of Allah's names for naming persons
14-5-2003 | IslamWeb
Question:
Is this right to use the market name as 'Hafeez Centre' as al-Hafeez is among the names of Allah? In our country (Pakistan) names of persons Hameed, Majeed, Majid, Karim, Wajid are used. Is this right?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. There are many Names of Allah that human beings also use to name themselves. The similarity in names is limited to the words and meanings do not extend the reality because there is no resemblance between the Creator and the creature. The Names of Allah and His creatures associate in words and meanings only, not in reality. Therefore, sometimes Allah calls Himself al-Aziz, and He also called some persons with the same word. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…The women said: "Allâh forbid! No evil know we against him!" The wife of Al-'Azîz said: "Now the truth is manifest (to all),…}[12: 51]. Allah describes Himself as "Raoof"(kind), "al-Raheem"(merciful) and He also describes Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) by the same words. Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad SAW) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad SAW) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he
is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.}[9: 128]. However, there are many Names that are peculiar to Allah. So, it is prohibited to name human being, by those names such as "Allah", "al-Rahman", etc. al-Haskafi said: 'what is forbidden for us is any name that is peculiar to Allah such as al-Khaliq, al-Quddoos, al-Rahman, al-Awwal, al-Aakhir, al-Zahir, al-Batin, etc.' . So, the ruling in naming by the names that are common to Allah and His slaves, is that the name for humans should not have the meaning that is peculiar to Allah, it should be limited to what suits the creatures, especially such names are not to be used with the definite article (al) like Hameed, Kareem, Majeed, etc., as mentioned in your question. It is better not to use the definite article with such names like (al-Hafeez), though some scholars permit it. Allah knows best.