Fatwa ID: 08594
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Question:
Alhamdulillah, me and my wife are having our first child in May Inshaallah. My question is what’s the ijmah if any regarding specifically the middle name being the name Muhammad? Is it allowed or is their any legal consensus for or against?
We are weighing up different naming options as we know his a boy. Ishaaq I think is agreeable however we’re unsure as to rulings on placements (if any). My wife doesn’t adhere to any madhab however by extension (through me) I will in general follow hanafi rulings so if possible if you could come back with evidences of what fatwas there are concerning the middle name and Muhammad.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The Prophet ﷺ has exhorted the parents of his ummah to give their children good names; this is also one of the rights of a child over his or her parents.
إِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ
“On the Day of Qiyamah you will be called by your names and the names of your fathers. Therefore, keep good names.” – [سنن أبي داود، رقم الحديث: ٤٩٤٨]
من وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَلْيُحْسِنِ اسْمَهُ وَأَدَبَهُ فَإِذَا بَلَغَ فَلْيُزَوِّجْهُ
“To whoever is born a child, the child should be given a good name and good education. And when he reaches puberty, he should be married.” – [مشكاة المصابيح، رقم الحديث: ٣١٣٨]
As far as we know, there is no ijma’ regarding making the middle name of one’s child Muhammad—in the case of a male. Nevertheless, to do so is something which is allowed and permissible.
تَسَمَّوْا بِأَسْمَاءِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَأَحَبُّ الأَسْمَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ
“Name your children with the names of the prophets. And the most beloved of names to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, are ‘Abdullah and ‘Abdur-Rahman.” –[سنن النساء، رقم الحديث: ٣٥٦٥]
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
