Fatwa ID: 05279

Answered by: Mufti Maruf Ahmed

Question

Last year on 24th Feb 2016, Allah SWT blessed us with a baby boy and we named him Muhammed Huzaifa Khan after consulting Maulana Kamruzzama Saheb of Allahabad. However, Allah took his Amaanat back on 14th Oct 2016 (Friday evening ) and we buried him on the Saturday morning that is 15th Oct 2016, Alhamdulillah.

After that, my husband and I decided that if Allah will ever give us another boy we will name him Muhammed Huzaifa Khan. And in the month of November 2016, we discovered that I was pregnant Alhamdulillah. And as per the ultrasound examination, my conception date was 14th Oct probably, the day of the demise of my 1st son. Unlike the first pregnancy, we started praying for a boy as we were looking for Huzaifa’s replacement. Then in January 2017 we moved to UAE and discovered that I was carrying a male fetus. Allah indeed does and knows the best and never denies a true prayer. We kept the news with us. On the 14th July 2017 night (Friday), I went into labor (exactly after 9 months of my first son’s demise) and gave birth to this son at 5.15 am on 15th July 2017 Alhamdulillah. May Allah give him health and long life with a good future. Ameen. Don’t know if it’s Allah’s way of saying something. But we call it a miracle of Allah SWT. And we let everyone know that we got a boy and we are naming him Muhammed Huzaifa Khan. Some agreed and some relatives are not OK with this name and saying that gives him another name. But we really want to give him the same name as we prayed for a boy and decided to name him Muhammed Huzaifa Khan well in advance. After a long discussion, the elders of the family have decided to get his aqeeqah done on Muhammed Huzaifa Khan or Ahmed Huzaifa Khan or Muhammad Huzaifa bin Wasi Khan or Huzaifa bin Wasi Khan (plz advise which one is the best) but they will call him with some other name may be Saad.

We respect our elders and want them to be happy at the same time. Now please guide us if this is OK? Can we give him 2 names? And also suggest the best names in your view as he is born on 15Jul 2017 at 5.15 am. Another question as he born on a Saturday, will the 7th day of his birth be next Saturday or Friday for Aqeeqa? Please reply at your earliest convenience as we have to give the final name tomorrow to get his birth certificate done. Thanks a lot.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

In Islam, it is important to give the child a good and praiseworthy name. There is nothing wrong with naming your son ‘Muhammad Huzaifa Khan’, even if it was the name of your previous son.

Many of our pious predecessors named more than one of their children with the same name. For e.g. Ali (ra) named three of his sons ‘Muhammad’. (Ali Sallabi, Asma al-Matalib fi Seerah Ali Ibn Abi Talib: vol.1 pg. 41, Maktabah Al-Sahabah, UAE)

The other names that you suggested are also decent names and may be kept.

The best option is to consult your elders and agree on an appropriate name in order to avoid conflict. If necessary, you may give him an official name and another name to call him by, if it helps to prevent conflict.

Finally, the seventh day will be the Friday for the Aqeeqah. (Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariyah p.499 v.6)

Only Allah knows best.

Written Mufti Maruf Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham