Alhamdulillah we were blessed with a baby girl during this Holy month of Ramadhan. We have name her Rumaysa Hareem.But we were also thinking of naming her Mehmooda Fatima. Are these names correct? Which do you prefer?

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Rumaysa Bint Milhan Radiallahu Anha who is also known as Umm Sulaym is a female companion name who was one of the first women of Madinah to accept Islam and taught it to her young son Anas Bin Malik Radiallahu Anhu. She later married Saaiduna Abu Talha Radiallahu Anhu. A famous hadith is mentioned regarding both Saaiduna Abu Talha Radiallahu Anhu and his wife Umm Sulaym Radiallahu Anha.

Saaiduna Anas Radiallahu Anhu reported that the son of Abu Talba who was born of Umm Sulaim died. She (Umm Sulaim) said to the members of her family: Do not narrate to Abu Talha about his son until I narrate it to him. Abu Talha came (home) she presented to him the supper. He took it and drank water. She then embellished herself which she did not do before. He (Abu Talha) had a sexual intercourse with her and when she saw that he was satisfied after sexual intercourse with her, she said: Abu Talha, if some people borrow something from another family and then (the members of the family) ask for its return, would they resist its return? He said: No. She said: I inform you about the death of your son. He was annoyed, and said: You did not inform me until I had a sexual intercourse with you and you later on gave me information about my son. He went to the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam and informed him what had happened. Thereupon the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: May Allah bless both of you in the night spent by you! He (the narrator) said: She became pregnant. The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam was in the course of a journey and she was along with him and when the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam came back to Medina from the journey he did not enter (his house) (during the night). When the people came near Medina, she felt the pangs of delivery. He (Abu Talha) remained with her and the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam proceeded on. Abu Talha said: O Lord, you know that I love to go along with the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam when he goes out and enter along with him when he enters and I have been detained as Thou seest. Umm Sulaim said: Abu Talha, I do not feel (so much pain) as I was feeling formerly, so better proceed on. So we proceeded on and she felt the pangs of delivery as they reached (Medina) and a child was born and my mother said to me: Anas, none should suckle him until you go to the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam tomorrow morning. And when it was morning I carried him (the child) and went along with him to the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam. He said: I saw that he had in his hand the instrument for the cauterisation of the camels. When he saw me. He said: This is, perhaps, what Umm Sulaim has given birth to. I said: Yes. He laid down that instrument on the ground. I brought that child to him and placed it in his lap and the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam asked Ajwa dates of Medina to be brought and softened them in his month. When these had become palatable he placed them in the mouth of that child. The child began to taste them. Then the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said: See what love the Ansar have for dates. He then wiped his face and named him ‘Abdullah. (Sahih Muslim p.291v.2)

Hareem in Arabic means living quarters reserved for the wife and daughters in the household. Mahmoodah means the praised one and Fatima is the name of the daughter of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam.

Both the aforementioned names are correct and have good meanings. Whichever name you decide to keep it will be correct.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham