Fatwa ID: 09424
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
Assalamualaikum,
A friend of mine has the name Abdul Tahir. He wants to know if such a name is permissible as he is aware that At-Tahir isn’t one of Allah’s names. If it is not permissible is he required to change it? If he doesn’t change it will he be sinning?
Jazakallahu Khairan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Any name that has not been explicitly mentioned by Allah Ta‘ala or His Messenger (ﷺ), is not commonly used by righteous Muslims, and does not convey a sound and appropriate meaning should be avoided.[1] Since “Al‑Tahir” is not one of the blessed Names of Allah Ta‘ala, it is not appropriate to prefix it with “Abdul.” In addition, the name “Abdul‑Tahir” is linguistically incorrect and does not follow the proper formulation of an Islamic name.
However, because Abdul-Tahir does not convey an abhorrent, vulgar, or blasphemous meaning, a person will NOT be sinful if he keeps the name. Nonetheless, it is recommended for this brother to change his name or at least adjust it slightly to something more appropriate, such as Abdullah Tahir, Abu Tahir, or simply Tahir (without the prefix “Abd”).[2]
In conclusion, “Abdul‑Tahir” is not a suitable Islamic name. If the brother chooses not to change it, he will not be sinful; however, it is still recommended for him to revise or modify the name.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
التَّسْمِيَةُ بِاسْمٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي عِبَادَةٍ وَلَا ذَكَرَهُ رَسُولُهُ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – وَلَا يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ تَكَلَّمُوا فِيهِ، وَالْأَوْلَى أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.6 p.417.
[2]
الْبَابُ الثَّانِي وَالْعِشْرُونَ فِي تَسْمِيَةِ الْأَوْلَادِ وَكُنَاهُمْ وَالْعَقِيقَةِ) أَحَبُّ الْأَسْمَاءِ إلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَعَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ لَكِنَّ التَّسْمِيَةَ بِغَيْرِ هَذِهِ الْأَسْمَاءِ فِي هَذَا الزَّمَانِ أَوْلَى لِأَنَّ الْعَوَامَّ يُصَغِّرُونَ هَذِهِ الْأَسْمَاءَ لِلنِّدَاءِ وَالتَّسْمِيَةِ بَاسِمٍ يُوجَدُ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى كَالْعَلِيِّ وَالْكَبِيرِ وَالرَّشِيدِ وَالْبَدِيعِ جَائِزَةٌ لِأَنَّهُ مِنْ الْأَسْمَاءِ الْمُشْتَرَكَةِ وَيُرَادُ فِي حَقِّ الْعِبَادِ غَيْرُ مَا يُرَادُ فِي حَقِّ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِيَّةِ.
وَفِي الْفَتَاوَى التَّسْمِيَةُ بِاسْمٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي عِبَادِهِ وَلَا ذَكَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – وَلَا اسْتَعْمَلَهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ تَكَلَّمُوا فِيهِ وَالْأَوْلَى أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ كَذَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ
Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah, Daar Al-Fikr, 1892. Vol.5 p.362.