The Book of Manners and Etiquette

كتاب الآداب

Chapter 3: It Is Recommended To Change Bad Names To Good Names, And To Change The Name Barrah To Zainab, Juwayriyah And The Like

Ibn 'Umar reported that 'Umar had a daughter who was called 'Asiya. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave her the name of Jamila.

Ibn Abbas reported that the name of Juwairiya (the wife of the Holy Prophet) was Barra (Pious). Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) changed her name to Juwairiya and said

I did not like that it should be said: He had come out from Barra (Pious). The hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Abi 'Umar is slightly different from it.

Abu Huraira reported that the name of Zainab was Barra. It was said of her

She presents herself to be innocent. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave her the name of Zainab.

Zainab, daughter of Umm Salama, reported

My name first was Barra. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave me the name of Zainab. Then there entered (into the house of Allah's Prophet as a wife) Zainab, daughter of Jahsh, and her name was also Barra, and he gave her the name of Zainab.

Muhammad b. 'Amr b. 'Ata' reported

I had given the name Barra to my daughter. Zainab, daughter of Abu Salama, told me that Allah's' Messenger (ﷺ) had forbidden me to give this name. (She said): I was also called Barra, but Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Don't hold yourself to be pious. It is God alone who knows the people of piety among you. They (the Companions) said: Then, what name should we give to her? He said: Name her as Zainab.

Chapter 4: The Prohibition Of The Names Malik Al-Amlak Or Malik Al-Muluk "King Of Kings"

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying

The vilest name in Allah's sight is Malik al-Amidh (King of Kings). The narration transmitted on the authority of Shaiba (contains these words): There is no king but Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Sufyan said: Similarly, the word Shahinshah (is also the vilest appellation). Ahmad b. Hanbal said: I asked Abu 'Amr about the meaning of Akhna. He said: The vilest.

Abu Huraira reported from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so many ahadith and one of them was this that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

The most wretched person in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection and the worst person and target of His wrath would of the person who is called Malik al-Amlak (the King of Kings) for there is no king but Allah.

Chapter 5: It Is Recommended To Perform Tahnik For The Newborn When He Is Born And To Take Him To A Righteous Man To Perform Tahnik For Him; It Is Permissible To Name Him On The Day He Is Born, And It Is Recommended To Use The Names 'Abdullah, Ibrahim, And The Names Of All Other Prophets, Peace Be Upon Them

Anas b. Malik reported

I took 'Abdullah b. Abi Talha Ansari to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at the time of his birth. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was at that time wearing a woollen cloak and besmearing the camels with tar. He said: Have you got with you the dates? I said: Yes. He took hold of the dates and put them in his mouth and softened them, then opened the mouth of the infant and put that in it and the child began to lick it. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: The Ansar have a liking for the dates, and he (the Holy Prophet) gave him the name of 'Abdullah.

Anas b. Malik reported that the son of Abu Talha had been ailing. Abu Talha set out (on a journey) and his son breathed his last (in his absence). When Abu Talha came back, he said (to his wife)

What about my child? Umm Sulaim (the wife of Abu Talha) said: He is now in a more comfortable state than before. She served him the evening meal and he took it. He then came to her (and had sexual intercourse with her) and when it was all over she said: Make arrangements for the burial of the child. When it was morning. Abu Talha came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and informed him, whereupon he said: Did you spend the night with her. He said: Yes. He (the Holy Prophet) then said: O Allah, bless both of them (and as a result of blessing) she gave birth to a child. Abu Talha said to me (Anas b. Malik) to take the child, (so I took him) and came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). She (Umm Sulaim) also had sent some dates (along with the child). Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) took him (the child) (in his lap) and said: Is there anything with you (for Tahnik). They (the Companions) said: Yes. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) took hold of them (dates and chewed them). He then put them (the chewed dates) in the mouth of the child and then rubbed his palate and gave him the name of 'Abdullah.

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Anas through another chain of transmit ters.

Abu Musa reported

A child was born in my house and I brought him to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upod him) and he gave him the name of Ibrahim and he rubbed his palate with dates.

'Urwa b. Zubair and Fatima daughter of Mandhir b. Zubair, reported that Asma' daughter of Abu Bakr was at the time of migration in the family way with 'Abdullah b. Zubair (in her womb). She came to Quba' and gave birth to 'Abdullah at that place and then sent him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) so that he should rub his palate with chewed dates. Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) took hold of him (the child) and he placed him in his lap and then called for dates. 'A'isha said

Some time was spent before we were able to find them. He (the Holy Prophet) chewed them and then put his saliva in his mouth. The first thing that entered his stomach, was the saliva of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Asma' said: He then rubbed him and blessed him and gave him the name of Abdullah. He ('Abdullah) went to him (the Holy Prophet) when he had attained the age of seven or eight years in order to pledge allegiance to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as Zubair had commanded him to do. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) smiled when he saw him coming towards him and then accepted his allegiance.

Asma' reported that she had become pregnant at Mecca with Abdullah b. Zubair (in her womt) and she (further) said

I set out (for migration to Medina) as I was in the advanced stage of pregnancy. I came to Medina and got down at the place known as Quba' and gave birth to a child there. Then I came to Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him). He placed him (the child) in his lap and then commanded for the dates to be brought. He chewed them and then put the saliva in his mouth. The first thing which went into his stomach was the saliva of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He then rubbed his palate with dates and then invoked blessings for him and blessed him. He was the first child who was born in Islam (after Migration).

Asma', daughter of Abu Bakr, reported that when she migrated to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in Medina she was in the family way with Abdullah b. Zubair in her womb.

'A'isha reported that the new-born infants were brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). He blessed them and rubbed their palates with dates.

'A'isha reported

We took 'Abdullah b. Zubair to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) so that he should put saliva in his mouth and we had to make a good deal of effort in order to procure them.

Sahl b. Sa'd reported that Mundhir b. Aba Usaid was brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at the time of his birth Allah's. Apostle (ﷺ) placed him on his thigh and Abfi Usaid kept sitting there. Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) had been occupied with something else before him. Abu Usaid commanded his child to be lifted from the lap of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and so he was lifted. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had finished the work he said

Where is the child? Abd Usaid said: Allah's Messenger, we took him away. He said: What is his name? He said; Allah's Messenger, it is so and so, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Nay, his name is Mundhir, and named him Mundhir on that day.

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had the sublimest character among mankind. I had a brother who was called Abu 'Umair. I think he was weaned. When Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) came to our house he saw him, and said

Abu 'Umair, what has the sparrow done? He (Anas) said that he had been playing with that.

Chapter 6: It Is Permissible To Say: "O My Son" To Someone Other Than One's Son, And It Is Recommended To Speak Kindly

Anas b Malik reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed me

O My Son.

Mughira b. Shu'ba reported that none else had asked more questions from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the Dajjal than I, but he simply said in a slight mood)

O, myson, why are you worried because of him? He will not harm you. I said: The people think that he would have with him rivers of water and mountains of bread, whereupon he said: He would be more insignificant in the sight of Allah than all these things (belonging to him).