Mufti Muhammad Ibrahim Ghifari
Madrasa Abu Zar Ghifari (Radi Allahu Anhu) 
abzghifariedu@gmail.com

The matter of naming children appears to be very minor on the surface, but in reality, it is an identity that stays with a person throughout their entire life. A name is not just a means of calling someone, but also a silent symbol of their family, culture, religious awareness, and intellectual affiliation. Unfortunately, in our society, such carelessness is becoming common in the matter of naming children that it needs to be seriously considered.

Today, some parents, while searching for names for their children, first look at how unique the name is, how modern it is, how beautiful it sounds, or how good it will look on social media; but few people think about what the meaning of this name is. To whom is it attributed? Is there any bright example of this name in Islamic history or not? And above all, does this name represent our religious identity?

The issue here is not just about a few letters; the issue is about priorities.

In our history, there are the names of the Prophets (peace be upon them), the names of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), and the names of the female Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). These are those great personalities whose names are not just names but memorials of character. When we name our children Muhammad, Ahmad, Ibrahim, Yusuf, Ismail, Ishaq, Umar, Uthman, Ali, Hasan, Husain, Bilal, Salman, Aisha, Fatima, Khadija, Maryam, or Zainab, it is as if we are connecting our child to a great history.

Along with the name, a silent message is also transmitted:
"To whom are you attributed? Who is your ideal personality? Where are the roots of your identity?"

But today the situation is that in some Muslim households, the trend of giving names whose meanings are not even known to the parents is increasing. Sometimes a name is chosen after being influenced by a character from a movie, drama, novel, or social media, sometimes simply because the name feels "new" and "fashionable." Thus, a standard of naming has emerged in which religious attribution has fallen behind and outward modernity has come forward.

A question stands before us here:
If we change our children's heroes, ideals, and role models, how will the coming generation connect with its past?

When a child asks for the meaning of their name and is told that they were named after such-and-such a great Companion or such-and-such a majestic Prophet, the name becomes a lesson for them. They ask: Who were they? How was their life? What sacrifices did they make for Islam? Thus, a name opens the door to history.

If a child named after Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reads about Umar's justice, a child named after Hazrat Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) knows about his steadfastness, a child named after Hazrat Mus'ab bin Umair (may Allah be pleased with him) reads about his sacrifice, a girl named after Hazrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) knows about her modesty and purity, a girl named after Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) becomes acquainted with her knowledge and understanding—then the name does not remain just a name, it becomes a means of upbringing.

That is why, among our elders, the taste for naming was also associated with an educational consciousness. While naming a child, they did not just look at whether the name sounded good; they also looked at which personality stood behind that name.

We must understand that keeping a unique name is not wrong, but trying to become unique by cutting off from one's religious identity is certainly dangerous.

We live in a modern era, receive modern education, use modern technology, and benefit from the world's sciences; but being modern does not mean cutting off one's cultural and religious roots. No matter how tall a tree becomes, the secret of its life lies in its roots.

Nations are not built only by their schools and universities; nations are built by the priorities established in their homes. And a child's upbringing also begins with their name.

It should also be remembered that keeping a good Islamic name does not mean making every Arabic word a name. The meaning of the name should be correct, pure, and appropriate. Mere Arabic pronunciation does not necessarily make a name good. Similarly, it is not right to adopt a name just because it has become popular in society. Parents should find out the meaning and Shariah status of a name from a reliable scholar before naming.

Through our children's names, we have to make them not prisoners of the past but heirs of the future.

If our son's name is "Yusuf", he should be told the story of Hazrat Yusuf (peace be upon him)'s patience, chastity, and forgiveness. If the name is "Ibrahim", he should be given the lesson of monotheism and sacrifice. If the name is "Umar", there should be talk of justice and courage. If the name is "Uthman", there should be mention of modesty and generosity. If the name is "Ali", there should be mention of knowledge, bravery, and loyalty.

Similarly, our daughters' names should not just be a selection of beautiful sounds; behind them should be the bright examples of Hazrat Maryam (peace be upon her)'s purity, Hazrat Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her)'s loyalty, Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)'s knowledge, Hazrat Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her)'s modesty, and Hazrat Zainab (may Allah be pleased with her)'s steadfastness.

The real need is more about creating awareness behind the name than changing the name.

Today, if we do not introduce our children to these great personalities, it is possible that tomorrow they will have big names, but not the character associated with those names. And if the names are of the Companions (male and female), but life is devoid of their biography, then the name will also remain just a word.

Therefore, O parents! When Allah Almighty blesses you with the gift of children, do not consider the stage of naming as just a ritual. This is one of the first educational responsibilities placed in your hands. Give a name that is a prayer for your child, an attribution, an identity, and a silent invitation.

Give your children such names that upon hearing them, a question arises in their hearts:
"Who was the great person with my name?"

And when they search for the answer to this question, they should find a history in which there is faith, knowledge, modesty, sacrifice, bravery, and love for Allah and the Messenger (peace be upon him).

A name is a small word, but sometimes one word determines the direction of an entire generation.

Therefore, while naming children, do not just think about "how will people like the name?"

Also think, "With whom will my child establish their attribution in this great group of Allah's servants?"

Perhaps this thought will revive the taste for naming in our homes, and our new generation will reconnect with their faith, their culture, and their bright past through their names.

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