Al-Adab al-Mufrad

The kunya Abu'l-Hakam

Hani' ibn Yazid related that when he came to the Prophet, (ﷺ), with his people, the Prophet (ﷺ) heard them using the kunya Abu'l-Hakam. The Prophet, (ﷺ), called him and said, "Allah is the Judge (al-Hakam) and He has judgement. Why have you been given the kunya Abu'l-Hakam?" He said, "When my people disagree about something, they bring it to me and I judge between them so that both parties are content." "How excellent this!" the Prophet (ﷺ) exclaimed. Then he asked, "Do you have any children?" Hani' replied, "I have Shurayh, 'Abdullah and Muslim, the Banu Hani'.' He asked, "Which of them is the oldest?" "Shurayh," he replied. He said, "You are Abu Shurayh," and he made supplication for him and his children.

The Prophet, (ﷺ), liked good names

'Abdullah Hudud related that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "Who will drive these camels of ours?" or "Who will deliver these camels of ours?" A man said, "I will." He asked, "What is your name?" "So-and-so," he said. He said, "Sit down." Then another stood up and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked, "What is your name?" The man said, "So-and-so." He said, "Sit down." Then another man stood up and the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What is your name?" "Najiyya (Rescuer)," he said. "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You will do it. Drive them."

Swiftness in walking

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah, (ﷺ), came forward swiftly while we were sitting, He approached in such a manner that we wee alarmed by the speed with which he came towards us. When he reached us, he greeted us and said, 'I came swiftly to you to tell you about the Night of Power. I forgot it in the time it took me to get to you, so look for it in the last ten nights (of Ramadan).'"

The names which Allah Almighty loves the most

Abu Wahb, a Companion, reported that the Prophet, (ﷺ), said, "Name yourselves with the names of the Prophets. The names which Allah Almighty loves most are 'Abdullah and 'Abdu'r-Rahman. The most truthful names are Harith and Humam. The ugliest names are Harb and Murra."

The names which Allah Almighty loves the most

Jabir said, "A man had a child and named him al-Qasim. We said, 'We will not give you the kunya Abu'l-Qasim nor will we so honour you. The Prophet, (ﷺ), was told and said, 'Call your son 'Abdu'r-Rahman.'"

Changing one name to another

Sahl said, "Al-Mundhir ibn Abi Usayd was brought to the Prophet, (ﷺ), when he was born and the Prophet (ﷺ) placed him on his thigh while Abu Usayd was seated near him. The Prophet, (ﷺ), was busy with something in front of him, so Abu Usayd told someone to take his son from the Prophet's leg. When the Prophet, (ﷺ), became aware of it, he asked, 'Where is the child?' Abu Usayd replied, 'We sent him home.' The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, 'What is his name?' He replied, 'Such-and-such.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'No, rather his name is al-Mundhir.' So we called him al-Mundhir from that day."

The name which Allah Almighty hates the most

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "The name which hates the most is that a man be called the King of Kings."

Someone who calls another person using the diminutive of his name

Talq ibn Habib said, "I was the most vehement person in denying intercession. I questioned Jabir and he said, 'Tulayq, I heard the Prophet, (ﷺ), say, "They will come out of the Fire after entering it," and we recite (the same Book) you recite.'"

Calling someone by the name he loves the most

Hanzala ibn Hidhaym said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), used to like to call a man by the name that he liked best and by his favourite kunya."

Changing the name 'Asiya (meaning "rebellious")

Ibn 'Umar said that the Prophet, (ﷺ), changed a woman's name from 'Asiya (rebellious), saying, "You are Jamila (beautiful)."

Changing the name 'Asiya (meaning "rebellious")

Muhammad ibn 'Ata' related that he visited Zaynab bint Salama and she asked him about the name of one of his sisters. He reports: "I said, 'Her name is Barra.' She said, 'Change her name. The Prophet, (ﷺ), married Zaynab bint Jahsh. Her name was Barra and he changed it to Zaynab. I visited Umm Salama when she married him and my name was Barra. He heard her call me Barra and said, 'Do not adorn yourselves. Allah is the One who knows those who are pious (barra) among you and those who are deviant. Call her Zaynab.' Umm Salama said, 'She is Zaynab.' I said to Zaynab, 'Give her a name.' Zaynab said, 'Change it to what the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), changed it.'" So he called her Zaynab.

Surm (meaning "separation")

Ibn 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Sa'id al-Makhzumi, whose name was as-Surm, reported that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), named him Sa'id (happy). He related that he had seen 'Uthman reclining in the mosque.

Surm (meaning "separation")

'Ali said, "When al-Husayn was born, I named him Harb (war). The Prophet (ﷺ) came and said, 'Show me your son. What have you named him?' 'Harb,' we replied. He said, "He is Hasan.' When al-Husayn was born, I named him Harb. The Prophet, (ﷺ), came and said, 'Show me your son. What have you named him?' 'Harb,' we replied. He said, "He is Husayn.' When we had a third son, I named him Harb. The Prophet, (ﷺ), came and said, 'Show me your son. What have you named him?' 'Harb,' we replied. He said, "He is Muhassin." Then he said, 'I have named them according to the names of the sons of Harun: Shabr, Shubayr, and Mushabbir.'"

Ghurab (meaning "crow")

It is reported that al-Harith ibn Abza said, "I was present at Hunayn with the Prophet, (ﷺ), and he asked me, 'What is your name?' 'Ghurab,' I replied. He said, 'No, your name is Muslim.'"

Shihab (meaning "flame")

'A'isha said, "A man called Shihab (flame) was mentioned in the presence of the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, 'Rather you are Hisham.'"

Al-'As (meaning "rebel")

Muti' said, "I heard the Prophet, (ﷺ), say on the day of the Conquest of Makka, 'No Qurayshi will be killed in custody from today until the Day of Rising.'" None of the rebels of Quraysh except Muti' became Muslim. His name had been al-'As and the Prophet, (ﷺ), renamed him Muti' (obedient).

Someone who calls his companion and shortens or leaves out part of his name

'A'isha said that the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), said, "'A'ish! Jibril sends you greetings." She said, "And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah." She remarked, "He sees what I do not see."

Someone who calls his companion and shortens or leaves out part of his name

Umm Kulthum, the daughter of Thumama, related that she went out to answer a call of nature,. Her brother, al-Makhariq ibn Thumama, said, "Go to 'A'isha and ask her about 'Uthman ibn 'Affan. People have said a lot about him. She said, "I went to her and said, 'One of your brothers sends you greetings and asks you about 'Uthman ibn 'Affan.' 'A'isha said, 'Peace be upon and the mercy of Allah.' 'A'isha then went on, 'I testify that I saw 'Uthman in this house one hot night when the Prophet, (ﷺ), had received revelation through Jibril. The Prophet, (ﷺ), struck the palm - or held the hand - of Ibn 'Affan, saying, 'Write, 'Uthma! Allah has placed in this house with His Prophet, (ﷺ), only a man who is honoured with Him. If anyone curses Ibn 'Affan, the curse of Allah is on him.'"

Zahm (meaning "crowd")

Bashir ibn Nuhayk said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), came and said, 'What is your name?' 'Zahm,' I said. He said, 'You are Bashir (bringer of good news).' While I was walking and keeping pace with the Prophet, (ﷺ), he said, 'Ibn al-Khasasiyya! Are you resentful towards Allah? Do you keep pace with the Messenger of Allah?' I said, 'May my mother and father be your ransom, I do not hold any resentment against Allah. I have every blessing.' The Prophet (ﷺ) came to the graves of the idolaters and said, 'These people have missed a lot of good. Then he came to the graves of the Muslims and said, 'These people have obtained much good.' There was a man wearing ox-hide sandals walking between the graves. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'You with the ox-hide sandals! Remove your sandals!' So he removed his sandals."

Zahm (meaning "crowd")

Part of previous hadith.

Barra (meaning "pious")

Ibn 'Abbas said that Juwayriyya's name had been Barra and the Prophet, (ﷺ), had renamed her Juwayriyya.

Barra (meaning "pious")

Abu Hurayra said, "Maymuna's name was Barra and then the Prophet, (ﷺ), renamed her Maymuna."

Aflah (meaning "most successful")

Jabir reported: "The Prophet, (ﷺ), said, 'If I will, I will prohibit my community, if Allah so wills, from any of them taking the name Baraka (blessing), Nafi' (Helper) or Aflah (Most Successful),' and I do not know if he said, Rafi' (one who elevates) or not. Someone asks, 'Is Baraka (blessing) here?' and is told, 'He (or it) is not here.' The Prophet, (ﷺ), died because he could forbid that (using those names)."

Aflah (meaning "most successful")

Jabir ibn 'Abdullah said, "The Prophet, (ﷺ), wanted to forbid people calling themselves Ya'la (to rise), Baraka (blessing), Nafi' (Helper), Yasar (good fortune), Aflah (most successful) and names like that. Then he was silent about that matter and did not say anything."

Rabah (meaning "profit")

'Umar ibn al-Khattab said, "When the Prophet, (ﷺ), withdrew from his wives, I was with Rabah, the slave of the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ), and I called, 'Rabah, ask permission for me to come in to the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ).'"