ANSWERED: Abd al-Mustafa

[Yusuf]

Is it permissible to have names such as 'ghulam-e-mustafa'?

[Zain121]

As Salamu Alaykum,

Maulana Ahmad Muhammad Hathurani has written an article on the topic of keeping names for Children.

In this topic he has mentioned the importance of names and has quoted the Ahadeeth of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam.

As many people know, the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam has commanded us to keep good names as they have an affect on us, and we will also be called by our names on the Day of Judgement.

Maulana has also mentioned the Ahadeeth in which the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam mentions changing the Names of two of the Ummul Mu'mineen.

Thereafter, Maulana Ahmad has mentioned this Paragraph:

KEEP AWAY FROM NAMES IMPLYING SHIRK

As Muslims, we should always abstain from keeping names implying any elements of Shirk, like adjoining the word 'Abd'(servant) to names or epithets other that those of Allah Ta'ala. Rasoolullah sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam also forbade keeping pompous and selfglorifying names, for this reveals arrogance and haughtiness - human elements most abhorred by Allah Ta'ala.

In conclusion, we are required not to adjoin the word 'Abd' to any other name other than the names of Allah. We are simply the followers of the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, but we are truely the servants of the One and Only, Allah.

Wasalaam

[Muawiyah]

I think Hadhrat Thanwi rahimahullah has also said this in Behishti Zewar with reference to a Hanafi fiqh book?

[eat-halal guy]

(Clarification: "Ghulam" in Urdu means "slave", which is the same meaning as the Arabic "`Abd".)

I'm not a mufti, but I think it wouldn't be totally Haram, yet it wouldn't be something good either. I think it'd probably end up being makruh, but I'm not the one to decide.

[A D I D A S]

bRO mUSTAFA: Ye. In his book 'bahishti zewar', Maulana Ashraf ali thanvi writes: ''Keeping names like Ali Bakhsh, husein bakhsh, abdun-nabi and other names like that are kufr and shirk'

I am no mufti too. But this is what i think. Abd is used when you do mansoob ilallallah. We dont say gulamullah or gulamurrahman e.t.c.
Ye abd and gulam mean the same but theres that difference isnt there?
Gulam can even mean Kiddo. Abd cant.
wallahu alam

['Abd al-Mustafa]

assalamu 'alaikum my dear brothers,

In my country Afghanistan, as well as all over Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Xinjaing China, Kazakhstan, Chechnya, Dagestan, Tatarstan, Bakhkiryah etc)...the name

'Abd al-Mustafa is among the most common names,
In my family chain it goes all the way up to the reign of Syedina Hazrat Umar raziallahu anhu

most of our top ulama here have this name

and I am sure of many scholars in the Sub Continent such as

Maulana Ahmed Rida Khan raziallahu anhu

with greats amount of love

your brother,

'Abd al-Mustafa

[Aqdas]

Assalamu 'Alaikum!
Abdul Mustafa, Abdun Nabi, Abdur Rasool = Not Shirk and not Kufr.
http://www.abc.se/~m9783/n/riiz_e.html
Wassalam

[true_hanafi]

assalam

Are you asking help from Abu Bakr etc, Brother Mustafa or What??

[Abu Usama]

Salam,

I asked this question to sidi faraz some time ago and this was his reply via email:

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,



There is difference of opinion: some scholars permitted it. However, Ibn Abidin and Mulla Ali al-Qari both stated that it is not permitted. This is the position chosen by Ibn Hajar of the Shafiis, too.



Wassalam,



Faraz Rabbani (faraz@sunnipath.com)

[Abu Usama]

And from Mufti Ebrahim Desai:

"It is permissible to keep the names Ghulam Rasool and Abdul Mustapha."

http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=1261

And also from Mufti Ebrahim Desai:

1. Mulla Ali Qari, Allaamah Shaami and others have mentioned it is not permissible to couple the quality Abd (servant) with a name other than names of Allah. (Mirqaat vol.9 pg.106; Shaami vol.5 pg.268)

2. We are unaware of any Sahaabi or Taabi’ee having such names.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/view.php?q=6784

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In conclusion, there is ikthilaaf on this issue.

[true_hanafi]

assalam

How can Abu bakr and Umar help us, if they couldn't help themselves, i.e. when Umar was killed.

[salman]

I think Hadhrat Thanwi rahimahullah has also said this in Behishti Zewar with reference to a Hanafi fiqh book?

salamu Alaikum

Yes dear brother, he uses:

Tafsir Jalalain
Hawashi Jalalain
Shariat Al Islam
Sharh Fiqh Al Akbar by Ali Qari
Sharh Minhaj by Ibn Muhammad Makki

[Azzam]

The Mujahid in Afghanistan formerly known as Abdur Rasool Sayyaf was asked to change his name by Abdullah Azzam and other ulema, thereafter he was known as Abdur Rabb Rasool Sayyaf.

['Abd al-Mustafa]

assalam 'alaikum brother Azzam,

Brother, the whole of Afghanistan calls him Professor Abdur Rasool Sayyaf,

most people here just cannot pronounce this new name given to him (Abdur Rab Rasool),

you will see it only in some newspaper reports,

if you need further information on his whereabouts in Afghanistan, I will be happy to help

he is a Pashtun leader, who fought the Taliban dearly

your brother in Islam

'Abd al-Mustafa

[eat-halal guy]

:salam:

I checked with Mufti Yusuf. He said the using Ghulam was fine for sure, and the using `Abd should be avoided. According to him, although the literal translations of Ghulam and `Abd are the same, the connotations for each are different. He said that `Abd has stronger connotations of worship as opposed to Ghulam, which is why Ghulam is allowed and `Abd should be avoided.

Thus, going back to the original question, there's no problem with the name "Ghulam Mustafa", though its Arabic equivalent "`Abdul Mustafa" should be avoided, since `Abd is generally reserved for use in conjunction with Allah's name or His attributes.

Allah knows best.