Jummah Sermon in Bhatkal Highlights the Spiritual Importance of Choosing Good Names for Children
Moulana Abdul Aleem urges Muslims to select names reflecting Islamic values, citing the Prophet's guidance that names influence character and identity.
In a Jummah sermon at Jamia Masjid Bhatkal, Moulana Abdul Aleem Khateeb Nadvi emphasized the profound spiritual and psychological impact of naming children, urging parents to choose names rooted in Islamic tradition.
The scholar explained that a person’s name influences their character and identity. He cited the guidance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who encouraged Muslims to select good names, as on the Day of Judgment, individuals will be called by their names and their fathers’ names.
“Allah’s Messenger encouraged naming children after the Prophets,” Moulana Abdul Aleem stated. “When a child is named after a Prophet, the qualities of that Prophet begin to manifest in them.”
The sermon highlighted several principles from the Sunnah:
- Prioritizing names that reflect servitude to Allah, such as Abdullah (servant of Allah) or Abdur-Rahman.
- Avoiding names with negative meanings, such as Harb (war) or Murrah (bitterness), which can influence behavior negatively.
- Refraining from names that imply arrogance or claim divine attributes, such as Malik al-Amlaq (King of Kings).
Moulana Abdul Aleem expressed concern over modern trends where parents choose unique or culturally foreign names without understanding their meanings. He urged the community to return to names that carry Islamic values, promote positive character, and preserve religious identity.
“Islam has not left us unguided in any field—neither in worship, nor in eating and drinking, nor even in naming,” he concluded, calling for thoughtful and faith-aligned naming practices.
Source: Jummah Sermon at Jamia Masjid Bhatkal by Moulana Abdul Aleem Khateeb Nadvi.
