Keeping Names

“Bismillahir Rahmannir Raheem”Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was Salaatu was- Salaamu ‘Alaa Sayidinaa Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa Asabihi Ajma ‘een (tauheed- risalat- ahkirat and islam-iman-ihsan)

KEEPING NAMES LIKE ABDUN-NABI (SERVANT OF THE PROPHETﷺ), ETC

To keep names like Abdun-Nabi, Abdur-Rasool, Abdul-Mustapha, Abdul-Ali, etc. is permissible. Similarly, to call yourself the servant  of the Holy Prophetﷺ is also allowed.

Abd can mean aabid (a person who worships) and khaadim (a servant). When the word is related to Allah(swt), it has the former meaning and when it is joined towards someone other than Allah(swt); it has the latter (khaadim-ghulaam). Therefore, Abdun-Nabi means “the slave of the Prophetﷺ .

Abdullah means “the worshipper of Allah(swt) and Abdun-Nabi means “the servant of the Prophetﷺ”.

Rubb is Allah’s(swt) name but the Quran has called the slaves Rubb as well, “کما ربیانی صغیرا” 17/24 “فارجع الی ربک”-12/50. Word rubb as been used for king of egypt in surah yusuf.

‘Sharhus Sunnah’ from Ibne Munkadir that the slave of the Beloved Prophet (ﷺ)’ Hadrat Safina lost his companion in Rome or he was arrested. He escaped and was searching for his friends; at of a sudden he saw a lion in front of him, so he said, ‘‘ O Abul Harith (Lion) I am the slave of the Beloved Prophet (ﷺ) and I have faced such and such problem. Listening to this the lion came near him and stood by him. Whenever the lion heard a voice he went to that place and stood, again and again, he just used to walk up to Hadrat Safina (Ra) until he reached his companion.[Hadith in Mishkat Shareef Page 545]

The Holy Quran states, “And make Nikah of those who have not married, and your slaves and slave-girls who are virtuos.,- 24/32 Here, ‘Ibaad’ supplements (muzaaf) the pronoun ‘Kum’, meaning “Your Slaves.”

“(O My Beloved ﷺ) Say: “O my slaves who have been oppressive upon themselves, do not be hopeless of Allah’s(swt) mercy “- 39/53 There are two possibilities that arise from “O my slaves” It is either Allah(swt) saying it Or the Holy Prophetﷺ. In the second case, ‘Ibaadu Rasoolillah ﷺ is meant, meaning the Holy Prophet’s slave and Ummati. The second meaning has also been adapted by the pious.

Haaji Imdaadullah Muhaajir Makki (ra) states, ‘Ibaadullah’ (servants of Allah(swt)) can be called ‘Ibaadur-Rasool’ (servants of the Prophetﷺ). The Holy Quran states, “Qui Ya Ibaadi.” The pronoun in ‘Ibaadi’ (my slaves) returns to the Holy Prophetﷺ “ – Risaala Nafkhaa Makkiya, Translation of Shamaaime-Imdaadia, Pg.135

With reference to Riyaadun-Nudrah, etc, Shah Waliullah (ra) records that Hadrat Umar (ra) said while he was on the mimbar, “I accompanied the Holy Prophetﷺ his servant (banda) and attendant (khaadim).,,21.4 – Izaalatul-Khijaa

Alamghiri states, “Keeping names that are found in the Holy Quran like Ali, Rashid and Badee is permissible because these have collective meanings. When they are used in conjunction to the creation, their meanings, which are not meant for Allah(swt) , will be expressed.” – Kitaabul-Karaahiyat, Baabu Tasmiyatul-Aulaad

Imaam Nawawi (ra) writes in the annotation of this Hadith, “If it is said that one of the signs of Qiyaamat which Rasoolullahﷺ spoke -about is that a slave-girl will give birth to her Rubb (meaning a slave has been called “Rubb”), there are two answers to this,

1. The second Hadith explains permissibility.

2. The first Hadith’s prohibition is for etiquette (adab). The Dislike (Karaahat) in this is Tanzeehi, not Tahrimi.” – Sharah Sahih Muslim

A Hadith states, “Hakam is Allah(swt), i.e. command and authority is His. So why is your name Abul-Hakam (the father of Hakam)?” – Mishkaat, Kitaabul· Adab, Baabul-Asaami .

If a person calls someone his Murabbi (guardian) or Rubb (master), he doesn’t become a polytheist (Mushrik). Yes, if you abstain from this, there no problem because keeping these names is not compulsory.

Stopping is based on a Makrooh-e- Tanzeehi (i.e. saying “Ghulaami” is better than saying “Abdi”.)

Discussing the incident when Hadrat Abu Bakr (ra) bought Hadrat Bilaal (ra) brought him to Rasoolullah’s ﷺ court, Maulana Rumi states, “He said, ‘” both are slaves of your court. I free him before you.” – Mathnawi Sharif

Maulana Rumi (ra) states, “The Prophetﷺ has made the entire creation his slaves. Read the Quran and you will find ‘Ya Ibaadi’ (O my slaves …).” – Mathnawi Sharif

When I want to talk to allah I say prayers and when I want that he talk to me I recite quran- Hazrath Ali(ra)

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