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To choose the name “Sufyan” is it appropriate? Can you explain the virtues of this name?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Arij Canada

To choose the name “Sufyan” is it appropriate? Can you explain the virtues of this name? Also, I would like to name my son, Sahaba’s names that are not common so they can be revived. Jazakallah khair.

Answer:

As Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

We received your query wherein you asked if it appropriate to keep the name Sufyan and the virtues of this name. We apologize for the late reply. Our answer is as follows:

Your sentiment of reviving the names of the Sahabah is commendable and we applaud you for that. Sufyan is a name widely used by the Muslims and we find many a Sahabah who also had this name as it is mentioned in Usdul Ghabah and Al Isaabah (books dedicated to studies of the lives of the Sahabah). Abu Sufyan was also the title of the famous Sahabi Sakhr bin Harb (Radhiallahu Anhu). (Usdul Ghabah vol 6, pg 144) From our understanding, the fact that Sufyan is the name of a Sahabi, itself is a virtue that surpasses many a virtue.

The Fuqaha mention a rule of thumb to keep in mind when choosing a name of a child. In Fatawa Hindiyah it is mentioned: The Ulama have debated regarding the issue of keeping the name of a child using such a name which Allah Ta’aala does not mention amongst his servants nor does Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam mention, and the Deeni conscious Muslims do not generally use. The preferable view is to abstain from keeping such names. (Fatawa Hindiyah vol 5 pg. 263)

Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi wa Sallam said: keep the names according to the names of the Prophets. (May peace and blessings be upon them) And the most beloved names in the sight of Allah are Abdullah and Abdur Rahman (narrated by Abu Dawood)

Muhammad Z Panchbhaya

10th April 2013

29th Jumadal Awwal 1434

AND ALLAH TA’AALA KNOWS BEST

This Q&A was collected from the official web portal of Academy of Research in Islamic Jurisprudence (Arij) from Canada, which was headed by Mufti Ibrahim Kureshi and Mufti Zakariyya Panchbhaya. As the original website is no longer accessible, we have provided a source link of each answer to the archive copy from Way Back Machine.

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