Keeping the name Noah

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuhu.

The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) advises us to keep good names for our children. He stated:

إِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ

Translation: “On the Day of Resurrection, you will be called by your names and by your father’s names, so give yourselves good names”. (Sunan-Abu Dawood, Kitaabul Adab)

Names hold weight. This is why we find many incidents in the life of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) where he changed the names of people.

Throughout time and across all cultures, names have long held weight as they pertain to the identity of individuals, their beliefs and their ways of life. Hence the name of a Muslim is usually such, that by the mere mention of it, the listener understands that the person is a Muslim.

For many, names hold such a weight that drives them forward and gives them momentum towards greatness. Names affect a person’s personality and the values they uphold. Great personalities are such that they themselves are taken by death but still their names live on. Their names live on with such life, that just hearing about them awakens the sleeping souls and refreshes the mind and body. Their talk leaves us inspired with a rekindled passion and firm determination to push ourselves and advance towards success. Keeping names of such luminous characters for ourselves serves as a constant reminder and motivation.

The Prophets were sent to us by Allah Ta’ala as examples and role models. They upheld the highest of morals and fine character, they were the peak of human excellence. The companions of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) were the flag bearers of Islam, they were living embodiments of the divine teachings of Allah Ta’ala and his beloved messenger (Peace Be Upon Him). This is why we are recommended to keep names from the names of the Prophets and the righteous predecessors, so that we are reminded of the values we hold and the teachings we follow and so that we are motivated and encouraged to mould ourselves to become like the personalities and names we identify ourselves with.

مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَلْيُحْسِنِ اسْمَهُ وَأَدَبَهُ

Translation: The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) has said, “Whoever is graced with a child should give him a beautiful name and beautify his character”. (Shuab-ul Imaan, 8299)

Naming one’s child with an appropriate name is a right of the child upon the parents. The importance of a good name can be observed from what has been stated above and so we must be very particular in naming our children. We should name our children with the good intention that this name will be a means of benefit and blessing for the child.

In principle, if a name does not have a bad meaning, it is permissible to keep, be it Arabic or any other language. The name Noah does not have any bad meaning however, it is the Christian version of Nooh. The name Noah may create an inclination in your child towards the Christian faith and the adoption of Christian practices and beliefs. Therefore, we advise you to keep the Islamic name Nooh instead.[1]

May Allah grant you steadfastness in his religion and may he make your children a coolness for your eyes, in this world and the next. Aameen.

And Allah Ta ‘āla Knows Best

Bayazeed

Student – Darul Iftaa

UK

Checked and approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

26-12-1440 | 27-08-2019

[1] المحيط البرهاني، (ج-٨، ص-٩٦)

روى انه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال (سموا أولادكم اسماء الأنبياء وأحب الأسماء الى الله تعالى عبد الله و عبد الرحمن)

وفي الفتاوى: التسمية باسم لم يذكره الله تعالى في كتابه ولا ذكره رسول الله عليه السلام، ولا استعمله المسلمون تكلموا فيه، والأولى أن لا تفعل

الفتاوى البزازية، (ج-٢، ص-٤٨٨)

التسمية باسم لم يذكر الله و رسوله  في عبارة، ولا يستعمله المسلمون والأولى أن لا يفعل

الفتاوى التاترخانية (ج-١٨، ص-٢٢٩)

التسمية باسم لم يذكره الله تعالى في عباده ولا ذكره رسوله ولا استعمله المسلمون تكلموا فيه والأولى أن لا يفعل