Is the name Māriyah suitable?

Is my name permissible?

My first name is Mariyah, I have become aware that it means bitter in various languages. However I am also aware that one of the Prophets Mohammed’s (pbuh) wives was also called Mariyah. Therefore i am in conflict as to whether to change my name or not, I like my name however negative afflictions keep befalling on me and therefore I was thinking if it would be wise to change my name?

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.  

Māriyah Qibtiyah (radiyallāhu `anhā) was a Sahābiyah and the mother of Ibrāhīm (radiyallāhu `anh), the son of the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ.[1] The name Māriyah means a woman who is shining, bright, lustrous, and gleaming.[2] Therefore, Māriyah it is a suitable name.

We were unable to locate the meaning of “bitter” for the name Māriyah. It is possible you are referring to the word “murr”, which is a completely different word having no connection with the name Māriyah.[3]

We would also like to point out that it is incorrect to assume that your afflictions are due to your name as the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ himself has negated all forms of superstitions and bad omens.[4]

We also advise you to frequently recite the following in order to relieve yourself from such afflictions:

Surat Al-Baqarah (2), verse 255 (also known as Āyat al-Kursī):

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Surat al-Ikhlās (112):

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (١) اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ (٢) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (٣) وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (٤)

Surat al-Falaq (113):

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ (١) مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ (٢) وَمِنْ شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ (٣) وَمِنْ شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ (٤) وَمِنْ شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ (٥)

Surat al-Nās (114):

قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ (١) مَلِكِ النَّاسِ (٢) إِلَهِ النَّاسِ (٣) مِنْ شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ (٤) الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ (٥) مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (٦)  

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Bilal Mohammad

Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net