Answered by Ustaadha Bint Salih
Question:
Assalaamualaykum.
Please kindly assist me in obtaining some background information of the name Umayyah for a girl in relation to its meaning and history.
Wassalaam.
Answer:
Narrated AbudDarda’
:
‘The Prophet (ﷺ) said: On the Day of Resurrection you will be called by your names and by your father’s names, so give yourselves good names.’
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of General Behaviour, Hadith 4948).
One’s name has an effect on oneself, thus it is essential to have an appropriate name.
The word Umayyah is derived from the root letters ‘Alif, meem, waw’ and it means to be a slave girl.
Umayyah is the name of a tribe of the Quraysh.
(MisbaahulLughaat, Page 41).
In relation to history, one of the most famous individuals with this name was Umayyah bin Khalaf.
Umayyah was an idolator and great arch enemy of Islam. He exerted much effort in the torture of Muslims including the companion Bilal ibn . Umayyah bin Khalaf was killed in the Battle of Badr.
Umayyah is known to be a name kept for girls also.
With regards to your query, keeping such name will be permissible however since in history, there has been an individual who is not one to be taken as role model, it would be better to opt for a more virtuous name.
Only Allah knows best.
Ustaadha Bint Salih.
DarulIfta Birmingham.
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham.