Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

some muslims shorten their meaningful names to make it sweet for calling.Thereby they spoil the real meaning of the names.Is it not unislamic? 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Shortening names

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 49 Surah Hujuraat verse 11:

11      O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): Nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness (to be used of one) after he has believed: And those who do not desist are (Indeed) doing wrong.

 

It is absolutely against the guidance of Islam and a sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah to appoint or call others by offensive or derogatory nicknames; or nicknames which are derived out of hatred, mockery, sarcasm, envy, jealousy, etc.

 

But there is absolutely no harm in assigning or calling another by a good nickname, a name which has been derived out of love and compassion, not out of hatred, or sarcasm, or mockery, etc.

 

For example, The Lord Most High has Himself assigned ‘nicknames’ for His Noble and Beloved Messenger (saws) like Muzammil and Mudatthir meaning one who is wrapped up in a cloth or blanket; or the nickname Prophet Mohamed (saws) assigned to his beloved cousin and son-in-law, Hadrat Ali (r.a.) by calling him Abu-Turab (literally meaning ‘father of dust’ or ‘one who lies upon dust’).

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 73 Surah Muzammil verses 1-2:

1        O thou ‘Muzammil’ (one who is folded in garments; ie. the Prophet (saws))!

2        Stand (to pray) by night but not all night

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 74 Surah Mudhatthir verses 1-2:

1        O thou ‘Mudhatthir’ (one who is wrapped up in a mantle; ie. the Prophet (saws))!

2        Arise and deliver thy warning!

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.223         Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

The most beloved names to Ali ibn Abi Taalib (r.a.) was ‘Abu Turab’, and he used to be pleased when we called him by it, for none named him Abu Turab (for the first time), but the Prophet (saws). Once Ali got angry with (his wife) Fatimah, and went out (of his house) and slept near a wall in the mosque. The Prophet (saws) came searching for him, and someone said, "He is there, lying near the wall." The Prophet (saws) came to Ali while his (Ali's) back was covered with dust. The Prophet (saws) started removing the dust from his back, saying (lovingly), "Get up, O Abu Turab!, Get up, O Abu Turab!"

 

It is only the assigning and calling of offensive or derogatory nicknames which has been absolutely forbidden by Allah Subhanah; but if one assigns or calls another by a good nickname in their love, compassion, and honor for their brother-in-faith, there is absolutely no harm.

 

Your Question: …..some muslims shorten their meaningful names to make it sweet for calling.Thereby they spoil the real meaning of the names.

Although it is best and only appropriate that one is recognized by the name one’s parents have assigned for them, there is no specific evidence in the Quran or the Sunnah which declares it prohibited unto the believers if they wish to call themselves or be recognized by a ‘shortened-version’ of their own name, provided the ‘shortened-name’ itself does not inherently have an evil or vile meaning.

 

Thus for example….if one who is named ‘Sameer’ wishes to call himself or be recognized as ‘Mr. S’ or ‘Sam’ or ‘Sami’, etc….there is absolutely no harm and no sin. 

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan