Use of Abdul Before Names
Question:
My question is in regards to adding Abdul before a name. Is it mandatory to add Abdul before the names of Allah and why, if one is using Allah's name for a human. My second question is in regards to Hazarat Ali's name. Is Ali, one of the names of Allah, if yes then why we don't call him Abdul Ali (if saying Abdul is mandatory).
Just a little background on this. One of my nephew was named Ali. A discussion started among family members to add Abdul because it is one of the Allah's names. However, some believed it is not and since we have never seen Abdul with Hazarat Ali's name we should not be bothered using Abdul. Please through some light on this matter.
Thanks
Answer:
There is a hadith to the effect that Abdullah and Abdul-Rahamn are among the best names. However there is no obligation to add the name Abd before the names of God when they are given to human being, unless the name refers to those attributes of the Almighty that exclusively and absolutely belong to Him.
So for instance, Khaliq (Creator), Quddus (Holy), Muhyi (the one who gives life), these are the names that only deserve God. A person may call himself Abd al-Khaliq (servant of the creator) or Abd al-Quddus (servant of the holy) or Abd al-Muhyi (servant of the one who gives life).
There are other names of God that can also be the name of human beings because they can be used in their relative meaning. 'Ali' is one of them. 'Ali' means 'exalted'. Of course God is the most exalted but any human being can also be exalted in a relative sense.
The prophet (pbuh) in a number of occasions corrected some of the inappropriate names of his companions. If the name Ali was inappropriate then the prophet (pbuh) would certainly change the name, specially as it belonged to one of the closest companions and a member of his family. Not only this has not happened, we in fact see the companions and followers of companions giving names like Ali and other names of God without Abdul to their sons. Husayn ibn Ali named two of his sons Ali.
We should also appreciate that just because we are Muslims that does not mean that we are obliged to use Arabic names. We are free to use any names that we desire as long as it does not have a meaning that goes against our religious principles and values.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
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February 2014
My question is in regards to adding Abdul before a name. Is it mandatory to add Abdul before the names of Allah and why, if one is using Allah's name for a human. My second question is in regards to Hazarat Ali's name. Is Ali, one of the names of Allah, if yes then why we don't call him Abdul Ali (if saying Abdul is mandatory).
Just a little background on this. One of my nephew was named Ali. A discussion started among family members to add Abdul because it is one of the Allah's names. However, some believed it is not and since we have never seen Abdul with Hazarat Ali's name we should not be bothered using Abdul. Please through some light on this matter.
Thanks
Answer:
There is a hadith to the effect that Abdullah and Abdul-Rahamn are among the best names. However there is no obligation to add the name Abd before the names of God when they are given to human being, unless the name refers to those attributes of the Almighty that exclusively and absolutely belong to Him.
So for instance, Khaliq (Creator), Quddus (Holy), Muhyi (the one who gives life), these are the names that only deserve God. A person may call himself Abd al-Khaliq (servant of the creator) or Abd al-Quddus (servant of the holy) or Abd al-Muhyi (servant of the one who gives life).
There are other names of God that can also be the name of human beings because they can be used in their relative meaning. 'Ali' is one of them. 'Ali' means 'exalted'. Of course God is the most exalted but any human being can also be exalted in a relative sense.
The prophet (pbuh) in a number of occasions corrected some of the inappropriate names of his companions. If the name Ali was inappropriate then the prophet (pbuh) would certainly change the name, specially as it belonged to one of the closest companions and a member of his family. Not only this has not happened, we in fact see the companions and followers of companions giving names like Ali and other names of God without Abdul to their sons. Husayn ibn Ali named two of his sons Ali.
We should also appreciate that just because we are Muslims that does not mean that we are obliged to use Arabic names. We are free to use any names that we desire as long as it does not have a meaning that goes against our religious principles and values.
May God be satisfied with the family of the Prophet (pbuh) and his pious companions.
------------
February 2014
