Proper and improper names
Question
Question: What is the Shari‘a ruling on giving names of this kind: (1) ‘Abd al-Habib, or (2) Ghulam Nabi, or (3) Ghulam Mustafa, or (4) Ghulam Nabi, or (5) ‘Abd al-Rasul, or (6) Muhammad Rasul, or (7) Shaykh Muhammad, or only (8) Muhammad, or only (9) Ahmad, or (10) Rabb al-Din, and the like?
Answer
Of these, names 2, 3, 7, 8 and 9 are proper; giving the remaining names is makruh. Note: the name ‘Abd al-Kalam also ought to be changed.
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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