Is “Asher” a good name to keep for a baby boy?

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

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

As Muslims, we are advised to assume good names for our children, since the name of a person has an effect on his traits and characteristics.

Nabi salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said regarding the assumption of good names: “indeed you shall be called on the day of Qiyaamah with your names and the names of your fathers, so give good names to yourselves”.[1]

Hereunder follows our response regarding the names that you have enquired about:

1. The name Asher means: companion, associate, comrade, friend.[2]

It is a good name to keep.

2. The name Ashir has two meanings:

1. Tax collector.[3]

2. someone/something who/which is tenth in order.[4]

3. Hashir means: one who assembles/gathers the masses. This is one of the names of Nabi salallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam.[5]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Ismail Desai

Student, Darul Iftaa

South Africa

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net