Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah

Naming child after angels

· 3 Safar 1435 AH1 min readFatwa 27663English

Question

I would like to know whether or not it is permissible to name a child after an angel as I am thinking of naming my son Mikaeel and haven't seen any evidence supporting why you shouldn't do so. If you could please shed some light on the matter as I cannot find any clear hadith or teaching.

Answer

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

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

In principle, one is permitted to name his child after an angel[1]. However, some Ulamah (scholars) have stated that it is Makrooh (disliked) for one to do so [2].Therefore, we advise that you name your child after the Ambiyaa (prophets) or Sahaabah.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Immad Bin Arshad

Student Darul Iftaa
California, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

[1] شرح معاني الآثار (6/ 14)

فقد رأينا الملائكة ، لا بأس أن يتسموا بأسمائهم

فقه السنة (3/ 329)

ويصح التسمية بأسماء الملائكة والانبياء وطه ويس

الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية (11/ 334)

ذهب أكثر العلماء إلى أن التسمية بأسماء الملائكة كجبريل وميكائيل لا تكره

[2] تحفة المودود بأحكام المولود (ص: 119)

وَمِنْهَا كأسماء الْمَلَائِكَة كجبرائيل وَمِيكَائِيل وإسرافيل فَإِنَّهُ يكره تَسْمِيَة الْآدَمِيّين بهَا قَالَ أَشهب سُئِلَ مَالك عَن التسمي بِجِبْرِيل فكره ذَلِك وَلم يُعجبهُ وَقَالَ القَاضِي عِيَاض قد استظهر بعض الْعلمَاء التسمي بأسماء الْمَلَائِكَة وَهُوَ قَول الْحَارِث بن مِسْكين قَالَ وَكره مَالك التسمي بِجِبْرِيل وَيَاسِين وأباح ذَلِك غَيره قَالَ عبد الرَّزَّاق فِي الْجَامِع عَن معمر قَالَ قلت لحماد بن أبي سُلَيْمَان كَيفَ تَقول فِي رجل تسمى بِجِبْرِيل وَمِيكَائِيل فَقَالَ لَا بَأْس بِهِ

شرح النووي على مسلم (14/ 117)

قَالَ الْقَاضِي وَقَدْ كَرِهَ بَعْضُ الْعُلَمَاءِ التَّسَمِّي بِأَسْمَاءِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ مِسْكِينٍ قَالَ وَكَرِهَ مَالِكٌ التَّسَمِّي بِجِبْرِيلَ وَيَاسِينَ

Answered by
Immad Bin Arshad
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
View original Compare with other Darul Iftas
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue

For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.

Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/27663
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-27663

People also ask

How should I choose a name for my child?

“The Fuqaha (jurists) have mentioned a general rule one should take into consideration when naming a child. The preferable view of the Fuqaha (jurists) is to abstain from keeping such names which are not mentioned by Allah…”

Azaadville · 266 fatawa from 6 Darul Iftas on this

What the Darul Iftas say

Same question, other Darul Iftas

The closest match from each Darul Ifta, found by wording. Check that the question matches yours.

Compare the answers side by side

Related fatawa