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:

IT HAPPENS IN INDIA THAT THE BOYS FAMILY ALWAYS WANT TO KEEP THE NAME OF THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS CANNOT DO ANYTHING

WHT DO U HAV TO SAY ABT IT

REAGARDS

UMME TAHA 

(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:

Boy’s family keep name

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 no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Islam has laid the responsibility of giving a good name to a new born child on the parents or the guardians of the baby.  If the parents of the child, of their own free will, wish to give this right and honor to someone amongst their loved ones, there is absolutely no harm.

If it happens in a country or tribe that the husband’s family always keep the name of the child, then it is must be from amongst the specific culture of that country or family.  If the parents of the child have no objection in allowing someone amongst their family or loved ones to appoint a name for their new-born baby, there is absolutely no harm or restriction in doing so.

It is recorded in history that it was Prophet Mohamed (saws) who appointed the names of his grand-sons Hadrat Hasan (r.a.) and Hadrat Hussain (r.a.) who were born to his beloved daughter Hadrat Fatimah binte Rasool Allah (r.a.). 

Your Statement: AND THE PARENTS CANNOT DO ANYTHING WHT DO U HAV TO SAY ABT IT

Islam and Shariah law has given this right and responsibility of appointing a name of a new-born child upon the parents of the child.  If the parents wish, of their own free will to give this honor to someone else there is absolutely no harm; but no one has a right to demand or take away this right from the parents against their will.

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

Your Brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan