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:

Dear Sir(s),

I have been following your forum for one year now by virtue of your newsletter reaching me by email. Anyway its really a very good thing to devote once`s time and efforts in `Khidmat-e-Khalq` I thank Allah that he has showed us a path through your forum.

My question is:

1. Can we as Muslims keep names that are not from the Holy Qur`an, or basically speaking, from Arabic. Like they are from Hindi or English language ? Is it permissible in Islam ?

2. One of my colleagues at work was telling me about a certain document which was written by some Muslim in which the author has written that Prophet Isa`a ( Alaihi Salam ) had a father in contradiction to the norm that the birth of Prophet Isa`a was a miracle of Allah and His sign to Mankind. In the document and in support of his theory (???) he has quoted many Aya`ahs from the Holy Qur`an to justify his cause. I request you to comment on this. If you want I can forward you the document in which this gentleman has discussed this topic.

Thanking you for your help in guiding us to the right path.

Your brother

(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:

Prophet jesus (Isa) had a father

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.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question-1. Can we as Muslims keep names that are not from the Holy Qur`an, or basically speaking, from Arabic. Like they are from Hindi or English language ? Is it permissible in Islam ?

There is absolutely no compulsion or obligation in Islam that one keep his name from the Arabic or any language. One may keep one's name or the name of one's loved one in any language one wishes, provided the name one chooses is not associated with 'shirk' or it does not have an evil meaning.

When the people accepted the call of the Prophet (saws) to Islam, the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not change their names unless the name they had was associated with 'shirk' or had an evil meaning. The majority of the noble companions were called and recognized by the same name their parents had chosen for them in the 'days of Ignorance' before Islam.

Your Question-2: One of my colleagues at work was telling me about a certain document which was written by some Muslim in which the author has written that Prophet Isa`a ( Alaihi Salam ) had a father in contradiction to the norm that the birth of Prophet Isa`a was a miracle of Allah and His sign to Mankind. In the document and in support of his theory (???) he has quoted many Aya`ahs from the Holy Qur`an to justify his cause. I request you to comment on this.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imraan verses 45-47:

45 Behold! the Angel said "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.

46 "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity and he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

47 She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth; when He hath decreed a plan He but saith to it `Be' and it is!"

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 19 Surah Maryam verses 16-22:

16 Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East.

17 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our Angel and he appeared before her as a man in all respects.

18 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah."

19 He said: "Nay I am only a messenger from thy Lord (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son."

20 She said: "How shall I have a son seeing that no man has touched me and I am not unchaste?"

21 He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) Decreed."

22 So she conceived him and she retired with him to a remote place.

Dear and Beloved Brother, in light of the above and various other Aayahs of the Glorious Quran, it is evident that the noble Prophet Isa (a.s.) was born of a miraculous birth without any male intervention. Allah is our witness, it is the belief of every true believer who sincerely believes in Allah and His Message of the Quran that our noble Prophet Jesus (a.s.) had absolutely no father; and any person who claims or believes that Jesus (a.s.) son of Mary had a father displays disbelief of an absolutely clear verse and guidance of the Glorious Quran, and utters a manifest blasphemy and a lie!

Just as Allah Subhanah created Prophet Adam (a.s.) without a father and a mother, the same All-Mighty Lord created Prophet Jesus (a.s.) son of Mary without a father and without any male intervention whatsoever as a Sign unto mankind. The All-Mighty, All-Wise Lord does and creates whatever He Wills, and when He desires to do something, all He Says is 'BE', and it happens!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale-Imran verses 59-60:

59 This similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam: He created him (Adam) from dust then said to him: "Be" and he was.

60 The Truth (comes) from Allah Alone; so be not of those who doubt.

Allah is our witness brother, any person who claims that the Noble Prophet Jesus (a.s.) was not born of miraculous birth without any male intervention, or that he had a father, or even dares to imply that Mary the mother of Prophet Jesus (a.s.) was (I take refuge in Allah from stating this) unchaste utters an abomination and a heinous blasphemy against these noblest of souls; and Allah is our witness, the person who claims such blasphemies is no more than a confirmed and manifest liar!

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan