Hadith Research Libraryمكتبة الحديث والرجال

Chapter 70.0

Changing bad names

باب فِي تَغْيِيرِ الاِسْمِ الْقَبِيحِ

10 hadiths

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4952sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by Ahmad bin HanbalfromMasdad bin MasrhadfromYahya bin Sa'id bin Farroukh al-Qatanfrom'Ubaidullah bin 'Umar bin HafsfromNafie'fromibn Umar

Hadith text · Matn

‏ أَنْتِ جَمِيلَةُ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Ibn ‘Umar said :

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) changed the name of ‘Asiyah and called her Jamilah.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم غَيَّرَ اسْمَ عَاصِيَةَ وَقَالَ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4953hasan

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by 'Isa bin Hammad bin Muslim, Zaghbafromal-Laith bin Sa'dfromYazid bin Abi HabibfromIbn IshaqfromMuhammad bin 'Amr bin 'Alqama

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، سَأَلَتْهُ مَا سَمَّيْتَ ابْنَتَكَ قَالَ سَمَّيْتُهَا بَرَّةَ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ هَذَا الاِسْمِ سُمِّيتُ بَرَّةَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ لاَ تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمُ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَهْلِ الْبِرِّ مِنْكُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ مَا نُسَمِّيهَا قَالَ ‏"‏ سَمُّوهَا زَيْنَبَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Muhammad b. ‘Amr b. ‘Ata said :

Zainab daughter of Abu Salamah asked him: Which name did you give to your daughter? He replied : Barrah. She said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade giving this name. I was called Barrah but the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Do not declare yourselves pure, for Allah knows best those of you who are obedient. He said: we asked; which name should we give her? He replied: Call her Zainab.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4954sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

3 transmitters

Narrated by Masdad bin MasrhadfromBashr bin al-Mufadl bin LahaqfromBashyr bin Maymun

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرٌ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمُفَضَّلِ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بَشِيرُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ، أُسَامَةَ بْنِ أَخْدَرِيٍّ أَنَّ رَجُلاً، يُقَالُ لَهُ أَصْرَمُ كَانَ فِي النَّفَرِ الَّذِينَ أَتَوْا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا اسْمُكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَنَا أَصْرَمُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ بَلْ أَنْتَ زُرْعَةُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Usamah ibn Akhdari:

A man called Asram was among those who came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: What is your name? He replied: Asram. He said: No, you are Zur'ah.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4955sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

2 transmitters

Narrated by al-Rabi' bin Nafi' Abu Tawba al-HalbifromYazid bin al-Mqdam bin Shryh

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا الرَّبِيعُ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْمِقْدَامِ بْنِ شُرَيْحٍ - عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، شُرَيْحٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، هَانِئٍ أَنَّهُ لَمَّا وَفَدَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَعَ قَوْمِهِ سَمِعَهُمْ يَكْنُونَهُ بِأَبِي الْحَكَمِ فَدَعَاهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَكَمُ وَإِلَيْهِ الْحُكْمُ فَلِمَ تُكْنَى أَبَا الْحَكَمِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ إِنَّ قَوْمِي إِذَا اخْتَلَفُوا فِي شَىْءٍ أَتَوْنِي فَحَكَمْتُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَضِيَ كِلاَ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَا أَحْسَنَ هَذَا فَمَا لَكَ مِنَ الْوَلَدِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لِي شُرَيْحٌ وَمُسْلِمٌ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَمَنْ أَكْبَرُهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قُلْتُ شُرَيْحٌ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَنْتَ أَبُو شُرَيْحٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ شُرَيْحٌ هَذَا هُوَ الَّذِي كَسَرَ السِّلْسِلَةَ وَهُوَ مِمَّنْ دَخَلَ تُسْتَرَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَبَلَغَنِي أَنَّ شُرَيْحًا كَسَرَ بَابَ تُسْتَرَ وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ مِنْ سِرْبٍ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Hani ibn Yazid:

When Hani went with his people in a deputation to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he heard them calling him by his kunyah (surname), AbulHakam. So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) called him and said: Allah is the judge (al-Hakam), and to Him judgment belongs. Why are you given the kunyah AbulHakam? He replied: When my people disagree about a matter, they come to me, and I decide between them, and both parties are satisfied with my decision. He said: How good this is! What children have you? He replied: I have Shurayh, Muslim and Abdullah. He asked; Who is the oldest of them? I replied: Shurayh. He said: Then you are AbuShurayh. Abu Dawud said: This is Shuraib who broke the chain, and who entered Tustar. Abu Dawud said: I have been told that Shuraib broke the gate of Tustar, and he entered it through tunnel.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4956sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by Ahmed bin Salah al-Masrifrom'Abdur-RazzaqfromMa'mar bin Rashidfromal-ZuhrifromSa'id ibn al-Musayyibfromal-Musayyib bin Hazn b. Abi Wahb

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لَهُ ‏"‏ مَا اسْمُكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ حَزْنٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَنْتَ سَهْلٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ السَّهْلُ يُوطَأُ وَيُمْتَهَنُ ‏.‏ قَالَ سَعِيدٌ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ سَيُصِيبُنَا بَعْدَهُ حُزُونَةٌ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَغَيَّرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم اسْمَ الْعَاصِ وَعَزِيزٍ وَعَتَلَةَ وَشَيْطَانٍ وَالْحَكَمِ وَغُرَابٍ وَحُبَابٍ وَشِهَابٍ فَسَمَّاهُ هِشَامًا وَسَمَّى حَرْبًا سَلْمًا وَسَمَّى الْمُضْطَجِعَ الْمُنْبَعِثَ وَأَرْضًا تُسَمَّى عَفِرَةَ سَمَّاهَا خَضِرَةَ وَشِعْبَ الضَّلاَلَةِ سَمَّاهُ شِعْبَ الْهُدَى وَبَنُو الزِّنْيَةِ سَمَّاهُمْ بَنِي الرِّشْدَةِ وَسَمَّى بَنِي مُغْوِيَةَ بَنِي رِشْدَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ تَرَكْتُ أَسَانِيدَهَا لِلاِخْتِصَارِ ‏.‏

English translation

Sa'id b. Musayyab told that his father said on the authority of his grandfather (Hazn):

The Prophet (ﷺ) asked: What is your name? He replied: Hazn (rugged). He said: You are Sahl (smooth). He said: No, smooth is trodden upon and disgraced. Sa'id said: I then thought that ruggedness would remain among us after it. AbuDawud said: The Prophet (ﷺ) changed the names al-'As, Aziz, Atalah, Shaytan, al-Hakam, Ghurab, Hubab, and Shihab and called him Hisham. He changed the name Harb (war) and called him Silm (peace). He changed the name al-Munba'ith (one who lies) and called him al-Mudtaji' (one who stands up). He changed the name of a land Afrah (barren) and called it Khadrah (green). He changed the name Shi'b ad-Dalalah (the mountain path of a stray), the name of a mountain path and called it Shi'b al-Huda (mountain path of guidance). He changed the name Banu az-Zinyah (children of fornication) and called them Banu ar-Rushdah (children of those who are on the right path), and changed the name Banu Mughwiyah (children of a woman who allures and goes astray), and called them Banu Rushdah (children of a woman who is on the right path). AbuDawud said: I omitted the chains of these for the sake of brevity.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4957da’if

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

6 transmitters

Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abi ShaybafromHashim bin al-Qasim bin MuslimfromMujalid bin Sa'id bin 'Umayrfrom'Amir al-Sha'bifromMasrouq bin al-Ajda'fromMasrouq bin al-Ajda'

Hadith text · Matn

‏ الأَجْدَعُ شَيْطَانٌ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab:

Masruq said: I met Umar ibn al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) who said: Who are you? I replied: Masruq ibn al-Ajda'. Umar then said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: al-Ajda' (mutilated) is a devil.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَقِيلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُجَالِدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ لَقِيتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَنْتَ قُلْتُ مَسْرُوقُ بْنُ الأَجْدَعِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4958sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Abu Ja'far al-NafailifromZuhayr bin Mua'wiya bin HudayjfromMansur bin al-Ma'tamar al-SalmifromHilal bin YasaffromSamra bin Jundub

Hadith text · Matn

‏ لاَ تُسَمِّيَنَّ غُلاَمَكَ يَسَارًا وَلاَ رَبَاحًا وَلاَ نَجِيحًا وَلاَ أَفْلَحَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقُولُ أَثَمَّ هُوَ فَيَقُولُ لاَ إِنَّمَا هُنَّ أَرْبَعٌ فَلاَ تَزِيدَنَّ عَلَىَّ ‏

‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Samurah b. Jundub reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:

Do not call your servant Yasar (wealth), Rabah (profit), Nijih(prosperous) and Aflah (successful), for you may ask; Is he there? And someone says: No. Samurah said: These are four (names), so do not attribute more to me.

Original Arabic chain wording

حَدَّثَنَا النُّفَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مَنْصُورُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ يِسَافٍ، عَنْ رَبِيعِ بْنِ عُمَيْلَةَ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4959sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Ahmad bin HanbalfromMa'tmar bin Sulaiman-al-TaufaylfromSulaiman bin Tarkhan al-TaymifromSamra bin Jundub

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الرُّكَيْنَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ نُسَمِّيَ رَقِيقَنَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْمَاءٍ أَفْلَحَ وَيَسَارًا وَنَافِعًا وَرَبَاحًا ‏.‏

English translation

Samurah said:

The Aposlte of Allah (ﷺ) forbade giving four names to our slaves : Aflah (successful), Yasar (wealth), Naf(beneficial) and Rabah (profit).

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4960sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

5 transmitters

Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abi ShaybafromMuhammad bin 'Ubaid al-TanafasifromSulaiman al-A'mashfromTalha bin Nafi' Abi Sufyan al-AskaffromJabir ibn 'Abdullah

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنْ عِشْتُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْهَى أُمَّتِي أَنْ يُسَمُّوا نَافِعًا وَأَفْلَحَ وَبَرَكَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ الأَعْمَشُ وَلاَ أَدْرِي ذَكَرَ نَافِعًا أَمْ لاَ ‏"‏ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَقُولُ إِذَا جَاءَ أَثَمَّ بَرَكَةٌ فَيَقُولُونَ لاَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَى أَبُو الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ بَرَكَةَ ‏.‏

English translation

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If I survive (God willing), I shall forbid my people to give the names Nafi' (beneficial), Aflah (successful) and Barakah (blessing). Al-A'mash said: I do not know whether he mentioned Nafi' or not. When a man comes and asks: Is there Barakah (blessing)? The people say: No. Abu Dawud said: A similar tradition has been transmitted by Abu al-Zubair on the authority of Jabir from the Prophet (ﷺ) through a different chain of narrators. This version has no mention of Barakah.

Sunan Abi Dawud, 4961sahih

Chain of narration · Isnād

Each narrator name opens their biography and classical source evidence.

4 transmitters

Narrated by Ahmad bin HanbalfromSufyan bin 'UyaynahfromAbu al-Zanadfrom'Abdur Rahman bin Harmaz al-A'araj

Hadith text · Matn

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ أَخْنَعُ اسْمٍ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ تَسَمَّى مَلِكَ الأَمْلاَكِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ شُعَيْبُ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ بِإِسْنَادِهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَخْنَى اسْمٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

English translation

Abu Hurairah reported the prophet (ﷺ) as saying :

The vilest names in Allah’s sight on the Day of resurrection will be that of a man called Malik al-Amlak. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has also been transmitted by Shu'aib b. Abi Hamzah from Abi al-Zinad through different chain of narrators. This version has the words "akhna' ismin" (most obscene name) instead of "akhna ismin" (the vilest name).