How is it to name anyone ‘Nabi’ or ‘Nabiyyah’?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

What do respected Islamic scholars say about naming anyone ‘Nabi’ or ‘Nabiyyah’? And how is it to call anyone with this name?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

To name anyone ‘Nabi’ and to call him with it are both Haraam by Shari’ah. The same ruling applies to naming anyone ‘Nabiyyah’. Here are the details of this ruling: Although acknowledging any non-Nabi to be a Nabi is Kufr [disbelief], yet the ruling of Kufr will not be applied in the above case for the reason that the unwise Muslims [giving the child this name] do not actually acknowledge the child to be a Nabi or Nabiyyah. Instead, they give this name merely in ignorance and foolishness. However, it is as if this word is a claim showing apparently that the one given this name is Nabi. Therefore, it is certainly impermissible and Haraam to give this name.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Maulana Noorul Mustafa Attari

Verified by:Mufti Muhammad Hashim Khan Attari