The History of My Islamic Name

Sometimes when people embrace Islam or revert to Islam, they will take a new Islamic name. To get a fresh start in life.

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Amr ibn al-‘As reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you not know that embracing Islam wipes away all sins committed before it, that emigration wipes away what came before it, and the Hajj pilgrimage wipes away what came before it?” Source: S?ah?ih? Muslim 121 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Muslim

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There can be other reasons as well.

Muhammad Ali born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and activist.

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, he began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics and turned professional later that year. He converted to Islam after 1961. He won the world heavyweight championship, defeating Sonny Liston in a major upset on February 25, 1964, at age 22. During that year, he denounced his birth name as a "slave name" and formally changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948), commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and musician. He has sold more than 100 million records and has more than two billion streams.

Stevens formally converted to Islam on 23 December 1977, taking the name Yusuf Islam in 1978. Yusuf is the Arabic rendition of the name Joseph; he stated that he "always loved the name Joseph" and was particularly drawn to the story of Joseph in the Qur'an.

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Some other people who have come to folds of Islam and some did that did not change their names.

Janet Jackson

Michael Jackson

Mike Tyson

Snoop Dogg

AR Rahman

Sharmila Tagore

Dharmendra and Hema Malini

Amrita Singh

Mamta Kulkarni

Ayesha Takia Azmi

Some of the people you may know of ?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Islam?? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_converts_to_Islam_from_Christianity?

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And many more. So, it’s not a requirement unless the name is something bad. ?

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The Prophet (peace be upon him) showed considerable interest in names. This is not surprising because a name is often the first thing that gives an impression of a person. If you have a good name, or one that invites optimism, people feel pleased to address you and speak to you. By contrast, a person with a bad name may invite bad associations and create a negative impression. Hence the Prophet made it clear to all his followers in all generations that choosing good names for their children is a duty of every parent.

At the time of the Prophet, the Arabs did not seem to give names much attention. It was the case with some of them that when a child was born, the father would go out in the desert, and if he sees an animal, he would call the child after that animal. Hence, some Arabian names of the time could mean, fox, lizard, dogs, etc. This is in marked contrast to the Prophet’s practice. When he saw a newly born child, he would pray for him or her and ask about his or her name. If he did not like it, he would change it. This was the case with boys and girls alike.

A Hadith mentions that a child born to Abu Ussayd was brought to the Prophet who took him and placed him on his thigh. Then the Prophet was distracted by something. The father told someone of his folk to take the child away, but its removal alerted the Prophet who immediately asked: “Where is the child?” The father told him that he was taken away. The Prophet asked what he was named. When he was told of the child’s name, he said: “No! His name is Al-Munthir.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

In this instance, we note that the name given originally to the child is not mentioned. We understand that the Prophet disliked it for some reason.

He gave him a new name, which means “the warner”, and the child was known by that name ever since. His original name was forgotten. Needless to say, the Prophet would not have changed the child’s name for no reason. His practice is to change only those names which either gave a bad impression or were unacceptable from the Islamic point of view.

Another Hadith quotes the Prophet as saying: “The worst name in God’s view is that of a man who calls himself ‘king of kings.” (Related by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmithi). Here the case is very clear. This title belongs to God alone. No one can call himself by such a title, even though he may be an emperor who rules over a vast kingdom, in which many regions enjoy some autonomy and each of which has its king or president who defers to that emperor.

This used to be the case in old empires, but even then, the overall lord of such an empire may not call himself king of kings, or by any similar title in any language. Anyone who rules over a kingdom or a state of any size must realize that being in such a position is an honor given to him by God and a great responsibility, as he will be accountable to God for his conduct. He should be grateful to God for the honor and privilege he has been given and must do his best to ensure justice to all his people. If he calls himself “king of kings,” he only betrays his arrogance, and arrogant people are disliked by God.

We mentioned that the Prophet changed names only when necessary, and he did this with both boys and girls, men and women. A Hadith reported by Abdullah ibn Umar mentions that the Prophet changed a woman’s name who was called Aassiyah. He said to her: “You are Jameelah.” Here the need for the change is quite obvious. Aassiyah is the female version of Aassi, both of which mean “disobedient.” The Prophet points out here that such a name is unacceptable because it stresses a quality which is associated with rejecting the faith or being rebellious. The Prophet gave her the name Jameelah, which means “pretty.”

One of the girls names the Prophet consistently changed was Barrah, which apparently was very common among the Arabs. The name means “righteous or dutiful”. So, there is nothing bad about the name, but what the Prophet seemed to dislike is that it asserts something that no one can confirm. It is a sort of a claim that cannot be substantiated. We note this from the following incident.

Muhammad ibn Amr ibn Ata’, who belonged to the tabi’een generations, i.e. the generation that succeeded the Prophet’s companions, visited Zainab bint Abu Salamah, the Prophet’s foster daughter. She asked him about the name of a sister (or a daughter according to some versions) of his. He said that her name was Barrah. Zainab told him: “Change her name. The Prophet married Zainab bint Jahsh whose original name was Barrah and he changed it to Zainab. He also came into Umm Salamah’s room when he married her and he heard her calling me by my name, Barrah. He said to my mother: ‘Do not commend yourselves. God knows best which of you is the righteous one and which is a sinner. Call her Zainab.’ (My mother) said to him: ‘She is Zainab.’ Muhammad ibn Amr said: ‘I will change her name.’ She said to him: ‘Change her name to that which the Prophet used. Call her Zainab’.” (Related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Muslim, Al-Darimi, and others).

In this story we have the reason for the change of the name stated by the Prophet. He disliked that a girl’s or a woman’s name should assert that she was righteous. In fact, the Prophet has consistently highlighted the fact that a Muslim must not praise himself. If a woman is asked her name, and she says, “I am Barrah,” this may be construed as a pretense to purity or righteousness, when God states clearly in the Qur’an: “Do not pretend to purity. He knows best who true and God-fearing is.” (53: 32)

In this story, the Prophet is said to have changed the name of one of his wives and the name of his stepdaughter, both of whom were called Barrah. In each case, he called the woman, or the girl concerned Zainab, which is made up of two words Zain and Abb, which mean respectively, adornment or beauty and father. This makes the name Zainab akin to ‘her father’s darling.”

When the Prophet’s stepdaughter hears the name Barrah given to a young girl, she tells her father or brother to change her name. She gives her reason and recommends very strongly that the girl be given the name the Prophet used in her own case. This is an exemplary case of following the Prophet’s lead.

What is also amazing is that we have reports mentioning that two more of the Prophet’s wives were originally called Barrah. He changed the name of one of them to Juwairiyyah and the other to Maymoonah.

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The situation with my name. I was raised catholic as a child I attended catholic school, and my mother named me Joseph, I also had a middle name and a confirmation name. lol when I was good my mother called me Joey if bad Joseph if real, bad all 3 of my names lol. A confirmation name is not a name that other people call you by, like a baptismal name.

Ideally, a confirmation name should be the name of a saint whom you know something about, or who inspires you, or whose virtues you want to imitate. It is the name of a saint who will accompany you through life.

Prior to my coming to the fold of Islam I was non domination my dog tags religious preferences were no religion preference. I was studying various religions like a scientist. I had a few spiritual things that had occurred. In the military to go up in rank many people study history or religion I chose religion.

I believed and still do all or most religions teach good stuff and there are many lessons we can learn. I learn all the time I make mistakes same as everyone else.? I have met and had some amazing people in my lifetime. Who I have learned so much from if you are one of the many.

I wanted to thank you and tell you I appreciate you. I am a work in progress.

When I came to Islam various mind-boggling things were occurring that some it took me many years to understand some that have no scientific explanation and I would have to attribute them too spiritual.

I at first wanted to understand Islam and why people were doing certain things that I now know are not Islam at all. At that time, I associated such things as Islam. Being an analysis by nature I observed the people and the culture. I felt and still do its good stuff. It stated to align for me, and I had become more interested. I used to watch a man name Ibrihim what I though was singing he and the other guys were so well mannered and very respectful men. Their Character moral qualities were distinctive, and standards were of such a level I have yet to meet such people with the exception of a few in my lifetime. Some of my teachers and some of you that may be reading this.

They are very special people not your average person.

I wanted to know more and asked for a Quran they invited me to dinner, and I saw for the first time in my life how Muslims prayed. These were groups of men and there were shifts that was occurring. As you know I had come to the fold of Islam.

They guys were so lovable and a lot of fun they always were joking or teasing. So, when I came to Islam. The next day they were teasing me. They said what kind of Muslim are you has no Islamic name?

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I was ok, np help me and I will pick one. They all started to say this name that name. I said tell you what I have an idea we will pray to God ask for God to pick it. Then you all can write the name you wanted we will put in in a hat the one I pick will be it.

They all started to take in Arabic I was like guys no arguing just write the name put it in a hat. Well, what they did unknown to me, was they all chose the same name or agreed to that. The name was one many Muslims chose Muhammad the name of the Prophet (phuh).

So, they all write a name I pick out of the hat it says Mahmoud lol. They are like what! What is this we all wrote Muhammad! I was like look for yourself they looked it said Mahmoud. Then they said wait a minute. Sammie! lol One of the guys wrote Mahmoud his baby's name.

So out of all of them that were the same I picked that one out of the hat lol. So, Mahmoud it was. Well, it did not stop there. The next day they said joking what kind of Muslim name has no middle or last name?

Arabic names have traditionally been based on a long naming system. Unlike the American names, for example, Arabic names can consist of four names or more, identifying the name of the person, father’s name, grandfather’s name, and finally the family name.

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Many Arabic names have meanings as ordinary adjectives and nouns. For example, the Arabic names? ????? and ????? are female names, which mean moon and sun respectively. Male names like ???? means “Happy” , ???? means “immortal”. Some Arabic names have religious associations. For example, ??????? means the servant of Allah (God). The most common Arabic name is ????? because of the Muslims’ Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Finally, in the Arabic cultures, titles tend to preface Arabic names. For example, ???????? ???? , ??????? ????, which can be rendered as Doctor Yasser and Engineer Sami. Here, the titles ???????? and ???????? are professional titles that preface the persons’ names. These titles help identify the professional, academic, and social status of the addressees. Culturally, Arab people tend to dignify titles and feel most of the time socially obliged to mention these titles whenever they address people. Some of these titles are abbreviated in writing as follows:

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So, I was like you all wanted Muhammad my middle name will be that. They said what about your last name. I said hmm Ibrihim. Ibrihim was a brother that was leery of me at first, he did not trust me and thought maybe I was not serious about the religion and was cautious or wary due or had suspicions.

?We had become so close as all of us were at that time.

Years later I became aware of a fact that is amazing and understood the honor of such a name. This name has a signific history in Islam that being it’s a linage of the prophet’s (pbut).

We all know that is that is sealed in Islam there will be no more, and that Muhammad (pbuh) was the final one.

The more I learn the more I find out how much I don't know.

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