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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Human Cycle Lesson 7 3-10-10 The Open School Class: Explanation of Forty Ahadith Text: Jalali, Sayyid Muhammad Husayn. Sharh al-Arba’in al-Nabawwiyah. Arabic edition 1987, pages 428-430. Summary Islam insists on good upbringing of children by any means that instills self-esteem because children are the future as well as the hope of the parents. For example, Islam insists on choosing a good name for your child.

Actually, a child has a right over the parent in which the parent must choose a good name for him or her. The name given to a child does have an effect on the child. For example, research shows that children whose names were of lower socio-economic status than their siblings scored on average three to five percent less in exams.[^1] The name given to a child may impact how the child views himself or herself and may impact how others view the child. Look at Saddam Hussein.

The name Saddam means one who beats or crashes. This name may have had a subconscious negative effect leading to the atrocities ordered by that man. From a practical point of view, a name given to a child becomes part of the child’s identity. If a child is named after a famous person, that child may be more willing to read the biography of that person and may choose, consciously or subconsciously, to adopt similar traits or characteristics.

Therefore, if a name has such impact, then a good name should be selected. In some instances, when a person converted to Islam, (peace be upon him and his family) would change his name if it were not appropriate. For example, he changed a man’s name from Harb (meaning war) to Silm (meaning peace).

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (may peace be upon him and his family) said that the best names for a child are those that denote servitude to God (the Almighty) , and the names of the Prophets (peace be upon all of them). (peace be upon him and his family) said that whoever has four children and has not named any of them after me has oppressed me . Another hadith (tradition) mentions that when Shaytan (Satan) hears someone say Muhammad or Ali, he withers or melts away .

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (peace be upon him and his family) said that when a child is born to us, we keep his name as Muhammad for seven days, and then we can change it if desired . (Jalali, page 429).