Should We Change Our Daughter’s Name?
November 27, 2006
This question is answered by Wael Abdelgawad, the AskBilqis.com and Zawaj.com Editor and Administrator.
QUESTION:
Dear Bilqis,
My husband and I named our daughter Maya, believing it to be an Arabic name. We now understand it is a Hindu name meaning ‘’illusion.'’ We are very concerned as we know the importance of giving our child a name with Islamic meaning. Should we change her name?
- Mum from England
WAEL ANSWERS:
Dear Mum, As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah,
Yes, in my opinion you should change the name. I realize this is probably an inconvenience.
Among the names that we should avoid are names that are particular to the non-Muslims, as this creates a bond with them and a feeling of closeness with them, rather than with our fellow Muslims.
Furthermore, in this particular case, this name (Maya) represents a concept that is esssential to Hindu belief. If my understanding is correct, according to Hinduism all the world we see is unreal. We human beings tend to think that both we and the world are real and separate, but this (according to Hinduism) is an illusion, which is called maya. Our pursuit of this illusory world - and of our own selfish individualism - plunges us into a vortex of confusion and misery.
Or something like that.
I am not saying this concept is entirely without merit. The Qur’an says in Surat al-Kahf (which of course is a Surah that deals heavily with themes of impermanence and transience),
“Make a metaphor for them of the life of this world. It is like water that We send down from the sky, and the plants of Earth combine with it, and it becomes fresh and green. But (later) it becomes dry chaff scattered by the winds. Allah has absolute power over everything.
“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But, in your Lord’s sight, right actions that are lasting bring a better reward and are a better basis for hope.” [18:45-46]
So we certainly have the concept in Islam that this world is fleeting and insubstantial, and that the riches of this world are nothing but an adornment, a decoration - in other words a kind of distraction - while the next life is the one that is lasting, permanent and substantial.
However, there are clear differences between the Hindu concept of maya and the Islamic concept of the dunya and aakhirah. Although we consider this world to be fleeting, nevertheless it is real, and our deeds in this life matter and make a difference. This world is our arena of action. If this world was unreal or unimportant, then the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would not have gotten married, had children, and established a political state and government. Instead he would have been merely a spiritual practicioner, a pure ascetic - like a Hindu yogi, perhaps.
My point is that our Islamic concepts differ from the Hindu concept of maya in fundamental ways.
Oh, and by the way, Maya is also the name of the Hindu goddess of illusion.
So this name carries too many un-Islamic connotations, and expresses a dominant concept in Hindu theology. Therefore it is best to change it.
You probably want a name with a similar sound. You may have confused your daughter’s name with an old Arabic name, “May.” It’s a pretty name, but I cannot recommend it since the meaning is no longer known. Therefore my recommendations are:
Maimuna (fortunate, blessed). I think this is a very euphonic name, and I know a Maimuna who has always been a happy person.
Muna or Mona - Wish, desire. A short, strong name. I have a cousin by this name. She is an independent thinker, brave and likes to laugh.
Mina - Light. The name itself seems rather light and airy. Slips off the tongue very easily.
Munirah - Illuminated, Shining. A strong name, light and yet weighty at the same time somehow. A friend of mine has a daughter by this name. She’s a good girl, softspoken but quite intelligent.
Maryam - mother of Prophet Isa (as). You mentioned that you like this name. A wonderful name of course, but perhaps too common.
Maha - gazelle. A cute, short name with a nice sound.
Maysun or Maysoon - Of beautiful face and body.
Muminah - Pious believer. Speaks for itself.
Of course she is your child and you should choose the name that resonates with you in some way. My best wishes for a bright future, Insha’Allah, to you and your daughter.
If any readers have some additional advice for this questioner, feel free to post your comments below.
Glory to You Allah, we praise You, we bear witness that there is no God except You, we ask Your forgivess and we repent to You.
Best regards,
- Wael Hesham Abdelgawad, Administrator
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Written by wael on November 26th, 2006 with no comments.
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