[Q 523] Islamic Guidance on Names

QUESTION:

I was just wondering the name
Muhammed Ubaid
is it allowed to keep as a name if that makes sense because I was told that it wasn’t and if u can find out for me

ANSWER:

The name Muhammad ‘Ubaid should not be kept. However, it is permissible to keep ‘Ubaid with another Mu‘azzam (honourable) name after it, such as ‘Ubaid Muhammad, ‘Ubaid ‘Ali, ‘Ubaid Raza, and the like.

The principle regarding placing the word “Muhammad” at the beginning of a name is that if the meaning of that name can correctly apply to the name Muhammad, then it is permissible to place it before it; otherwise, it is not permitted. ‘Ubaid is the diminutive form of ‘Abd, which means a small slave. From this perspective, its meaning does not correctly apply to the name Muhammad, therefore it is not permitted to place the word “Muhammad” before ‘Ubaid.

It is mentioned in Jahan Mufti A‘zam Hind that Siraj al-‘Arifin Hazrat ‘Allamah Mawlana Ghulam Asi رحمۃ اللہ تعالی علیہ states that he had included the word Muhammad at the beginning of his name for blessings. Upon this, Sayyidi Hazrat Mufti A‘zam رحمۃ اللہ تعالی علیہ admonished him, saying that the name of the Messenger should not be used here. The ‘Allamah states that he immediately submitted, “Huzoor, then what is the ruling regarding Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hayy?” In response, Hazrat said, “Where is ‘Abd al-Hayy, and where is Ghulam Asi?” The ‘Allamah states that upon hearing this answer, he was astonished, and the greatness of Hazrat’s deep understanding of religion became firmly ingrained in his heart.

Hazrat Mufti A‘zam علیہ الرحمہ, through this statement, provided the guidance that when the word Muhammad is placed at the beginning of a name, if the meaning of that name correctly applies to the word “Muhammad”, then placing Muhammad before it is valid; and if the meaning does not apply to “Muhammad”, then it is not valid to place it at the beginning. Huzoor Sayyid ‘Alam صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم is ‘Abd al-Hayy, therefore saying Muhammad ‘Abd al-Hayy is correct, but he is not Ghulam Asi, hence saying Muhammad Ghulam Asi is inappropriate.

(Jahan Mufti A‘zam Hind, Pages 451–452, Shabbir Brothers, Lahore)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 30th December 2025