Ruling on naming humans with the names of angels

Al-hamdu lillah.

Ibn ul-Qayyim said in his book "Tuhfat il-Mawdood fi Ahkaam il-Mawlood" in the second chapter under "What is preferred among the names and what is considered reprehensible among them" said:

... and among them are the names of the angels such as Gibraa'eel and Meekaa'eel and Israafeel, it is makrooh to name human beings with these names. Ash'had said: Imam Maalik (may Allah have mercy upon him) was asked regarding naming someone the name Gibreel he abhorred it and it didn't please him; Judge 'ayaad said: "... and others allowed it." Abdul-Razzak said in al-Jaami' via Ma'mar: "I said to Hammaad ibn Abi Sulaiman what would you say regarding a man whose name is Gibreel or Mikaa'eel, and he responded, 'There is no objection.' (laa ba's bi-hi)"

Regarding the hadeeth:

"laa tusammow bi-asmaa' il-malaa'ikah" ("don't name yourselves with the names of the angels"),  al-Bukhari has said that the validity of its chain of narration is questionable. This means that the hadith would not be considered sahih. ("Tuhfat il-Mawdood," p. 83)

In al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyya most of the scholars have ruled that using the names of the angels like Gibreel and Mikaa'eel is not makrooh (disagreeable or reprehensible). Maalik, on the other hand, has ruled that it is makrooh. (al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyya, al-Kuwait, Vol 11/p.334)

Some have stated that the meaning of Gibreel is Abdullah and likewise Mikaa'eel. See Tafseer Ibn Katheer under aayaat numbers 97-98 in Surat il-Baqarah.

Thus, based on what has been presented, it is preferable not to use the names of the angels, and that we follow the rightly-guided forefathers in the naming of our children and in the naming of those who accept Islam among the non-believers. The most preferred names, no doubt, are Abdullah and Abdul-Rahman as has been related in the sound hadeeth. wallahu a'lam. And Allah knows best.

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid


It is makrooh to give a child the name Malak (“angel”)

Praise be to Allaah.

It is makrooh to use the name Malak or Malaak, and what you should do is change the name to one that is good and is not regarded as makrooh in sharee’ah. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about giving the names Abraar, Malaak, Eemaan and Jibreel. 

He replied: The names Abraar, Malaak, Eemaan and Jibreel should not be used. End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (3/67). 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allaah preserve him) was asked about calling a girl Malaak and he said: It is better not to do it, for two reasons: 

1-     What is meant by Malaak is malak (angel), and there is exaggeration in giving someone this name.

2-     It is a name that is well known among the (Arab) Christians, who are the ones who say malaak for malak. There are so many good names with which there is no problem, that there is no need to use names that are dubious or problematic. End quote.  

Shaykh Bakr ibn ‘Abd-Allaah Abu Zayd (may Allaah preserve him) said: As for giving women the names of angels, it seems that this is haraam, because it is like the way of the mushrikeen who regarded the angels as daughters of Allaah, exalted be Allaah above what they say. Something similar may be said about calling girls Malaak, Malakah and Malak (all meaning angels). End quote from Mu’jam al-Manaahi al-Lafziyyah, p. 565. 

Based on this, you should hasten to change this name if you can. 

And Allaah knows best.