Topic:
Naming a Child Zain ul Abideen or ZulKifl
(No-65890)
Can a child be named Muhammad ZulKifl or Muhammad Zain ul Abideen? We would like to add Muhammad for the blessing it carries, but we are unsure which of the remaining names is more appropriate. Also, can the family name Khan be added at the end?
1) "ZulKifl" (ذُوْالْکِفْل) means "one who has a portion." He was a righteous and pious man who served as the successor of Hazrat Yasa (peace be upon him). Some scholars of Quranic exegesis also hold that he was a prophet of Allah. It is therefore permissible to name a child ZulKifl (also written DhulKifl).
2) "Zain" (زَیْن) means "adornment" or "beauty", and "Abidin" (عَابِدِیْن) means "those who worship." Together, "Zain ul Abideen" (زَیْنُ الْعَابِدِیْن) means "the adornment of the worshippers." It is also permissible to give a child this name.
The word "Muhammad" (محمد) may be added before either of the above names for the purpose of blessing; there is no objection to this, and it is in fact a praiseworthy practice.
Similarly, adding a family name such as Khan at the end of the child's name is permissible, and there is no Shari'i objection to doing so.
Allah the Almighty knows best.
Darul Ifta Al-Ikhlas, Karachi.