Question Summary:
Is it permissible to name a son after an angel such as Mīkaīl?

Question Detail:

My son is 2 years old. After asking Muftis we decided to name him Mīkaīl. People said this is wrong however everybody that we asked that was pious said "mashallah". Recently my husband asked a Maulana for a hifazat taweez as my son has not been keeping well, Maulana refused and said that the name is too strong and I can't make it for him.
He also said if we continue to call him Mīkaīl he will always stay in ill health. I don't want to change his name as I love it, but I also feel are we doing something wrong by not changing it. Please help. I personally believe it is the name of an angel and what could be wrong with that?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
According to the majority of the ulamā it is permissible to name a son with the name of angels such as Mīkaīl, so there should be no need to change it. [i]

The continous ill health of your son is a cause of concern. It could be a medical condition, in which case it would be best to get proper medical care. In addition, make a practice of reciting the following duā on your son:
 
أُعِيذُكَ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مَنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ وَمَنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لَامَّةٍ
I seek protection for you with Allah's Perfect Words from every devil, and
every crawling creature, and every evil eye.
 
Our Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite this duā on his grandsons, Hasan (radiyallahu anhu) and Husayn (radiyallahu anhu). [ii] [iii]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Sohail ibn Arif
Student, Darul Iftaa
U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net
 
مذهبنا ومذهب الجمهور جواز التسمية بأسماء الأنبياء والملائكة صلوات الله وسلامه عليهم أجمعين ولم ينقل [i]
 فيه خلاف إلا عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه أنه نهى عن التسمية بأسماء الانبياء وعن الحرد بن مسكن  أنه كره  التسمية بأسماء الملائكة وعن مالك كراهة التسمية بجبريل وياسين
المجموع شرح المهذب، ٨/ ٤٣٦ دار الفكر
 
 [ii] كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يعوذ الحسن والحسين ، ويقول : ( إن أباكما كان يعوذ بها إسماعيل وإسحاق :
 أعوذ بكلمات الله التامة ، من كل شيطان وهامة ، ومن كل عين لامة ) .
 صحيح البخاري الرقم: ٣٣٧١
 
أعيذكما بكلمات الله التامة ، من كل شيطان وهامة ، ومن كل عين لامة . ثم يقول : كان أبوكم يعوذ بهما [iii]
 إسماعيل وإسحاق
سنن أبي داود الرقم: ٤٧٣٧