Question Summary:
Naming a Child Alenya Question Detail:
I wander if you can please assist me with my query. My query is related to the Islamic ruling of naming your child. I have by the grace of Allah been blessed with a baby girl. Both me and my husband like the name Alenya. We know this name from a mutual friend who’s daughter also has this name. My husbands side of the family do not like the name and are adamant that we change it as they said it is not an Arabic name. I have done research and found that the name is derived from Arabic, Hebrew and Old Greek and comes from the name Aleena which means tender and delicate. The full name we have chosen is Alenya A’isha or Alenyah LuLu In addition to researching the meaning I have tried to educate myself of the rules and guidelines in Islam when naming your child. My understanding is that we are under no obligation to give our child a Arabic or non Arabic name and that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) stated that the name had to have a noble and nice meaning and that there is no requirement for your child to have a Arabic name as Islam is a universal religion. I have read a lot about it online and despite me relaying this information to my in laws they still dispute the name and say it is haraam. I feel that in this day in age a lot of Islam gets misconstrued with culture. I would just like clarification on this please. I understand that my child should have a strong Islamic identity but I don’t think they will get that from just a name. I feel as a mother I would be the best person to instil islam in them and that having a name like Alenya won’t take that away from their Islamic identity. Please can you clarify: - Can I name my daughter Alenya - Does your child have to have a Arabic name or does the name just have to have a nice meaning. I hope you can help me with this inshallah.
Answer :
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
May Allah make your baby girl the coolness of your eyes and grant her barakah in her life. Aameen.
In principle, it is not necessary that the name of the child be in Arabic.[1] We take note of your sentiments of misconstruing Islam with culture. However, in the case of naming one’s child, we are advised to keep names of the prophets.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
تَسَمَّوْا بأسَماءِ الأنبياء، وأحَبُّ الأسماءِ إلى الله عَبدُ الله وعبدُ الرحمن، وأصدَقُها حارِثٌ وهَمَّامٌ، وأقْبَحُها حَرْبٌ ومُرَّة
Give your children the names of prophets. The most beloved names to Allah are ‘Abdullah and ‘Abd al-Rahman, the truest are Harith and Hammam, and the worst are Harb and Murrah. (Sunan Abu Dawud, 4950)[2]
A name does have a strong influence on an individual. While we agree that it may well be that a child is not Islamically influenced only by a name, the mother should at least be influenced by the recommendation and advice of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in naming the child. If she fails being influenced by the hadith, she may not be Islamically driven and influenced to influence the child with Islamic values and morals. The above is expressed with the intention of sincere and honest advice.
We were unable to locate the basis of Alenya. The closest to Alenya is Alina or Aleena with a ‘ayn (ع) or a hamza (أ). If it is spelled with a ‘ayn, it will mean beautiful, clear, and distinct. If it is spelled with a hamza, it will mean soft, tender, and delicate.[3]
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best.
Lutfy Alam
Student Darul Iftaa
USA
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
______
[1] http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/18455
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/33974
http://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/17763
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/25151
[2]
سنن أبي داود ت الأرنؤوط (٧/٣٠٣)
٤٩٤٨ - حدَّثنا عمرو بن عون، أخبرنا وحدَّثنا مُسدَّدٌ، حدَّثنا هُشيم، عن داود بن عَمرو، عن عبد الله بن أبي زكريا عن أبي الدَّرداء، قال: قال رسولُ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: "إنّكم تُدعَوْنَ يومَ القيامَةِ باسمائِكُم وأسماءِ آبائكُم، فاحسِنُوا أسماءكم"
سنن أبي داود ت الأرنؤوط (٧/٣٠٥)
٤٩٥٠ - حدَّثنا هارونُ بن عبد الله، حدَّثنا هشامُ بن سعيد الطَّالْقانىُّ، أخبرنا محمدُ بن المُهاجِرِ الأنصاريُّ، قال: حَدَّثني عَقِيلُ بنُ شَبيب
عن أبي وَهْب الجُشَمِىّ -وكانت له صحبة- قال: قال رسولُ الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم: تَسَمَّوْا بأسَماءِ الأنبياء، وأحَبُّ الأسماءِ إلى الله: عَبدُ الله وعبدُ الرحمن، وأصدَقُها: حارِثٌ وهَمَّامٌ، وأقْبَحُها: حَرْبٌ ومُرَّة
[3] http://www.names4muslims.com/girl-names-starting-with-a?page=4
Aleena - Girl - Silk of heaven.
https://www.searchtruth.com/baby_names/names.php?ntype=f&find=2&letter=A
Aleena: silk of heaven
http://quranicnames.com/aleena/
Aleena is an indirect Quranic name for girls that means soft, pliable, delicate.
http://www.muslimnames.info/name/aleena
The meaning of the name Aleena is Silk of heaven, Beautiful, Fair, Good-looking.
| 
