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Naming the Child Muhammad Arham or Muhammad Arqam

Question

I named my son MUHAMMAD ARHAM. But people are confusing me to change his name. Because arham means most mercifull, Most merciful is allah only. Should i change my son name? If incase i change my son name to MUHAMMAD ARQAM, I have to cofirm before i changed to muhammad arqam is correct or not? and then i want to know exact meaning of both names and is it right to put these names for boys?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

No, it is not obligatory to change the mentioned name. The word ‘Arham’ does not necessarily mean that one is more merciful than Allah.

The Companions used to call the term ‘Arham’ on the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) but they did not consider that his mercy is favored over the Mercy of Allah, and they did not have any whispers about this. Anas ibn Malik, may Allaah be pleased with him, said, “I have never seen anyone more merciful to children than the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).” [Muslim]

For more benefit on naming children with good names, please refer to Fatawa 82724, 87262, 88553 and 87596.

Allah knows best.

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