What is Sunan Ibn Majah 3466 about?

This hadith from Sunan Ibn Majah (Book of Etiquette), narrated by It was narrated that Samurah said:, states: ""The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) forbade giving our slaves four names: Aflah (successful), Nafi' (beneficial), Rabah (profit) and Yasar(prosperity).""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan Ibn Majah, which contains 4,345 hadiths across 38 books. It is hadith number 3466 in the Book of Etiquette.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#3465

#3466

Sunan Ibn Majah

#3467

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Sunan Ibn Majah #3466

Etiquette

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعْتَمِرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنِ الرُّكَيْنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أَنْ نُسَمِّيَ رَقِيقَنَا أَرْبَعَةَ أَسْمَاءٍ أَفْلَحُ وَنَافِعٌ وَرَبَاحٌ وَيَسَارٌ ‏.‏

"The Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) forbade giving our slaves four names: Aflah (successful), Nafi' (beneficial), Rabah (profit) and Yasar(prosperity)."

Narrated by It was narrated that Samurah said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) addresses the practice of naming slaves. He specifically forbids the use of four names that imply success and prosperity, which could lead to unrealistic expectations or social status for those individuals. The takeaway emphasizes the importance of humility and the ethical treatment of those in servitude.

Modern Application

In today's context, this hadith encourages us to choose names that reflect positive qualities without imposing burdensome expectations. It reminds us to treat all individuals with respect, regardless of their social status, and to be mindful of the implications of our words.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Prophetic Command and Etiquette of Naming because it illustrates a direct instruction from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) regarding the ethical considerations in naming individuals.

Prophetic Command Etiquette of Naming