Can we name a baby “Khalid Ullah”? Someone mentioned it may have conflicting meanings. Is this correct?

Question : Can we name a baby “Khalid Ullah”? Someone mentioned it may have conflicting meanings. Is this correct?

All Praise to Allah

May Allah bless you and your family, and grant you ease and wisdom when you choose a name for your child. Ameen.

Summary:  Given the context, it would be advisable to choose a name that does not combine “Khalid” directly with “Ullah.” The basic principle concerning names is that they are permissible, but there are some matters which are prohibited according to the Shari`ah and should be avoided when choosing names.

In Islam, naming a child is an important event, and names carry significant meanings. The name “Syed Khalid Ullah” can be examined for its components:

• “Syed” signifies a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ)
• “Khalid” means “eternal” or “immortal.”
• “Ullah” (or “Allah”) refers to God.

The concern about combining “Khalid” (eternal) with “Ullah” (Allah) is valid because it might imply “eternal God,” which is not appropriate, as it conflicts with Islamic theology where Allah is uniquely eternal and beyond comparison.

Additionally, the practice of combining any word with terms like al-Din or Islam (e.g., Nur al-Din) is generally discouraged (makruh) because it can be seen as exaggeration and may give incorrect impressions.

Given this context, it would be advisable to choose a name that does not combine “Khalid” directly with “Ullah.” One possible alternative is “Syed Khalid,” which maintains the honorific and lineage aspects without implying any conflicting meanings.

Best Names:

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, “The most beloved of your names to Allah are ‘Abd-Allah and ‘Abd al-Rahmaan”
(Sahih Muslim 2132).

Names of Prophets:

The Prophet (ﷺ) also advised naming children after prophets. He said, “Name your children by the names of the Prophets”
(Abu Dawood 4950).

Avoiding Bad Names:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The most truthful names are Harith and Hammam, and the worst names are Harb and Murrah”
(Abu Dawood 4950).

General Advice:

Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, the best of your names are ‘Abdullah and ‘Abdur-Rahman”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 36, Hadith 3730).

These hadiths emphasize choosing names with good meanings and avoiding names that have negative connotations. Naming children after prophets is also encouraged

And Allah Knows Best