In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
Can a person take the Kunya “Abul Qaasim”?
By Shaykh Zayd al-Madkhali may Allah have mercy on him
Abu Hurayrah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] said,
تَسَمُّوا بِاسْمِي، وَلاَ تُكَنُّوا بِكُنْيَتِي، فَإِنِّي أَنَا أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ
“Name yourselves with my name, but do not use my kunya; I am Abul-Qasim.” [Bukhari – Book of Manners #836]
The Shaykh comments on this hadith in his explanation of al-Adab al-Mufrad by Imaam Bukhari on page 446 Vol 2. He said,
In this hadith is guidance from the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] for his nation during his lifetime. He advised his nation to use his name Muhammad and Ahmad – these [two names] are mentioned in the Qur’an:
مُّحَمَّدٌ۬ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّهِۚ
“Muhammad is the messenger of Allah” [Surah Fath: 29]
وَمُبَشِّرَۢا بِرَسُولٍ۬ يَأۡتِى مِنۢ بَعۡدِى ٱسۡمُهُ ۥۤ أَحۡمَدُۖ
“…and giving glad tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmed…” [Surah Saff: 6]
There is no harm with using these names. The prohibition is in using his Kunya during his lifetime so as to not confuse the Messenger [peace and blessings be upon him] for someone else. During the Prophet’s lifetime it was prohibited for someone to use “Abul Qaasim”, because the Prophet was the only one known by this Kunya.
As for after the Prophet’s [peace and blessings be upon him] death, then it is permissible for one to name their son as “Qaasim” and for them to take the Kunya “Abul Qaasim” – and there is nothing wrong with that. This is what the people of knowledge have made as the correct opinion and it is the right opinion, and all praises are due to Allah.
Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam
الفقير الى الله
Trying to Follow the Salaf 