The father’s priority to give a name to his child

The question:

Who has the priority to give a name to the child: is it the father or the mother?

The answer:

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon whom Allah sent as a mercy to the Worlds, upon his Family, his Companions and his Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

There is no divergence between people that the one who has more the right to give a name to the child is the father and not the mother, because the child is attributed to him, and he is more worthy to give him a name. And as long as it is the father who is charged to provide the child with provision and teaching, to make Al-`Aqîqa⁽¹⁾ and other things, so it is he who has the right to name him. That is why, in the Day of Judgment, people will be called by their fathers’ names and not by their mothers’ names. However, the child is attributed to his mother in case of freeing, slavery, Al-Li`ân⁽2⁾ or fornication, and in other cases known in jurisprudence.

The perfect knowledge belongs to Allah عزَّ وجلَّ. Our last prayer is all praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Peace and blessing be upon our Prophet, his Family, his Companions and Brothers till the Day of Resurrection.

Algiers, Rabî` Al-Awwal 9^th, 1428H.
Corresponding to: March 28^th, 2007.

(1) Immolation made by way of thanks for the newborn child. Translator’s footnote.

(2) Al-Li`ân: an oath which is taken by both the wife and the husband when he accuses her of committing adultery. See: the Qur`ân, Sûrat An-Nûr (the Light), verses: 6, 7, 8 and 9. Translator’s note.