Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asslamoalikum

Daughter of my sister was named "Linta", and according to the research that time the meaning seemed to be very good. Some thing like "Kindhearted women". Now people are saying that the name is not correct, and its meaning is not correct. Can you please guide us about this name that can it be a name of a muslim girl. Secondly is there any thing like name dosent suits a person. third should the name be changed if not appropiate.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Meaning of name Linta

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: Can you please guide us about this name that can it be a name of a muslim girl.

‘Linta’ is not an Arabic term; thus the meaning of this term can only be gauged in the language that it represents.

The truth of the matter is that only the names that have evil meanings or represent ‘shirk’ or ‘disbelief’ in its meanings are prohibited in Islam. Other than that there is absolutely no harm if one may choose and keep any name in any language. Even if one chooses a name without a particular meaning, it would be considered a valid name in Islam.

Of course, it would always be better that when deciding a name one chooses a known Islamic name from amongst the many Prophets or pious believers in Islam. But if one wishes to choose another name in any language, provided its meaning is not evil or represents shirk or disbelief, there is absolutely no harm and no sin.

Your Question: Secondly is there any thing like name dosent suits a person.

There is absolutely no such thing in Islam that a name does not suit a person; or that the changing of one’s given name will change the fate or nature of that individual.

Your Question: third should the name be changed if not appropiate.

If one’s name given to him at birth represents something evil, or manifests shirk or disbelief; then one should change one’s name after accepting and understanding Islam.

But if one’s name is not amongst the forbidden names associating evil, and one wishes to change his name, there is no harm and no sin. The only name one is allowed to change is one’s own given name; it is absolutely impermissible for one to change one’s father’s name if it is attached to his name as a middle or last name.

For example if one’s given name is Ramdaas (devotee of the Hindu god Ram) and his father’s name is Harish and this person is blessed to accept Islam, he is obliged to change only his first name as Ramdaas is a name that represents ‘shirk’. Say the person chooses ‘Abdullah’ as his new name, he will now be recognized as Abdullah Harish. It is absolutely impermissible in Islam to change one’s father’s name.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan