Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
adab:821Muhammad ibn 'Ata' related that he visited Zaynab bint Salama and she asked him about the name of one of his sisters. He reports:

"I said, 'Her name is Barra.' She said, 'Change her name. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, married Zaynab bint Jahsh. Her name was Barra and he changed it to Zaynab. I visited Umm Salama when she married him and my name was Barra. He heard her call me Barra and said, 'Do not adorn yourselves. Allah is the One who knows those who are pious (barra) among you and those who are deviant. Call her Zaynab.' Umm Salama said, 'She is Zaynab.' I said to Zaynab, 'Give her a name.' Zaynab said, 'Change it to what the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, changed it.'" So he called her Zaynab.  

الأدب المفرد:٨٢١حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَطَاءٍ

أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَى زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ فَسَأَلَتْهُ عَنِ اسْمِ أُخْتٍ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ؟ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةُ قَالَتْ غَيِّرِ اسْمَهَا فَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ نَكَحَ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتَ جَحْشٍ وَاسْمُهَا بَرَّةُ فَغَيَّرَ اسْمَهَا إِلَى زَيْنَبَ وَدَخَلَ عَلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ حِينَ تَزَوَّجَهَا وَاسْمِي بَرَّةُ فَسَمِعَهَا تَدْعُونِي بَرَّةَ فَقَالَ لاَ تُزَكُّوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْبَرَّةِ مِنْكُنَّ وَالْفَاجِرَةِ سَمِّيهَا زَيْنَبَ فَقَالَتْ فَهِيَ زَيْنَبُ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا سَمِّي فَقَالَتْ غَيِّرْهُ إِلَى مَا غَيَّرَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ فَسَمِّهَا زَيْنَبَ  

Add your own reflection below:

Sign in with Google to add or reply to reflections.