Is Tobias a Muslim name?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

With regards to names, Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has said:

" إِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ، وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ، فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ "

(سنن ابي داود, رقم الحديث 4948, المكتبة العصرية)

Translation: Surely you will be called on the Day of Judgment according to your names and your fathers’ names.  Therefore beautify your names. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Hadīth No. 4948)

It is the responsibility of the parents that they choose for their child a good name.  Rasūllullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam has stated:

" مَنْ وُلِدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ فَلْيُحْسِنِ اسْمَهُ وَأَدَبَهُ "

(شعب الايمان للبيهقي, رقم الحديث 8299, مكتبة الرشد للنشر والتوزيع)

Translation: Whoever is graced with a child should give him a beautiful name and beautify his characters. (Shuabul-Imān Lilbaihaqī, Hadīth No. 8299)

Furthermore, the name of a person has an effect on the individual’s personality and his characteristics. [1]  The Ulema (scholars) have stated that it is not preferred to keep names that are not mentioned by Allāh Taālā, not mentioned by Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam in any Hadīth, or are not usually kept by righteous Muslims. [2] Also those names that are imitations of Non-Muslim names should not be kept. [3]

With regards to the name Tobias, it is from Hebrew origin and a biblical name from the old-testament meaning “God is good”. [4]  Hence it is inappropriate for a Muslim to keep such a name.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
US

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Husain Kadodia.
www.daruliftaa.net