Is it necessary to have the word “Abd” in the name of Allah?

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

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

The attributes (Sifaat) of Almighty Allah Ta’āla are of two types:[1]

• Personal (ذاتي): These are such qualities that are attributed only to Allah Ta’āla. No one has such an attribute. For example, the attribute “Rahman” (Most Beneficent) is only attributed to Allah Ta’āla.
• General (غير ذاتي): These qualities are not the sole attributes of Allah Ta’āla. They can be attributed to others as well. For example, the attribute Ali and Samī’ can be attributed to Allah as well as others.

Hannaan means “compassionate”.[2] This attribute falls in the second category.     (غير ذاتي) Human beings are also compassionate. As such, it is correct to name a person Hannaan. To precede the name Hannaan with Abd is advisable and it means the slave of The Compassionate. [3]    

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best 

AbdulMannan Nizami

Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net