78/107. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6190 — Choosing Better Names
The neame: 'Al-Hazn'
Hadith About Changing a Name to a Better Meaning
Sahih Bukhari : 6190
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6190
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ أَبَاهُ، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " مَا اسْمُكَ ". قَالَ حَزْنٌ. قَالَ " أَنْتَ سَهْلٌ ". قَالَ لاَ أُغَيِّرُ اسْمًا سَمَّانِيهِ أَبِي. قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ فَمَا زَالَتِ الْحُزُونَةُ فِينَا بَعْدُ. حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَمَحْمُودٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، بِهَذَا.
Al-Musaiyab Narrated from:
Narrated Al-Musaiyab: That his father (Hazn bin Wahb) went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked (him), "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Hazn." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You are Sahl." Hazn said, "I will not change the name with which my father has named me." Ibn Al-Musaiyab added: We have had roughness (in character) ever since. Narrated Al-Musaiyab: on the authority of his father similarly as above (i.e., 209).
[2] ' Sahl ' is the opposite of ' Ḥazn '.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6190In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 214USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 209
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6190
This Hadith is about choosing good names in Islam and the meaning a name can carry. Hazn came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and when asked his name, he said it was Hazn. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم suggested the name Sahl instead. Hazn did not accept the change because his father had given him the first name. The report then says that roughness remained in the family afterward. The main lesson is simple: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم cared about names and their meanings. A name was not treated as a small thing when it carried a hard or rough sense. This Hadith about names teaches that a better name can reflect gentleness, ease, and a good meaning.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم paid attention to the meaning of names.
- A name with a softer meaning may be better than one with a harsh meaning.
- Respect for parents is clear, but the Prophet’s guidance remains important.
- Words and names can leave an effect on how people understand character.
