78/108. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6192 — Avoiding Self-Praise
To change a name for better name
Hadith About Avoiding Self-Praise in Names
Sahih Bukhari : 6192
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6192
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي رَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ زَيْنَبَ، كَانَ اسْمُهَا بَرَّةَ، فَقِيلَ تُزَكِّي نَفْسَهَا. فَسَمَّاهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم زَيْنَبَ.
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Zainab's original name was "Barrah," but it was said' "By that she is giving herself the prestige of piety." So the Prophet (ﷺ) changed her name to Zainab.
[1] 'Barrah' means pious.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6192In-book reference : Book 78, Hadith 216USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 73, Hadith 212
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6192
This Hadith is about names that may sound like self-praise. Zainab’s original name was Barrah. It was said that this name sounded as if she was claiming piety for herself. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then changed her name to Zainab. The message is clear and easy to understand. A name should not give the impression that a person is praising themselves or claiming purity. This Hadith about changing names in Islam shows the Prophet’s careful way of correcting meanings without harshness. It also teaches that a good name should be humble, clean in meaning, and free from a claim that belongs to Allah’s knowledge.
What we learn from this hadith
- Names should avoid meanings that sound like self-praise.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم changed a name when its meaning could be misunderstood.
- Humility is reflected even in how people are named.
- A better name can protect a person from a wrong impression.
