43/65. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2837 — King of Kings Name
What Has Been Related About What Names Are Disliked
Hadith About the Name King of Kings
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2837
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2837
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ الْمَكِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " أَخْنَعُ اسْمٍ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ رَجُلٌ تَسَمَّى بِمَلِكِ الأَمْلاَكِ " . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ شَاهَانْ شَاهْ وَأَخْنَعُ يَعْنِي أَقْبَحَ . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Al-A'raj Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah Conveyed To Him That The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "The Most Despicable (Akhna) Name To Allah On The Day Of Judgement Is That Of A Man Named King Of Kings. (Malikil-Amlak)."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2837In-book reference : Book 43, Hadith 111English translation : Vol. 5, Book 41, Hadith 2837
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2837
This hadith about the name King of Kings warns against a title of extreme self-exaltation. Abu Hurairah conveyed that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the most despicable name to Allah on the Day of Judgement is that of a man named Malikil-Amlak, meaning King of Kings. The narration itself explains the term, and Sufyan also mentions Shahanshah and explains Akhna as ugly or despicable. The lesson is about humility in names and titles. A human being should not carry a name that sounds like absolute kingship. The hadith does not discuss normal names like Malik by themselves in this wording; it points to the grand title King of Kings.
What we learn from this hadith
- The name or title King of Kings is strongly warned against in this narration.
- The hadith connects the warning to the Day of Judgement.
- Names and titles should not reflect extreme self-glorification.
- The wording is about Malikil-Amlak, not every ordinary use of the word king.
