Taking Jibrīl as a Name or Kunya; Abu Jibrīl

Question:

What’s the ruling with taking Abu Jibrīl as a kunya?

Answer:

Speech on the permissibility of taking Abu Jibrīl as a kunya branches out from the ruling of taking Jibrīl as a name, if this is permissible then that will be also.

An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy upon him, mentioned in “Majmū”:

“Our position and the position of the Majority is the permissibility of taking the names of the Prophets ﷺ and Angels ﷺ as names.”
[End of speech]

And the differing has been relayed by Al-Hārith bin Miskīn, who went towards it being disliked to take the names of Angels as names.
And Imām Mālik disliked the taking of Jibrīl as a name, and wasn’t fond of this.

And Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, in “Tuhfatul Mawlūd” mentioned the dislike for humans to take the names of Angels, and after this then relayed the permissibility from Hamād bin Abu Suleymaan, and relayed from the Imāms the unauthenticity of the Hadīth which mentions the dislike.

And the summary is, that the basis is that it’s permissible to take it as a name as long there is no evidence pointing to the contrary.
And there is no proof from the Prophet ﷺ, as far as I am aware, prohibiting this.

While paying attention to that it’s not permissible to name girls with names of the Angels; due to what it contains of agreement with the disbelievers in their claim that the Angels are female, and refuge is sought with Allah.

Allah, the Most High, said:

(وَجَعَلُوا۟ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عِبَٰدُ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ إِنَٰثًا)

“And they make the angels who themselves are slaves to the Most Beneficent (Allah) females.”
[Az-Zukhruf:19]

For example naming them: Malā’ikah, Malak.

And if a person was to be cautious and avoid taking the name Jibrīl as a name, exiting with this out of the area of dispute, this would be better.
And Allah knows best.

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allaah preserve him.

Source:
t.me/abouhatem/164

Answered on:
4th, Rabee’ Al-Aakhar, 1438H

Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani.