Answer
In this counseling answer:
โขIslam does not oblige Muslims to choose specific names, Arabic or non-Arabic for their children, this is left for the parents, however, this choice should meet certain rules, that assure that this is โa good โname because names are reflections of oneโs belief, ethics, and personality, they also represent the values that you want your child to adopt and fulfill in life.
โขPertaining to the name of your daughter Janan, also written as Jnan and Gnaan, I donโt see anything bad or non-Islamic in it.
โขIt is an Arabic name that means โthe inner aspect of anything including the heart and soulโ which has a nice and decent implication of looking in the inside values, not to the outer look.
As salam Alaykum.
Dear sister โ Every Muslim is assigned by Allah certain duties, which when fulfilled gives its benefits in life and in the Hereafter, and although Allah has always stressed being kind and dutiful to parents, He also encouraged parents to help their children to fulfill this obligation by being kind to their children.
The duties assigned by Allah to parents include:
โขChoosing a pious spouse
โขChoosing good names for them
โขTeaching them Qur`an
โขGive them proper tarbiah
Islam does not oblige Muslims to choose specific names, Arabic or non-Arabic for their children, this is left for the parents, however this choice should meet certain rules, that assure that this is โa good โname, because names are reflections of oneโs belief, ethics and personality, they also represent the values that you want your child to adopt and fulfill in life. It is reported that prophet Mohammad (pbuh) said:
โYou will be called on the Day of Resurrection by your names and the names of your fathers, so have good names.โ( Abu Dawud 41# 4930 ).
To have a good name, certain rules need to be fulfilled:
โขIt should not indicate (from any aspect) any trace of shirk or association of partners with Allah, eg: `Abd al-Ka`bah, `Abd al-Nabi, or `Abdul-Husayn (servant of the Ka`bah or servant of the Prophet, or servant of Al Husayn), since all of us are servants of Allah alone.
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โขTo be neither hated nor shameful to the child and people around him, like those indicating mockery, evil, oppression or self-worthlessness. In this regard, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) changed bad names of some companions into good ones. For example, he changed the name of a woman from โQalilahโ (A few) into โKathirahโ (A lot), and the name of another from โ`Aasiyahโ (Sinner) into โJamilahโ (Beautiful), Harb (War) with Salam (Peace), Sa`b (Difficult) with Sahl (Easy to deal with)and so on.
A Muslim should avoid names indicating pomposity and vainglory. Prophet Mohammad said:
โThe most detestable name for Allah in the Hereafter is that of a man who calls himself โKing of All Kingsโ, for Allah is the Lord of the Kings.โ( Muslim)
โขMuslims are also forbidden to name their children after the Finest Names of Allah, such as โAr-Rahman (the Gracious), Al-Khaliq (the Creator), etc.
โขIt is recommended to call children after the Prophets and righteous people, to keep them in memory, and follow their footsteps. If you called your daughter Khadijah, then donโt forget to teach her piety, knowledge, charity and wisdom and if you choose Maryam then teach your daughter to follow her steps in decency, piety and endurance in the sake of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) named his son Ibrahim, and he said: โI have called him by my fatherโs nameโ. He also said: โName yourself with my name, but do not name yourselves with my kunya [i.e. Abul Qasim]โ (Bukhari 1: 110)
โขIt is also recommended to call your children names indicating humility and servitude to Allah, in this regard The Prophit said:โThe best names in Allahโs Sight are `Abdullah and `Abdur-Rahman.โ(Muslim)
Bearing these rules in mind we Muslims can choose any names that do not compromise our Islamic identity.
Pertaining to the name of your daughter Janan, also written as Jnan and Gnaan, I donโt see anything bad or non-Islamic in it.
First, it is an Arabic name which means โthe inner aspect of anything including the heart and soulโ which has a nice and decent implication of looking in the inside values, not to the outer look.
Second, It does not contradict with any or the rules mentioned above.
I only advise you not to call her Janan, if there is someone where you live who has the same name and is known to be indecent, or unjust, in such case it would be preferred (not obligatory) to change her name so as not to cause her shame when she grows up.
All my du`aaโ for you and Janan that Allah would accept her with the pious and righteous as He accepted Maryam
{โSo her Lord accepted her with a good acceptance and made her grow up a good growingโ } ( Al-Maryam 3:37 )
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