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Is it permissible to name a newborn girl “Sham,” or is it a name of ill omen? Is the name “Bushra” among the names of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him? And should we not refer to the water that comes down from the sky as “rain” (matar), but rather as “succor” (ghaith), because “rain” (matar) is a punishment in every verse in which it is mentioned in the Quran?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The word "Sham" is used for the blessed land, as Allah Almighty says: "And We delivered him and Lot to the land which We had blessed for the worlds." It is also used for the direction of the north, and for a mole on the body. As for "Shu'm" (ill omen), it is the opposite of good fortune (yumn), and it is not permissible to name with it. The name "Bushra" (good tidings) was not among the names of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, but he was described as a bringer of good tidings (mubashshir). Naming the water that descends from the sky "matar" (rain) is permissible, and it may also be called "ghaith" (rain, succor) and "wabil" (heavy rain). The اصل (root/origin) of it is that it should be a mercy.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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