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What is the ruling on naming with names such as "Rufan," "Malkiya," "Juwayriyah," "Yusuf," and "Yunus"? Are these names Arabic or foreign, and to what extent is it permissible to name with foreign names that have good meanings? What is the criterion for distinguishing between Arabic and non-Arabic names, and is every name mentioned in the Qur’an considered Arabic?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There is no objection to being named "Juwayriyah" as it is an Arabic name. As for the name "Malikiyah," it is not recommended due to the unknown meaning. It is advisable to search for a name with a known meaning or one used by the Companions (Sahabah) and their Successors (Tabi'in). "Yunus and Yusuf" are foreign names, and there is no dislike in being named after them. Not all names mentioned in the Quran are Arabic.

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

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