Why is it permissible to be named after some prophets, such as Zechariah, Job, and David, but forbidden to be named after other prophets, such as Daniel, Jonah, and Samuel, even though they are all prophets of the Children of Israel?
Names such as "Isa" (Jesus) and "Ayyub" (Job) are permissible to use, unlike "Butrus" (Peter) and "Matta" (Matthew). The reason for this is not that they are names of prophets, angels, or righteous people. Some names may be designations for prophets or righteous people, but naming oneself with them is forbidden if they have become exclusive to polytheists. In such a case, it would be an imitation of them, unlike shared names.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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