Is it permissible for me to name [my child] with the name 'Issam or the name 'Basma'?

There is no objection to naming children “Isam” and “Basma” because they do not contain any religiously forbidden elements. Rather, they are good names; for Isam comes from Ismah (infallibility/protection), and Basma comes from Tabassum (smiling). As for the religiously forbidden names, they are:

1. Those that imply servitude to other than Allah.

2. Those that are exclusive to Allah the Almighty, such as His Beautiful Names or His attributes defined with the definite article (al-).

3. Those that have a religiously or customarily reprehensible meaning, such as the names of devils, disbelievers, and transgressors.

4. Those that are meaningless or denote effeminacy.

5. Those that imply self-praise.