Kunya (teknonym, fiqh rulings)

A kunya is a name that begins with ab (father) or umm (mother), such as Abu Abd Allah or Umm al-Khayr; al-Jurjani adds ibn or bint. It is a name besides the given name and the laqab, used with them or alone to honour its bearer, and belongs to notable people; among the Arabs kunyas were so common that they sometimes overcame the proper names, as Abu Talib and Abu Lahab ¹.

A laqab is a byname that praises or blames. Both kunya and laqab identify their bearer, but the laqab carries praise or blame and the kunya is what begins with ab or umm. In grammar, the ism is a word that signifies a meaning in itself without a time attached ^{1 2}.

Scholars hold five views on the matter ². The first: no one may use the Prophet ﷺ's kunya Abu al-Qasim during his life; after his death it is permitted, whether or not the bearer is named Muhammad, on the hadith: name yourselves by my name but do not take my kunya, and the report of Abu Hurayra (may God be pleased with him) that the Prophet forbade combining his name and kunya ^{2 3}. Al-Rafi'i said this seems the soundest, since people have always done it without objection ³. The fourth view forbids naming someone Muhammad and taking the kunya Abu al-Qasim altogether; Umar is reported to have said not to name anyone after a prophet, and Iyad thought he meant it out of reverence ³. The fifth forbids the Prophet's kunya during his life, and after his death forbids it to men named Muhammad or Ahmad but permits it to others; Ibn Hajar called it the most equitable, though rare ^{3 4}.

Most jurists hold it recommended for people of merit, men and women, and for a man to take the kunya of his eldest son, and a woman that of her eldest ⁴. Ibn Muflih cites the report of Hani ibn Yazid, who was called Abu al-Hakam and was given the kunya Abu Shurayh after his eldest son; another son may be used, as the Prophet was given the kunya Abu Ibrahim ⁴.

A person without children may take the kunya of another's child, as the Prophet told Aisha when she had no child to be named after: take the kunya of your son Abd Allah, her nephew ⁴. A kunya may be taken from a quality, such as Abu Turab or Abu Hurayra ⁴. The jurists hold that no unbeliever, sinner or innovator may be given a kunya, since they are not among those to be honoured, and they are to be treated harshly, except where naming them would cause strife or serve identification, as with Abu Lahab ⁴.

On the kunya of a child or of one who has no children yet, most jurists see no harm, on the report of Anas about Abu Umayr, on the words of Umar to hasten the kunyas of children lest bad nicknames stick, and on the report that the Prophet gave Ibn Mas'ud the kunya Abu Abd al-Rahman before he had children. Scholars said children were given kunyas as an omen of living until they have children ^{4 5}. Ibn Abidin says that some dislike giving a child the kunya Abu Bakr, but most do not, since people intend an omen ⁵.