Laqab (byname), rulings

Laqab, in lexicon, is a name given to a person after his first name, a word praising or blaming him for something in him; it has two kinds, one of honour, like the titles of rulers, and one of mockery ¹. The ism is what a thing is known by; the kunya begins with ab or umm and is usually for honour, whereas a laqab may praise or blame ^{1 2}.

Jurists divide laqab into recommended, permitted, disliked and forbidden. Recommended is a good one free of forbidden flattery, with the bearer's consent, on the report that the Prophet ﷺ liked a man to be called by the name he loved best; he gave Abu Bakr the title of the Ancient, Ali the title of the father of dust and Khalid the title of the sword of God ². Permitted is an ordinary or ugly one that is the only way to identify the man, as long as it is not used to shame him; the Prophet's words to the man of the two hands are cited for this ³. Some, such as al-Hasan al-Basri and Ibn al-Arabi, forbid it even when identification needs it ³.

Flattering titles such as king of kings are forbidden, on the hadith that the vilest name before God is a man called king of kings, since such words belong to the Creator ⁴. Titles of honour given to sinners, such as master, are disliked, on the hadith: do not call the hypocrite master; ugly ones such as devil, wrongdoer or donkey are also disliked ⁴. Using a laqab to shame is forbidden by agreement, on the verse: do not revile one another by nicknames ³.