Is ‘Abd An-Noor a Valid Islamic Name? A Scholarly Perspective

The Ruling on Using ‘Abd An-Noor as a Name: Insights from Islamic Scholars

The Name ’Abd An-Noor عبدالنور 

▪️Although “An-Noor” (light) is from the Divine Attributes of Allāh, the scholars differed if this is one of the established Names of Allāh. 

▪️The Scholars from the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta issued a verdict saying:

“The names of Allāh are restricted and it has not been established that ‘Noor’ (Light) is one of His names. Therefore, it is not appropriate to use this as a name for a person; so, ‘Abd An-Noor’ should not be used.”

Sheikh ’Abdul’Azīz ibn Bāz, Sheikh ’Abdul’Azīz Āl Ash-Sheikh, Sheikh ’Abdullāh Al-Ghudayyān, Sheikh Ṣāliḥ Al-Fawzān, and Sheikh Bakr Abū Zaid [Fatwas of the Permanent Committee (10/510), Second Collection]

▪️ Sheikh Bakr Abū Zaid listed ‘Abd An-Noor’ among the prohibited names because -according to the view that it is not from the Names of Allāh- it implies servitude to something other than Allāh. [ref: Al-Mu’jam Al-Manāhī Al-Lafdhiyyah (p. 282).

▪️Sheikh Al-Albāni raḥimahullāh said: 

“I am not aware of ‘An-Noor’ being one of the names of Allāh in any authentic ḥadīth. The Prophet ﷺ said, “His (i.e. Allāh’s) veil is light,” when asked if he (ﷺ) had seen his Lord, he replied, “How could I see Him?” In the ḥadīth of Abū Mūsā Al-Ash’ari in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, it is mentioned: “His veil is light. If it were to be lifted, the light would destroy everything in its reach,” or words to that effect. Therefore, the answer is that I do not know if ‘Am-Noor’ is one of the Names of Allah.”

▪️Due to the above, I would advise you to avoid this name and opt for an alternative, such as

عبدالله & عبدالرحمن