Shaykh al-Islām said:

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The polytheists used to dedicate themselves and their children in servitude to others besides Allah. They called some of them 'Abd al-Ka'bah (“servant of the Ka'bah”), which was formerly the name of 'Abd al-Rahmān ibn 'Awf; others, 'Abd Shams (“servant of the sun”), which was formerly the name of Abū Hurayrah and was also the name of 'Abd Shams ibn 'Abd Manāf; others, 'Abd al-Lāt (“servant of al-Lāt”), 'Abd al-'Uzzā (“servant of al-'Uzzā”), or 'Abd Manāt (“servant of Manāt”). They used other such names that ascribed servitude to something besides Allah—a sun, an idol, a human being, or anything else that might be associated with Allah as a partner. The Christian practice of naming someone 'Abd al-Masīh (“servant of Christ”) is similar.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, changed these names and made them servants of Allah alone. He named many of his Companions 'Abd Allāh (“servant of Allah”) and 'Abd al-Rahmān (“servant of the Most Merciful”), as he did with 'Abd al-Rahmān ibn 'Awf and others. Likewise, he renamed Abū Mu'āwiyah, whose name had been 'Abd al-'Uzzā, calling him 'Abd al-Rahmān. His client was called Qayyūm (“Self-Sustaining”), so the Prophet renamed him 'Abd al-Qayyūm (“servant of the Self-Sustaining”).

Somewhat similar to this is what occurs among the extremists of the Rāfidah and others like them who go to excess in venerating sheikhs. Thus it is said, “This is the servant of Sheikh Yūnus,” or “he belongs to Sheikh Yūnus,” or “the servant of Ibn