For this reason one should choose the finest names for his sons and daughters, thereby earning reward and showing kindness to them.

As for introducing names that are alien to the society, this may later cause psychological distress for the boys and girls. Every worry the child suffers because of that unusual name will weigh on you in sin and liability, for you were the cause of his discomfort through that strange name at which people point and say, “Look at this name—just look at this name!”

Therefore a person ought to select only the best names.

It is unlawful to give a person a name that is distinctive to the unbelievers—such as George and similar names by which they are known—for that amounts to imitating them. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

We Muslims are required to loathe the unbelievers with great aversion, to maintain enmity toward them, and to recognize that they are our foes no matter how attractively they present themselves or try to draw near. In truth they are our enemies, the enemies of Allah, the angels, the prophets, and the righteous. They remain enemies even if they cloak themselves in friendship or claim to be our friends—for by Allah, they are the enemies. We must therefore treat them as such, making no distinction between unbelievers of rank and influence in the world and those who have none, even the servants and maids,