Is it permissible to name a new-born child with the name Rabbaani? Please send the answer in Arabic and in English.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We are not aware of any harm in naming a child with this name as it does not imply being a slave to other than Allaah, or praising and dignifying a creature, and it does not include any qualities or characteristics of the time of ignorance before Islam. Naming with such a name is not of greater importance than being described with it. It is known that it is permissible to be described with such a quality; Allaah says (which means): {Why do the rabbis and religious scholars not forbid them from saying what is sinful and devouring what is unlawful?}[5:63] [The word Rabbaaniyoon, plural of Rabbaani (religious learned man) is mentioned in the above verse as an adjective]. Since it is permissible for this word to be used as an adjective then it is also permissible to use it as a name.

Allaah knows best.