My question is can we name a girl Ghausia (derived from Ghaus). I asked a Hanafi scholar and he said no because it has elements of shirk in it and he also said that it is usually used by the Barelwis. I told my husband but he's not convinced and wants a second opinion. Could you please advise us?

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 do not understand what this scholar means by saying that this name has elements of Shirk (associating partners to Allaah). One companion of the Prophet was named 'Mugheeth' [a verbal noun from Ghawth] and the Prophet did not object to it or order him to change his name as he did with some other companions . However, if the name mentioned in the question is a symbol of Shirk, as the scholar said, or refers to Sufism or other misguided sects, then one should not name his child with this name for the general evidence which prohibits us from imitating the non-Muslims or innovators and people who follow their desires.

By the way, it should be noted that Ghawth means removing the difficulty, people may be able to remove some kind of difficulties, but some other difficulties could only be removed by Allaah.

Therefore, we advise the sister asking the question to choose for her daughter a name of the righteous female predecessors of this nation, like the name of female companions and other righteous women who had a good impact on Islam in order to remember their names and their biography, and not choose a name which has a poor meaning.

Allaah knows best.