I named my daughter after my sister who died in an accident. However, since her birth, my child is always sick. Is there any relation between her name and her condition?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Him, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Believing in fate is one of the fundamentals of faith, without which, it would not be perfect. It is related on the authority of ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, considered belief in destiny, whether [it is perceived as] good or bad, to be one of the pillars of faith. [Muslim]

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {Indeed, all things We created with predestination.} [Quran 54:49]

·        {And ever is the command of Allaah a destiny decreed.} [Quran 33:38]

·        {But [it was] so that Allaah might accomplish a matter already destined} [Quran 8:42]

There are many other similar verses.

Taawoos mentioned that the Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to deem every occurrence as having been predestined. He also recounted that he heard Ibn ‘Umar saying that everything was preordained.

Doubts and illusions such as yours should not creep into the heart of a believer who submits to the fate decreed by Allaah The Almighty. We assure you that a name has no effect on its bearer. Your daughter, like any other human being, is subject to health, disease, death, life, wealth, poverty or any other condition experienced by mankind. All this is according to the Decree and Destiny of Allaah The Almighty, which will manifest whether or not you named her after your deceased sister, chose another name or even if you did not name her at all.

If we observe the state of most people, especially Arabs, one finds that most of them are named after their deceased parents or after Prophets and righteous people. If the name had any effect on a person, like death or disease, then most of them would have either been sick or dead. 

Dear brother, you should firmly believe that everything happens according to the Predestination and Fate of Allaah The Almighty. You must accept that as truth, as well as the good, bad, beneficial or harmful consequences. If the slave believes that everything that happens to him is predetermined, and that life and sustenance are in the Hand of Allaah The Almighty, he will face any affliction and test with a firm heart and an assured conscience. May Allaah The Almighty count all of us among those who believe in His Fate, whether it is in their favor or not. 

Allaah Knows best.