Spreading Goodness with Knowledge: The Virtue of Distributing Beneficial Books and Cassettes, and a Ruling on Naming Children
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Question to Shaykh Ibn Baaz:
To His Eminence, Shaykh ʿAbdul-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — may Allah preserve him.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
After that:
I kindly request your answer to the following two questions:
First Question:
Some of our colleagues at school distribute beneficial cassettes and booklets containing advice and religious rulings issued by the Council of Senior Scholars in the Kingdom. They do this to spread goodness among their classmates.
However, some brothers became upset with this and said: "This is making things too strict and difficult for us. It exposes us to religious rulings that we might find hard to practice, and we fear falling into sin."Because of this, some people even refuse to take the booklet or cassette, saying the same thing.
Some have even gone so far as to say: "We wish we had remained ignorant — that would have been better for us."
They cite as proof the saying of Allah the Exalted:
"O you who believe, do not ask about matters which, if they are made clear to you, may distress you." [Sūrat al-Mā’idah, 5:101].
We kindly ask you to advise these brothers regarding this matter as you see appropriate.
Second Question:
One of our colleagues was blessed with a baby girl, and he wishes to name her "Rīnād" or "Ranād", based on the fact that it comes from "Rand", which refers to a fragrant tree.
However, some brothers objected, claiming that this name is foreign.
Is it permissible to name her with this name or not?
May Allah reward you with goodness.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz Answer:
Wa ʿalaykum as-salām wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
After greetings:
Distributing beneficial books and tapes issued by scholars of Sunnah is among the best of righteous deeds.
Because this act is part of spreading knowledge and calling people towards goodness.
Allah, the Most High, says:
"And who is better in speech than one who calls to Allah and does righteousness..."
(Sūrah Fuṣṣilat 41:33)
And He says:
"Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good preaching, and argue with them in a way that is best."
(Sūrah al-Naḥl 16:125)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever guides to something good will have a reward like that of the one who does it."
(Narrated by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ) [¹]
As for naming the child Renād or Ranād, I do not know of anything wrong with it.
However, it is better to choose names that are more well-known and carry clear, good meanings.
May Allah grant everyone success.
And peace be upon you.
Footnotes:
[1] Reported by Muslim, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, ḥadīth no. 3509, Book of Leadership, Chapter: The Virtue of Assisting a Warrior in the Cause of Allah with a Mount or Anything Else.
[2] These two questions were submitted by the questioner A.M. from Ṭā’if, and His Eminence answered them in the year 1418 AH (1997 CE).
(Source: Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt ash-Shaykh Ibn Bāz, vol. 24, p. 56.)
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