₦airaland Forum

lekibraky: Naming Forst have anything to do with Arabs nobody names their children Arabic names but Islamic names which the prophet endorsed that we should choose from the fine names of Allah if u don't wish to be called Islamic names suit urself but bear a good name because I shall be raised with the names u bear on the day of judgement

maclatunji: By your own presentation, Barack cannot be accepted as an African name. You have let the world know that you want absolutely nothing to do with Arabic when it comes to first names, and Barack just has Arabic written all over it.

#Hahahahaahahahaaaa.... #Laughwithme

Anvaller: Well.. I think u only need to approach this intellectually and not trying to insult him.. these are some of the potentially violent traits that the arabians have sold to us as a an attribute of Islam and we have unconsciously imbibed it. God revealed the holy Quran in arabic language because he brought a prophet up amongst them.. God would not have revealed the Quran in Latin if the prophet it was meant for was Arabian. At least the Torah and the Injeel were not revealed in Arabic were they? Or do u want to tell me that those 2 were not a revelation from God because it was not revealed in Arabic? We need to be more intelligent at the way look at these things and less dogmatic. If the Quran was only meant to be solely in Arabic, why are there several translations of it to other languages today? My fundamental knowledge of Islam is not because I know arabic but because I read translated text. I might have never been a muslim today if there are no translated copies of Quran for me to read. So what are u saying? The only thing that will compel ppl to continue to pray in arabic is because it has been structured that way in muslim community and not because it's a principal obligation from the perspective of Islam in the real sense.

maclatunji: Even Christians know that Barack comes from Mubarak. Just like Bakare comes from Abu Bakr and his another form of Abubakar.

Really, you need to stop being insecure if you want to be a Muslim and be bold.

Are you in or out?
Double-crosser or devout?

-Apologies to Disney.

maclatunji: Dear child, I know you are confused but let me educate you. Barack is actually a shortened form of "Mubarak" which is very Arabic- It is not "African" at all in its roots. Can you say Olawale as Arab or Hebrew roots? Of course not!

Don't take my word for it, let us read together:

What do the words “Barack” and “Obama” literally mean?

We recently asked readers to suggest a name for us to research and write about. The name that received the most requests happens to belong to Barack Obama.

The 44th President of the United States is named after his father, who was a Kenyan economist. Barack is an African name meaning “blessed.” It is a form of both the Hebrew name Baruch and the Arabic name Mubarak, which also mean “blessed” and relate to the Arabic barakah. Another common spelling of the name is Barak.

There is no connection between Barack and “barrack,” which has both a different spelling and pronunciation. A barrack is a building or group of buildings that lodge soldiers. It comes from the French barraque and the Spanish barraca, which means “cabin or hut.”

Obama is an ancient Kenyan surname. The name is found frequently among the Luo, the third largest ethnic group in Kenya. It is believed that the name derived from the root word obam, which means “to lean or bend.”

Obama’s middle name Hussein is the first name of his paternal grandfather. The name, which is of Arabic origin, means “good” or “handsome one.”
Read more at http://hotword.dictionary.com/barack-obama-name/#ZiizpowyWsG77pR3.99

Note that the language, "Swahili" which prevalent in East Africa is heavily influenced by Arabic.

So my dear, Barak is not African at all by your presentation on this thread, it is adopted from Arabic.

ayinba1: You are kidding! Right?

Obama is Kenyan, Barack, a derivative of Mubarak,
Please, don't mislead people. His father was a muslim and that accounted for his names. Even though he is a Christian today, does his name imply that he has lost his American culture. Or does his Kenyan name grant him automatic Kenyan culture?

Umamman1: please when praying the Maghrib prayer today, be the imam and recite the holy Qura'an in yoruba so that we will know that you are really a culture man:you can go also go ahead and ask God why he revealed the Holy Quran in Arabic language.indeed there is nothing left out of Islam including how you go about relieving yourself in the toilet.

zayhal: Hmm. SMH @justaqad. If you're been praised and cheered by non-believers, truly you should be concerned about yourSELF. I'd be very worried if my sayings attracts non-believers singing my praise, especially when other muslim(s) are condemned by them.

Remember we shall account for everything we do/say. Even the seemingly harmless internet banters.

ayinba1: C'mon now, Barack is now English?

hadbak: beef!!! Simple..

maclatunji: Tell him Madam... tell him.

Anvaller: Justaqad.. I am solidly behind you, I would have started exactly similar thread but I just didnt have time but its good that u did. Ur argument is very straight forward the opponents are just going against u because they find it dificult to digest a point contrary to the mainstream. Meanwhile, the mainstream doesn't always make sense.

Now let's get this clear, a guy asked sarcastically that why not also pray in Yoruba? I am telling you I am on the research right now and as soon as I conclude my research and the result clears the way for me to start praying in Yoruba, surely I would without hesitating. I am just researching it to be very sure of what I am doing. I have also taken that decision to relegate my "muslim name" to 2nd name in fact I am thinking of eliminating it completely if I renew my passport this year. Those are not an obligation in Islamic faith. I have loved my muslim name since and in fact I personally made it my 1st name not my parents. But as soon as I discovered (cos I wont stop asking questions)that my decision then was based on absolute misconception, I was not in love with that name any more. Not because I am no more a muslim but because I shouldn't be an arabic muslim. And to those thinking is not a problem, it is a problem because I know in Nigeria for e.g ppl would even say stuffs like "wow u r a muslim, u dont even dress like one" yes of course because those who parade themselves as real muslims do not only adopt arabic names but also dress like the arabians at varying degrees. So if u do not have at least the white cap on.. then u r not a muslim... we should free ourselves of all these irrelevant things.

It is better to rediscover ur islamic faith and be simply a muslim that God wants u to be and not a muslim the society and the arabians are making you to be. The former is the ultimate while the latter is grave.

hadbak: Yeas, its d language of the quran n our dear prophet(pbuh) n it should superceed any language. I love my language but I love the lang of d quran n our dear prophet more. period!

donwilz: I am no muslim, but what you are saying in essence is the allah will not understand you when you speak in other languages, apart from arabic?. This is the height of ignorance and complex issues. The Op is spot on IMHO. This also applies to Christians! I don't get the logic in bearing alien names. I was laughed at in my high school days because i have no English name.. What happened to our pride ? God created all mankind equally. That is the beauty of diversity. Don't you ask yourselves , why God/Allah didn't make us all a single race? This is the beauty of his creation.. DIVERSITY.. Never forget your roots!

Umamman1: I have two yoruba friends,one is Bolade and the other one is Bolade.pls which is the male among this two coz the are opposte sex but have the same name.

Pearlsome: Justaquad,

Can I advise that this is not a topic you can win as most of our brothers in Islam will never see to your argument no matter how reasonable the explanation you put forward. Just listen to the open minded and reasonable ones. All the blinded and dogmatic ones. Ignore!

Having worked with many Arabs, I have seen the educated and reasonable ones question such acts. Many would contend that Islam is our faith and it is a Universal one. As much as Islam is premised on promoting a universal culture of oneness, peace, love, progress and equality. It is not based on a universal principle of eliminating people's culture and names as long as they are not in direct confrontation with the authority of Allah.

I think this subject is more about culture. Modern day Muslims are now confusing themselves with the cultures,thinking and ways of lives of the Arabs and that is a big problem as it is giving chance to warped logics and low mentality and practices like Sufism which is a big problem for Islam and the world today.

I repeat any Muslim who believes that Islamic names should be their first name should also adopt Arabic as their first language. They should wear Jalabab and not Buba as their preferred clothes. And should pray in Arabic not Yoruba.


And who says you have to pray in Arabic.

Deluded Muslims!

I am a Muslim so don't call me names - but we know those who are deluded.

Nike93: Whats the purpose of this thread? Op if u don't like the arrangement of ur name,go to the nearest npc office and change it , when u have kids too name them as you please but leave others alone u cn't force ur belief ön anybody. Shikena

HIV1: The guy juataqad is an empty brain .A slowpoke. I doubt if you are a Muslim. Muslim bears arabic names the same reason Christians bear Paul, Joseph etc. Or you wan tell me Paul na Yoruba name. All those names originated from the middle east. Muslims cannot bear Esubiyi because we are not idol worshipers.

justaqad: clearly the name i used as reference is not praising devil.i understand it is makrooh to bear names that have undesirable meanings.it doesnt mean there are no name that have desirable meaning in yoruba..

bukatyne: The OP never said Arabic names are bad; He said they should be middle names and not first names.

Umamman1: justacad am sorry to say but you don't really know what you are saying.you can change your name to Ojukwu'its its all your choice but, I strongly advice you wake up. There nothing like Arab name.Go and learn more adeen.

hadbak: fine! If u learn Arabic for worship purpose dat means d lang must be IMPORTANT to u. Y can't u worship in ur own lang? Is it bcus ur lang is not important in worship? No! God choose arabic for His religion n He alone knows y n dts it. I want u to understand dat arabic is an islamic lang(permit me to say) n not just an arab thing. Stop beefing d arabs. U shld be proud n happy to bear an arabic name which is better n safer for u so long as d name is not evil or meaningless...

tintingz: One igbo woman asked of my name and i told her my muslim name. . . . .the next she says was ''are you from kwara state''

*in mind* No...am from south korea

Pearlsome: Justaqad peace be upon you for bringing this all important subject to the fore.

I am a Muslim and I am always worried to see our God given culture/heritage out of which comes our names been relegated for a foreign Arabic one.
The truth is as simple as you put it. Our Yoruba names should be first and any other names should be classified as (other) whether you're Muslim or Christian. Islam is a religion. Simple! And the core of it is to make us realize the existence of a supreme being and to worship him and not to do that by identify but by the purity of our hearts and truthfulness to his worship. It wouldn't be a problem if only few Muslims would bear their Islamic identities but the rate is alarming, virtually 70% of Muslims do it and that can be threatening to the future of our culture and heritage.

Don't mind all those nonsensical and irrational justifications up there.
Our ethnic, cultural names should be our first call. As long as an Arab will not be Akinwale or Oluwatunmishe as their first name.
Why should we in an increasing number be Mohammedul Khaled. Abdul Basit. Al Gafur, etc.

maclatunji: According to OP's logic, [b]Barack[/b] Hussein Obama is an Arab or an Arab Stooge. He definitely cannot be an American. Donald Trump will be so glad when he reads this. He has a great disciple in Justaqad.

maclatunji: Got you didn't I.

Peacefullife: Bearing muslim names does not mean you are losing your identity to arabs. it means you are a proud muslim.

However, there are some names you will bear that are Haram in Islam. For instance, the name Ifatobi or Ogunshomi which promotes that other deities are supreme are completely Haram and muslims should not bear them.

Mind you, the Prophet (SAW) said the best of names are Abdul......


My advice

maclatunji: @bolded, something like that. He says Herbert Macaulay and Henry Carr stopped being Yoruba men because of their English names. Fascinating mindset- I guess Barack Obama is not American too, Donald Trump might want to adopt OP.

la furia: dont even know how to respond to the op question because it is weird. losing identity to the arabs because am bearing ibrahim? seriously. how does bearing ibrahim change my appearance to arab. no one has ever asked me if i was arab but are you a muslim question. op displays same ignorance as the americans who belief arab means muslim.

am hausa, and the only way to prove it is to speak hausa, simple, no need for long explanation. have you ever meet a real arab man speak yoruba? so y should people doubt whether u are yoruba or not when u can speak d yoruba lang. so when u speak yoruba, they still believe u are arab because of ypur first name? wonders shall never end.

u should ask y are the yoruba losing dia cultures to islam instead. do u have a problem with arabic or arabs? which one.

alaoeri: Don't know why the op is digging issue out of nothing or what 'll he say to lagosian bearing bucknor, smith, pedro so they have also lost their identity to the white abi.