Bismillâhi-r-Rahmâni-r-Rahîm Al-Hamdulillâhi Was-Salâtu Was-Salâmu 'Alâ Rasûlillâh, Wa Ba'd: As-Salâmu 'Alaikum Wa Rahmatullâhi Wa Barakâtuh
As For The KunyahForwarded by Rasheed Abu Imad bin Gant - (This was sent in an e-mail from another group)
Source: See below listed references
As for the kunayh (a nickname that contains the appellation Abu, Umm, etc, it is a form of honouring someone, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) bestowed the kunyah "Abu Yahyaa" on Suhaib (رضي الله عنه) and upon 'Alee (رضي الله عنه) the kunyah "Abu Turaab," and upon the brother of Anas (رضي الله عنهما) the kunyah "Abu 'Umair" while he was still a young child. It was a part of his guidance to bestow a kunyah upon a person who had a son and upon one who had no son.
It has not been confirmed from him that he (صلى الله عليه و سلم) prohibited any kunyah except Abul Qaasim (that is his own kunyah). Scholars have disagreed regarding it. Some said that it is totally impermissible while others have said that it is not permissible to combine it with the name (i.e. Abul Qaasim Muhammad), and there is a hadeeth to that effect which was declared authentic by At-Tirmidhee.
It was said that it is permissible to combine them based on the hadeeth of 'Alee (رضي الله عنه) in which he said (to the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم ): "If another son is born to me after you (die), may I call him by your name and bestow upon him your kunyah?" He (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "Yes." This was declared authentic by At Tirmidhee. It was said that the prohibiton was only during his lifetime.
The correct opinion is that bestowing his kunyah on anyone is forbidden, and it was more strictly prohibited during his lifetime. Also, combining them is prohibited, for the authenticity of the hadeeth of 'Alee (رضي الله عنه) is questionable (3), and At-Tirmidhee (رحمه الله تعالى) was not strict regarding the authentication of ahadeeth.
Footnote #3: All narrators in the sanad (chain of narration) are described by the Scholars of Hadeeth as reliable.
'Alee (رضي الله عنه) said that it was a license for him, which proves that the prohibition remains for others. As for the hadeeth of 'Aaishah (رضي الله عنها): "What could make my name lawful and my kunyah lawful?" It is ghareeb (4). An authentic hadeeth may not be contradicted by such a narration.
Footnote #4: From Shaykh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdil Wahhaab (رحمه الله تعالى): Ghareeb - A hadeeth reported at some point(s) in its sanad by a single narrator, such a hadeeth is not necessarily weak, but obviously Ibnul Qayyim means to suggest that it is so here. However, all of the narrators are described as reliable by the Scholars of Hadeeth.
A group of the Salaf (رضي الله عنهم) disliked that the kunyah Abu 'Eesaa be applied to anyone, while others permitted it. Abu Daawud (رحمه الله تعالى) narrated on the authority of Zaid Ibn Aslam (رضي الله عنه) that 'Umar (رضي الله عنه) struck one of his sons who took for himself the kunyah Abu 'Eesaa, and that Al-Mugheerah took for himself that same kunyah and 'Umar said, "Is it not enough for you to take the name Abu 'Abdillaah as a kunyah?" Al-Mugheerah (رضي الله عنه) replied, "The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) bestowed on me this kunyah." 'Umar responded, "The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) has had all of his sins, past and future forgiven by Allaah while you are in our jaljah." After this he continued to use the kunyah Abu 'Abdillaah until he died.
Footnote: Jaljah - That is, we still remain amongst a number of Muslims like us, and we don't know what Allaah will do with us. All of the narrators are described as reliable by the Scholars of Hadeeth.
References:
Mutakhsar Zaadul Ma'aad
By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah
Summarized By Shaykh Muhammad Ibn 'Abdil Wahhaab
Pages 177 - 179
Imaam An-Nawawee (رحمه الله تعالى) was given the nickname Aboo Zakariyyaa (the father of Zakariyyaa) although he never had a child by that name. It is not uncommon for men to be given kunyahs (nicknames) while they are still under age and that kunyah remains with them throughout their lives. See Imaam An Nawawee's 40 Ahadeeth by www.TarbiyyahBookstore.com
In Al-Majmoo', Imaam An-Nawawee (رحمه الله تعالى) argues that it is recommended for people to have kunyahs, even if they do not have children. See Imaam An-Nawawee's, Al-Majmoo' Sharh Al-Muhdhib Vol. 8, p.438
Let's take a look at the Mother of the Believers: She was Umm 'Abdillaah 'Aaishah (رضي الله عنها). It is known that she never had any children.
Aboo Hurairah (the father of the cat (kitten)): This is 'Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn Sakhr (رضي الله عنه). He could never be the "father" of a cat. It's just a nickname.
There are more examples from the Sunnah. See www.SalafiTalk.net for more information. The Students of Knowledge, jazaahumullaahu khairaan, did an informative presentation of evidences.