How Names Can Affect People’s Personalities
A person’s name can have a prolific effect on his character. Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyab (رحمه الله) relayed:
My father [i.e. Al-Musayyab] (رحمه الله) said that his father [i.e. Saʿīd’s grandfather] (رضي الله عنه) said: “I visited the Prophet (ﷺ). He said: ‘What is your name?’ I responded: ‘[My name is] Ḥazn [which means harsh/rough/tough/always serious].’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said: ‘You are Sahl [which means gentle and easy going].’ I responded: ‘I will not change the name my father gave me.’” Ever since, we [i.e. Saʿīd and his father, Al-Musayyab] have always had an aggressive personality.1
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