What’s in a Name?
A soul placed inside of me
This trust placed in my belly
Soon to come forth in my hands.
What do I call you?
How do I choose a name that means
Modesty and bravery–
All I want you to be?
I want you to be patient.
Like if an old lady calls you a liar
And other names that are rough
You’ll hold her hand with a smile
And help her carry her stuff.
I want you to be exciting.
Like one day when you’re tired
But your wife likes to run,
You’ll give in and you’ll race her
To see her light like the sun
I want you to be loving.
Like if you see a young boy
Crying because he’s all alone
You’d scoop him up, call him your son
Make your arms his new home.
I want you to be caring.
Like if you got a new minbar
And a tree started to cry
You’d move over a little
Just to stand by its side.
I want you to be attentive.
Like when someone speaks to you
You turn your body in his direction
Because nowadays it’s getting harder
Just to find someone who will listen.
I want you to be confident.
Like if haters mock your name
And say that you’re cowardly,
You respond calm and collected:
“Nah, they’re not talkin’ about me.”
I want you to be strong.
Like if a word revealed to a mountain
Would simply destroy it
You would carry the message
Because your heart could hold it.
I want you to be fearless.
Like when your haters
Threaten your life and call you a fraud,
You stand tall, look at their blade
And say, “I only fear God.”
I want you to be hopeful.
Like if they were to stone you
Until your shoes filled with blood,
You’d ask God to forgive them,
And hope they turn to His Love.
I want you to be merciful.
Like if one day your enemies
Come surrender at your feet,
Instead of throwing them in jail,
You set them all free.
I can give you a name
And pray for you to be like him
But the truth is
The sun, moon, and stars combined
Couldn’t even be like him.
He was the best of creation,
All of what was and will be
The birds sing his praises
And the fish in the sea
I want you to sing his praises
Again and again
So that one day when you meet him,
He’ll consider you a friend.
There’s no other name
That can mean all these at once
So I’ll call you Muhammad,
Named after the Chosen One.
May you follow his footsteps
In every way that you can,
And may God forgive you
For every way that you can’t.
Peace and endless blessings
On our master, our teacher, our prophet.
Peace and endless blessings
On Muhammad, our Beloved.
Peace and endless blessings
On him, his friends, and family
Sallu‘ala-Muhammad
Wa‘ala-aalihi-wasahbihi
