The name game

Rumaysa was collecting the mail from the mailbox in front of her house. She checked to see if there was anything for her. Oh! There was that monthly magazine from the Animal Center that she’d asked her dad to order!

She started to walk back to the house, while looking at the magazine. Rumaysa narrowed her eyes. They had gotten her name wrong. Again. Was it really that hard to spell her name?, she thought angrily.

Her dad was waiting for her at the door. ‘Hey kiddo, anything good in there?’, he asked taking the mail from her.

Rumaysa showed him the back page of the magazine. ‘Baba, do you know anyone named Rumaasa, who lives here?’, she asked frustrated.

Her father grinned. ‘I’m sure it was a mistake, sweety. I ordered the magazine over the phone, so maybe they misheard me when I gave them your name. Tell you what, how about we call them right now and fix it?, her father suggested.

‘Hmm, okay I guess. I just wish I had an easier name, Baba. Why couldn’t you name me Daisy? Or Rima? Or Leena?’, Rumaysa complained.

Her dad stopped browsing through the mail and looked at his daughter. He put the letters aside and went into his study. Rumaysa was puzzled. She followed her father into the room. He went to the book shelf and picked out a book. He then started scanning the pages until he found the one he was looking for. He gestured to Rumaysa to come sit next to him.

‘Do you know what this is, honey? This is the book of names we bought before you and your siblings were born. And here’s the slip of paper with all the names your mommy and I narrowed down for you’, her dad pointed.

Rumaysa looked at the list. Sumaiyya, Maymoona, Juwairiyah, Rumaysa and Safiyyah. None of these names looked very easy to spell. She was confused. ‘I don’t understand, Baba. All these names are almost as long as mine. A couple of them are even harder to spell!’

Her father nodded. ‘I agree, these names aren’t easy to spell. But sweety, your mother and I didn’t want to give you any ordinary name. We wanted a name with history. Something that has a story behind it. A name that makes people wonder what it means and how we came about it.

Rumaysa, you were named for one of the most remarkable women in the Prophet’s (sallalahu alayhi wassalam) time. She was his aunt. He (SA) loved her so dearly, that he made a very special duaa to bless her entire family! Rumaysa bint Milhan (radiallahu anha)was always striving to learn. She’d send her son Anas to stay and study with the Prophet(SA). It’s said she even helped in battles. And when something went wrong, she put her complete trust in Allah to make things better.’, her dad explained.

Rumaysa sat quietly. She looked at her father and smiled. ‘You’re right, Baba. I am proud to have such a special name. And it is different – but in a good way. I didn’t really mean that, about changing my name. I only forgot for whom I was named for’, said Rumaysa. ‘Do you think we could learn more about this special aunt of the Prophet(SA) sometime?, she inquired.

He father chuckled. ‘Ofcourse we can sweety. How about we both go check what other books we can find on her? But first let’s call the Animal Center and get your name spelled right!’, he said reaching for the phone.

Rumaysa picked up the magazine. She read out the Animal Center number out loud for her dad. She grinned as her father spoke to the person at the end of the line, ‘Yes ma’am, it’s spelled R-u-m-a-y-s-a. My daughter is very particular about her name’, he said winking at her. Rumaysa smiled happily and went back to reading her magazine.

Story Inspiration : Omar Suleiman’s talk titled ‘Best moms of all times’. Register for free and listen at http://ilftexas.org/