Ruling on using “ ‘Aashiq al-Sama’ (Lover of Heaven)” as a user name

Praise be to Allah.

As far as we know, the word ‘ishq (passionate, excessive love) was never used in any praiseworthy sense by the salaf and the imams. That is because this word ‘ishq refers to extreme love that oversteps the mark, and anything that is of that nature is blameworthy. 

Ibn Mandhoor (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

Abu’l-‘Abbaas Ahmad ibn Yahya was asked about hubb (love) and ‘ishq – which is more praiseworthy? He said: Hubb, because in ‘ishq there is excess, and the ‘aashiq (one who loves in the sense of ‘ishq or excessive love) is so called because he fades away out of extreme love as the ‘ashaqah (bind-weed) fades away when it is cut. The ‘ashaqah (bind-weed) is a plant that grows green, then it shrivels up and turns yellow. This was narrated from al-Zujjaaj. 

End quote from Lisaan al-‘Arab, 10/251 

Abu Hilaal al-‘Askari (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The difference between ‘ishq and mahabbah (love) is that ‘ishq refers to extreme physical desire to have what one wants from the object of that excessive love, if it is another person, and the resolve to have carnal knowledge of that person when one is able to. If the ‘ishq is devoid of physical desire then it is possible for the ‘aashiq (the one who loves excessively) to be free of physical desire towards the one whom he loves excessively. But ‘ishq refers to a special type of desire that is incessant, namely the desire of the man to get what he wants from the one whom he loves. The desire to drink wine and eat fine food is not called ‘ishq. Moreover, ‘ishq is a desire that, if it goes to extremes and the individual cannot get what he desires, may kill him and there is no other physical desire that can kill except ‘ishq. Don’t you see that no one ever died because of desire for wine or food or perfume, or because of love for his house or his wealth, but many people have died from the desire to be alone with the one whom they love excessively and get what they want from him.

End quote from al-Furooq al-Lughawiyyah, p. 358-359 

Moreover, the word ‘ishq is not known in the language of the Arabs except in a sexual context. 

Ibn al-Jawzi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

‘Ishq, according to scholars of the Arabic language, is only used in a sexual context.

End quote from Talbees Iblees, p. 153 

Based on that, it is not right (in Arabic) to use the verb ‘ashiqa when saying one loves one’s father, mother, house, horse and so on. And it is not right to use this verb when saying one loves the moon, stars, sky/heaven and so on. 

If what is meant by ‘aashiq al-sama’ (lover of heaven) or ‘ishq al-sama’ (love of heaven) is “excessive, passionate love” (‘ishq) of the inhabitants thereof, this is exceedingly bad and objectionable. 

The Muslims have many good names and kunyahs, and they have no need for made-up names that are not free from matters that are objectionable from an Islamic, rational, linguistic or customary point of view, especially if the one who is called by that name is a woman, because that may prompt men to be attracted to or infatuated with her, and they may hope to meet her, and it is not unlikely that such a name may make her inclined towards the deeds of those who pursue this excessive love and promiscuity, and she may be influenced by this name. 

And Allah knows best. 

For more information please see the answer the question no. 7180.