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خَبَّاب

Khabbab: meaning of the name

Boy Arabic origin Khabbāb

Companion

An old Arabic name from the root kh-b-b, evoking a brisk pace (khabab)

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Khabbab in Islam

Khabbab ibn al-Aratt was one of the first to embrace Islam and one of the most persecuted in Mecca. A blacksmith, he claimed a debt from al-ʿAs ibn Waʾil, who refused to pay unless he renounced Muhammad; verse 19:77 was revealed about this (al-Bukhari 2091). The Prophet ﷺ urged him to be patient, recalling that believers of old had been sawn in two without renouncing their faith (al-Bukhari 3612).

Meaning of the name Khabbab

Khabbab is an intensive form of the root kh-b-b, whose noun khabab means a quick gait of a horse or camel, between a walk and a gallop, and also the brisk pace of pilgrims around the Kaʿba. The classical dictionaries list it only as a proper name, without giving a meaning: it can be understood as “one who moves at a brisk pace”, but that sense remains a hypothesis. The name is inseparable from the Companion Khabbab ibn al-Aratt.

In Arabic
خَبَّاب خباب
Transliteration
Khabbāb
Root
خ ب ب
Gender
Boy
Origin
Arabic

Is Khabbab in the Quran?

No: neither the name Khabbab nor its root appears in the Quran. A name can be beautiful and permissible without coming from the Quran.

In the hadiths

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 2091

I was a blacksmith in the Pre-Islamic period, and 'Asi bin Wail owed me some money, so I went to him to demand it. He said (to me), "I will not pay you unless you disbelieve Muhammad." I said, "I will not disbelieve till Allah kills you and then you get resurrected." He said, "Leave me till I die…

كُنْتُ قَيْنًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَكَانَ لِي عَلَى الْعَاصِ بْنِ وَائِلٍ دَيْنٌ، فَأَتَيْتُهُ أَتَقَاضَاهُ قَالَ لاَ أُعْطِيكَ حَتَّى تَكْفُرَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ لاَ أَكْفُرُ حَتَّى يُمِيتَكَ…

Narrated by Khabbāb ibn al-Aratti + 9 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 4732

I came to Al-`Asi bin Wail As-Sahmi and demanded something which he owed me. He said, "I will not give you (your money) till you disbelieve in Muhammad." I said, "No, I shall not disbelieve in Muhammad till you die and then be resurrected." He said, "Will I die and then be resurrected?" I said…

إِنَّ لِي هُنَاكَ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا فَأَقْضِيكَهُ، فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ‏‏{‏أَفَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ بِآيَاتِنَا وَقَالَ لأُوتَيَنَّ مَالاً وَوَلَدًا‏}‏

Narrated by Khabbāb ibn al-Aratti + 9 other versions

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 3612

We complained to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (of the persecution inflicted on us by the infidels) while he was sitting in the shade of the Ka`ba, leaning over his Burd (i.e. covering sheet). We said to him, "Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?" He said, "Among the nations before…

كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهِ، فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ، فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ…

Narrated by Khabbāb ibn al-Aratti + 9 other versions

Is this name permissible?

No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Khabbab in particular: the general rules of Islam apply.

Read the rules for choosing a name

This page is an aid to reflection, not a fatwa. For a personal case, ask a person of knowledge.

Writing Khabbab in each language

French
Khabbab, Khabab
English
Khabbab, Khabab
Spanish
Jabbab, Khabbab
Turkish
Habbab, Habbâb
Arabic
خَبَّاب

Similar names

Same root (خ ب ب)

See also

English
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 2 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

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