مَيْمُونَة
Girl Arabic origin Maymūna
Mother of the Believers“Blessed, auspicious, fortunate”
Maymuna bint al-Harith al-Hilaliyya was the last woman the Prophet ﷺ married, in the year 7 of the Hijra, on the return from the so-called “compensatory” ʿumra. A maternal aunt of Ibn ʿAbbas, she reported many hadiths about the Prophet’s life ﷺ at home.
Maymuna is the passive participle of yamana, from the root y-m-n of good fortune, blessing (yumn) and the right hand, the side of good omen. The name means “blessed, bringer of good fortune”. It has remained very common in North and West Africa (Maïmouna).
The name Maymuna does not appear as such in the Quran, but its root (ي م ن) occurs 71 times. Examples:
وَأَقْسَمُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ جَهْدَ أَيْمَٰنِهِمْ لَا يَبْعَثُ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَمُوتُ بَلَىٰ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٣٨
And they swear by Allāh their strongest oaths [that] Allāh will not resurrect one who dies. But yes - [it is] a true promise [binding] upon Him, but most of the people do not know.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَىْءٍ يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟ ظِلَٰلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَٱلشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا لِّلَّهِ وَهُمْ دَٰخِرُونَ ٤٨
Have they not considered what things Allāh has created? Their shadows incline to the right and to the left, prostrating to Allāh, while they [i.e., those creations] are humble.
وَٱللَّهُ فَضَّلَ بَعْضَكُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِى ٱلرِّزْقِ فَمَا ٱلَّذِينَ فُضِّلُوا۟ بِرَآدِّى رِزْقِهِمْ عَلَىٰ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ أَفَبِنِعْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ ٧١
And Allāh has favored some of you over others in provision. But those who were favored [i.e., given more] would not hand over their provision to those whom their right hands possess [i.e., slaves] so they would be equal to them therein. Then is it the favor of Allāh they reject?
All the words of the root ي م ن in the Quran (71 occurrences)
No text or scholarly opinion concerns the name Maymuna 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.
