[EN] Positive and Negative Affinities of Selected Arabic Names in Yoruba Communities: An Analytical Study

Abstract

A name is believed to be a source of blessings irrespective of its origin, creed and culture. Islam has a referred affiliation with human identity in its doctrinal practice. It is sad to see what is meant to be a source of blessings to mankind from Allah being misrepresented through the verbal and written presentations in many instances. This paper examines selected Arabic names in Yoruba speaking communities, and chronologically gives a traceable account on some of the affinities attached to the names. The study also aims to correct the seeming negative affinities and gives the exact meanings and pronunciations of the bastardized names, while it also hints the public about the surge in cutting of Arabic names to portray human desire at the expense of the original meanings of the affected names, which always resulted to negativism. Discourse and narrative methods are adopted in examining both spoken and textual data collected. This study would contribute immensely to Arabic scholarship on corrupted names and help non-Arabic speaking natives to find correct versions of the bastardized Arabic names in Yoruba communities  and caution people to take a precaution in bastardizing Arabic names in any format. In addition, exposes afflictions associated with any bastardized Arabic names and how it portrays a bad identity for the bearers in Islam.