حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْرَائِيلُ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ هَانِئِ بْنِ هَانِئٍ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ لَمَّا وُلِدَ الْحَسَنُ سَمَّيْتُهُ حَرْبًا فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَرُونِي ابْنِي مَا سَمَّيْتُمُوهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ حَرْبًا قَالَ بَلْ هُوَ حَسَنٌ فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ الْحُسَيْنُ سَمَّيْتُهُ حَرْبًا فَجَاءَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَرُونِي ابْنِي مَا سَمَّيْتُمُوهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ حَرْبًا قَالَ بَلْ هُوَ حُسَيْنٌ فَلَمَّا وُلِدَ الثَّالِثُ سَمَّيْتُهُ حَرْبًا فَجَاءَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ أَرُونِي ابْنِي مَا سَمَّيْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُ حَرْبًا قَالَ بَلْ هُوَ مُحَسِّنٌ ثُمَّ قَالَ سَمَّيْتُهُمْ بِأَسْمَاءِ وَلَدِ هَارُونَ شَبَّرُ وَشَبِيرُ وَمُشَبِّرٌ
مسند امام احمد بن حنبل · Hadith 769
It was narrated that 'Ali (RA) said: When al-Hasan was bom, I named him Harb [which means war], then the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came and said: "Show me my son; what did you name him?" We said: Harb. He said: "Rather he is Hasan." When al-Husain was born, I named him Harb, then the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came and said: "Show me my son; what did you name him?" We said: Harb. He said: "Rather he is Husain." When the third one was bom, I named him Harb. The Prophet (PBUH) came and said: "Show me my son; what did you name him?" I said: Harb. He said: "Rather, he is Muhassin." Then hi* said: "I have named them after the fashion of the sons of Haroon, Shabbar and Shabeer and Mushahbir."
Translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan · Reviewed by Islamic University of Madinah · Published March 2020