Naming A Still Born Child

Around 3 years ago my wife lost a child 1 week before she was due to give birth. At the time I was influenced by the salafis and was advised by them that naming of the child wasn’t necessary and neither was a janaza prayer. The latter I have no qualms about because I think that position is correct within Hanafi Fiqh (please correct me if I am wrong) but it’s the former which is troubling me. Should I have named my son? If I did wrong then can I rectify that error now, i.e. name him? Also, what is the Hanafi position of erecting a grave stone over his grave and what text is permissible? I ask this because it would make it easier for other family members to locate his grave to recite Qur’an.

In the name of Allah, ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem and may his abundant blessings be showered on the best of creation, our master, Mohammed, his family and noble companions.

You are correct in assuming the lost child should have been named, for the relied upon opinion in the Hanafi school is even a partially formed fetus when lost due to a miscarriage should be given an Islamic name, as this is a means of honoring the children of Adam (upon him and our prophet be peace). Simply naming the child now will in’sha-Allah rectify the situation. [Ibn Abideen vol. 2 page 228]

Erecting a headstone for identification purposes is permissible. Other matter should be avoided. [al-Bahr ar-Ra’iq vol. 2 page 209]

Yusuf Mullan
http://www.shariahprogram.ca/

( وإلا ) يستهل ( غسل وسمي ) عند الثاني وهو الأصح فيفتى به على خلاف ظاهر الرواية إكراما لبني آدم كما في ملتقى البحار . وفي النهر عن الظهيرية : وإذا استبان بعض خلقه غسل وحشر هو المختار

في البحر الرائق: (2/209)

وَفِي الظَّهِيرِيَّةِ , وَلَوْ وُضِعَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ مِنْ الْأَشْجَارِ أَوْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ عِنْدَ الْبَعْضِ ا هـ . وَالْحَدِيثُ الْمُتَقَدِّمُ يَمْنَعُ الْكِتَابَة فَلْيَكُنْ الْمُعَوَّلَ عَلَيْهِ لَكِنْ فَصَّلَ فِي الْمُحِيطِ فَقَالَ : وَإِنْ اُحْتِيجَ إلَى الْكِتَابَةِ حَتَّى لَا يَذْهَبَ الْأَثَرُ وَلَا يُمْتَهَنُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ فَأَمَّا الْكِتَابَةُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عُذْرٍ فَلَا ا هـ