THIS SUBJECT IS too well-known for us to need to mention any texts. This rule is common to the distinguished and the general public. It is good etiquette to address people of virtue by their kunyah, and also to use it when writing a letter to them or reporting a narration from them. One should say: ‘It has been reported to us by the Shaykh or Imam, father of So-and-so, or So-and-so the father of So-and-so, etc.’ It is good etiquette not to mention one’s own kunyah in a book or elsewhere, unless he is only known by his kunyah or his kunyah is better known than his name.
An-Naḥḥās said that if [someone] is better known by his kunyah, he has a kunyah as do those comparable to him, and he is named for those who preceded him, one should add: “Better known as Abū So-and-so,” or “by [the kunyah]Abū So-and-so”.