eDawah

Changing an Un-Islamic Name

By The Great Scholar His Eminence

Shaikh Abdul-Azeez ibn Baz

(رحمه اللّه)

Q:  What is your advice to a person who is given a name and then later finds out that the name is un-Islamic?

A:  It is obligatory that the name be changed.  So for example, if the name was Abdul-Husain (Servant of Husain), Abdun-Nabi (Servant of the prophet), or Abdul-Kabah, (Servant of the Kabah) and the individual came to know that using servitude in the name is only to be done for Allah as all servitude or worship is for Allah alone like, Abdullah, (Servant of Allah), Abdur-Rahman (Servant of The Most Merciful), or Abdul-Malik (Servant of the King) then he must change his name to a permissible name like that which was just mentioned or like Muhammad, Ahmad, Salih and their likes.  This is what is obligatory as the prophet (صلى اللّه عليه وسلم) changed many names.  If it was the father's name, if still alive he should be taught so that he will change his name, but if he passed away then there is no need to change the name as the prophet (صلى اللّه عليه وسلم) did not change Abdul-Muttalib nor any other name (of a dead person) which had the form of servitude to other than Allah as they were know by that name.

Translated by Eesa John Starling

For eDawah.com

June 10, 2009