Answered by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari, SunniPath Academy Teacher
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Dear Brother,
I pray you are in good health and spirits. Thank you for your question.
Many new Muslims choose to adopt a new name when they embrace their Islamic identity.
Changing one's name is praiseworthy but not obligatory.
Unless your name has polytheistic connotations or a bad meaning, then it is perfectly acceptable for you to keep your name.
It is preferable to keep your family name, since Islam places great emphasis on preserving lineage and identifying children by their fathers' names.
Allah Most High says in the Qur'an,
"Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight of Allah. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose (that will be a sin for you). Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful."
(Al-Ahzab, 33:5)
There is some merit in changing your first name or adopting a Muslim name, particularly if it's a name of a prophet or has a good meaning, such as Slave of Allah (Abdullah) for example.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, made specific recommendations for names, such as Abdullah and Abdurrahman.
Narrated Jabir:
A boy was born for a man among us, and the man named him Al-Qasim. We said to him, "We will not call you Abu-l-Qasim, nor will we respect you for that." The Prophet was informed about that, and he said, "Name your son 'Abdur-Rahman."
[Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 73, Number 205]
Whatever decision you make, it's important that it comes from your own conviction.
Please see this related article on SunniPath:
Should I change my name to a Muslim name?
And Allah knows best.
MMVIII © Qibla.
All rights reserved
No part of this article may be reproduced, displayed, modified, or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder. For permission, please submit a request at our Helpdesk.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Knowledge is only through study." While some knowledge can be gained from reading or casually listening to lectures, the best means to gain knowledge is through finding a qualified teacher and then setting up a systematic program of learning. Picking up a book or reading an article and trying to figure things out on our own is no substitute for learning from someone who has a direct link to our living tradition.
Through joining an online class at Qibla, you can benefit from convenient, online courses that will give you access to reliable scholars and our popular curriculum learning tracks. Knowledge gained in these courses will both build your iman and assist you in putting into practice what you learn. Don't give yourself less than you deserve, register today.
