Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

jazakallahu khair , for replying me , may allah grant you waht you deserve.

 

brother my 3 questions were as,

 

child's name can be changed after 1 year or we have to follow the birth name itself?

 

brother u have replied for the above two only , pls reply me the above 3rd question also.

 

jazakallahu khair,

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Change Name

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: ….child's name can be changed after 1 year or we have to follow the birth name itself?

A name assigned to each individual is no more than a sign or recognition of that person; and there is absolutely no obligation or compulsion in Shariah that a believer is obliged or required to keep a ‘traditional’ Islamic or ‘muslim’ name.  One is at complete liberty to assign any good wholesome name to their off-spring in absolutely any language they will or please.

 

The only names which Islam prohibits from assigning to a believer are names which connote or denote polytheism or disbelief (Abdul-Lat, Abdul-Uzza, (slaves of the pagan gods like Lat and Uzza, etc.) or names like Ramdas (slave of the Hindu god Ram), etc.; or names which have an inherit evil or vile meaning. 

 

Other than names which connote polytheism and disbelief, or names which have an inherently evil meaning….Islam has allowed the believers the complete freedom to chose and assign any good wholesome name in any language they will and please.

 

If the name assigned to one’s child connotes ‘shirk’ or ‘kufr’, or if the name assigned has an inherent evil meaning….then it would be best if one changed the name to a more appropriate and acceptable name.  If the name assigned to one’s child is appropriate, but the parents/guardians of the child wish to change their child’s name for any reason whatsoever, there is absolutely no harm and no restriction.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan