Can a Woman Take Her Husband’s Non Islamic Surname?

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Question: Assalamu alaikum,

1) Is there any ruling on changing or not changing one’s surname to one’s husband’s after marriage?

2) My husband is a revert and has a Scottish surname and my dad says that it’s wrong to change my Islamic surname which to a non Islamic name. Is this view correct?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray that this message finds you well, insha’Allah.

(1) It is permitted for the wife to take her husband’s surname. This is simply a customary practice adopted by many.

Please see: Can a Woman Take Her Husband’s Surname?

(2) No, it is not necessary for someone to change his name after becoming Muslim.

However, it is a recommended sunna to do so if one’s name has an undignified or unbefitting meaning. [Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih, quoting Nawawi; al-Mawsu`ah al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya]

`Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) used to change bad names. [Tirmidhi]

Brief Guidelines on Names

[1] In general, it is permitted to take any name which doesn’t have a negative or problematic meaning or connotation.

[2] There is no obligation to change your name, particularly if the name doesn’t have a bad primary meaning.

[3] There is benefit in choosing a “Muslim” name, and this is generally a highly recommended sunna. For example, taking the names of Prophets, the great righteous men and women of Islamic history, and names indicating one’s belief in God such as `Abdullah and `Abd al-Rahman.

[4] It is permitted without dislike to take the names of angels.

[5] It is permitted to take the names of Allah, such as Karim or Hasib, except for those which exclusively belong to Allah, like Rahman, for example.

[6] Taking ugly names, like Shaitan and Zalim, or names with bad meanings or connotations is highly disliked.

[7] You can use both names [birth name & ‘new’ name], whether in different contexts (such as keeping your birth name in dealings with parents, family, and perhaps even professional situations), or interchangeably–as there is nothing wrong with having multiple names you are referred to by.

Please see: Is it Necessary to Change One’s Name after Becoming Muslim?

And Allah alone gives success.

wassalam,

SeekersGuidance Answers Service

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani