Can he change his name to an arab name?
salamu alikum
Editors note: Removed names and published
My friend has a a real problem. He is German Christian and he wants to embrace Islam and live permanently in an Arab country and marry a Muslim Arab girl. The problem is he heard about Muslim families refusing men who have western names along with arab names like he wants his name to be Mohammed but his father's name is g***** and his family name is ka*** so he wants to get rid of the Western names and put only Arabic names. Is that possible?
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Salaam.
MashaAllah it is great that your friend is converting to Islam - I pray that Allah swt fill his life with light.
It certainly is possible to change his names. I am not sure if it is recommend to change surnames though as keeping the fathers lineage is important in Islam. So if your friend is concerned it may be good for him to speak to a scholar.
Changing the first name when converting to Islam is recommended. But the question remains why does he feel the need to change his surname to 'fit in' to what father in laws want. Well what he is rumoured to have heard they want. Your friend should not feel inferior that he is a convert and should be accepted by a practicing Muslim family for who he is (and his deen) rather than something like a name.
His Christian surnames may be a good thing for him as would he really want to marry a family with a mentality that they would refuse a proposal over a NAME! Just something for yoru friend to think about.
Sara
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Alsalam mu Alaikum
Alhamdulillah that your friend found the wonderful of Islam.May Allah forgive all his sins.I agree with sis sara.I dont think that they will refuse a proposal just because his name is western or and not an arab name.The most important is that he had accepted Islam and believes in Allah the only one god and prophet(s.a.w)his messenger.
Regarding your question about your friend.Changing surnames is forbidden in Islam.Lineage is very important in islam.The prophet (s.a.w)said(One of the greatest lie is to call a person after man who is not his/her father)Al-Bukhari
And he said(s.a.w)(whoever is called after a man who is not his father and knows that, so the paradise is forbidden for him)Narrated by Al-Bukhari and muslim.
And prophet(s.a.w)said(If anyone makes a false claim to paternity, or being a client of other then his own masters.there is upon him the curse of Allah,the angels and all the people.Allah will not accept from him any recompense in the of obligatory acts supererogatory on the of resurrection)Narrated by Muslim.
your friends fathers name is a western name and it is not a muslim name it dosent affect in any way in his life or the hereafter.He cant change his surname whether it is forbidden or dislike name in Islam.As long he is a muslim and believes in Allah and of a good character and faith that is the most thing for them to accept then his surname.The fathers of most of the companions of the prophet were not muslims and prophet(s.a.w) didnt change their surnames.And may Allah fill his heart with more light of Islam.