Do I have to change my last name?
Asalamo Alaikum brothers and sisters,
I am a newly Muslim revert and I have a general question regarding my name.. My prior name before reverting was Arun Siva. Arun is pretty much pronounced like "Harun" the arabic word for Aaron (mentioned in the Quran).
I would like to know if I have to change my last name to something else? I was thinking Harun Syed Rahman.
Also, I have to let government and passports know.
shukran and inshallah
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wa alaikum salaam and Ramadan Mubarak,
While it is encouraged it is not required to change your last name.
The benefits of changing your last name will assist you in identifying with al-Islam and the Muslims and allow you to give yourself a name that suits you.
We would recommend you update your passport, drivers licenses and any other legal documents to avoid confusion with the government. However due to the expenses related this can be done over time.
If you chose to change your name, start to request your family and friends use your new name, but be patient it will be a change that many may accept slowly.
Ramadan Mubarak
Would Harun Abdul Wahid Rahman be ok?
Shukran Muhammad
Really appreciate your help. Also Ramadan Mubarak to you as well.
Shukran Muhammad
Really appreciate your help. Also Ramadan Mubarak to you as well.
I was thinking about keeping arun as (Harun) and changing the last name to Syed Rahman or something of the sort.
Would Harun Abdul Wahid Rahman be ok?
Salam alaikum,
No, you do not have to change your name. There is only the Quran that states children should be given "good names". As long as your name is not attributed to any other god(s) or associated with any idolatry you are fine.
Sorry bro, I have to disagree with some of the other comments. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) instructed people to keep the family name (the last name), even if it is un-Islamic, because to change it is to deny your parentage. Islam places great emphasis on family ties, even if the family is not Muslim.
So you can change your first name to Harun if you like, but the last name should remain as it is. I published a detailed article about this, with evidences, on Zawaj.com here:
http://zawaj.com/articles/naming.html
In the long term you don't want to keep an un-Islamic name as the family name, but you can change it for your children. As you will see in the article, in Islam the last name can either be the family name or the father's name. So when you have a son Insha'Allah, if you name him Abdullah then his name could be Abdullah Harun. So Harun would become the new family name for your children and their descendants.
so just to clarify in my case:
Previous name: arun siva
new name: abdul-wahid rahman siva
thanks
oh ok. Then I will change my first name and keep the last one. Shukran Wael really appreciate your help and info
Salam,
Hello there, im converted and married to a muslim man and now we are having our first child. My muslim name is zaenab, i want to know how would carry my husband last name cos im confuse arabs have really a long name. is by his complete name or just his last name.?
Pls reply
ruby, are you asking about yourself taking your husband's last name, or the child taking his name?
Muslim women keep their family names, they do not traditionally take the husband's last name.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor