Islamic marriage advice and family advice

Need ruling on naming children after step-grandfather

Islamic names

Assalamualaikum Wr Wb,

My husband is a convert, who learned of his adoption at age 11. He understands that his parents made the mistake of placing his step-father’s surname as his own, but he couldn't bear the heartache of changing it. So, our local Imam said that mistake is not on him and there is no need to change it, so I can no longer hound him on that issue.

However, are we continuing that mistake as we give our children the surname of his step-father instead of his biological father? I recall seeing a hadith mentioning that the gates of Jannah are closed to children who do not bear their father’s names.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever calls himself by other than his father’s name (or attributes himself to someone other than his father), will be cursed by Allah, the angels and all the people." (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2599; see also Saheeh al-Jaami, 6104).

When my husband reads the above hadith, he believes that they are named after their father, but I am witnessing the lineage disappear. On a side note, we are in touch with my husband’s biological father. My question is whether we should spend the hundreds of dollars changing the surname of our children to make things right? Or is my husband correct, our children are named after him, no punishment will befall him or our children, as long as we don’t deny their biological grandfather’s existence?

If you could kindly respond with daleel, as opposed to opinion, that would be most appreciated.

Wasalam


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2 Responses »

  1. Selam

    Your children will be called by their father's name, not step-grandfather's. What are you worried about? Surname is not their father's name.

    I don't know I don't see any problem

  2. The hadiths is referring to someone who denies their biological father and calls someone else their father even though they know its not true.

    Your husband can take whatever name he likes ie the surname of his adopted parents. As long as he does not deny his biological father's fatherhood, he is not sinful.

    Your children are named after their father, they are not denying their father, so there is no problem. You're making an issue out of nothing.

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