Changing names is permissible if not for a bad purpose

2-10-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is changing of names after marriage permitted in Islam, May be just as called by pet names or sometimes the surname? Please provide answer to this query as soon as possible.

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions. Basically changing one's name is permissible, even it is likeable that the name be a good one. Furthermore, sometimes changing a name becomes compulsory if it contains any prohibition of Shariah such as the name that implies a servitude to someone other than Allah like ' Abdul Masih ' slave of Jesus or ' Abdur Rasool ' slave of the Prophet, etc. Therefore, there is no harm to change the names for the above reasons. If there is no such a reason but only to have a surname or nickname it is also permissible whether the name is changed before one's marriage or after it. Allah knows best.