Female changing her surname after marriage

Question:-

Please advise on the status of a girl changing her surname after marriage? Is it permissible or not?

Answer:-

After the Nikah is performed in the Masjid, the marriage is generally registered at Home Affairs department. On registering the marriage, the wife’s surname is automatically changed to her husband’s surname in her identity document. The change of surname is as per South African law hence, one is left with no option in this matter. This in no way means that her lineage will now be attributed to her husband’s family. Her lineage will always be attributed to her father but the change was by virtue of marriage.

In fact, it is recorded in some Ahadith that a person will be addressed by the father’s name on the day of the Qiyaamah and in other narrations, by the mother’s name. In conclusion, it will be permissible to change the surname due to the above-mentioned reasons.

فقد جاء في بعض الروايات انه يدعي الناس يوم القيامة بأسماء امهاتهم فقيل الحكمة في ذلك ستر أولاد الزنا لئلا يفتضحوا لعدم الإباء لهم  وقيل ذلك لرعاية عيسي ابن مريم عليه الصلوة والسلام اذ لا اب له وقيل لاظهار فضل الحسن والحسين وبشرفهما باظهار نسبتهما الي رسول الله صلي الله عليه وسلم فان ثبتت هذه الرواية حمل الإباء علي التغليب كما في الابوين ويجتمل انهم يدعون بالاباء واخري بالامهات او يدعي البعض بالاباء والبعض بالامهات او في بعض المواطن بهم وفي بعضها بهن انتهي (التعليق الصبيح ص155 ج5)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 10 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1444 / 05 November 2022