Muslim Revert Changing His Name

QUESTION:

Is it compulsory for a revert to change his first name Islamically and also legally?

ANSWER:

Firstly, consider the following Aayah:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً (البقرة :208)

“O you who believe, enter into Islam completely.”

From the above verse it is clearly understood that when one accepts Islam, the dictates of one’s Islam is that one should leave and shun every trait of Kufr (disbelief). Hence, it will best to change one’s name as this will avoid issues in the future as well.

For example, if a new Muslim happens to be travelling with his I.D. document which is registered in his non-Muslim name and (Allah forbid!), meets in an accident and passes away in such an area where he is unknown, then the Muslims of the area may be confused with regards to the status of his religion. On the other hand, if the I.D. document reflects his Muslim name, then the Muslim burial committee would recognize him as a Muslim and hence arrange for his Ghusl and burial according to Islamic rites.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the Hadith:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يُغَيِّرُ الِاسْمَ القَبِيحَ (سنن الترمذي #2839)

Nabi Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to change the name which had an improper or a negative meaning.

Hence, if the name of the revert has an incorrect meaning, it will be necessary to change the name to a good Muslim name in light of the above Hadith.

Also consider the following Hadith:

عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّكُمْ تُدْعَوْنَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِأَسْمَائِكُمْ، وَأَسْمَاءِ آبَائِكُمْ، فَأَحْسِنُوا أَسْمَاءَكُمْ (سنن أبي داؤد #4948)

“You will all be called on the Day of Judgement by your names and your father’s names, so therefore keep good names for yourselves” 

In conclusion, although changing one’s name is not a Shari’ee requirement for the validity of one’s Imaan, it is a requirement for proper identification purposes in all instances. A revert should change his name to a good Muslim name as soon as possible.

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 22 Shawwaal 1446 / 21 April 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb