? about adopting children and changing their names in Islam?

Question

Salaam all. I know that when you adopt a child in Islam it has to keep the last name of it's father. But what if it's first name is something that isn't Islamic or is Pagan origin? Could you change the adopted child's first name to something Islamic? My husband and I are thinking of adopting a child in our state(Ohio) and I am just wondering about this. Shukran.

Answer 1

You can find many cases in prophet Muhamed's, peace be upon him, biography that he has changed many of his companions' names after joining Islam as their names were not fit for a Muslim. So you can do this without fearing of doing a sin by doing this.

And Jazaky w zawgek Allah khayr insha'llah (May Allah reward you and your husband greatly for this isa).

Answer 2

Salam
Well everyone is off a bit here. The individual case and child needs to be considered.

Actually when you adopt a child and you are Muslim it does not automatically carry the biological fathers name nor should it in all cases. ******************If the biological mother was not married to the father than the childs last name should be that of it's biological mother.**************** If the biological parents were married then the child should keep that of the father.

Keeping the first name is different. According to Islam it is permissable to change the first name and recommended if the name is something that is specifically belonging to another religion, pagan, or anti-Islam. A persons first name does not need to be Arab to be Islamic.

On a personal note. If the adopted child is old enough that it is well aware of his/her name than changing it may be strange.

Also, brother abal qasem____ the taking of the fathers first name as the childs middle name is NOT an Islamic thing. That is an Indian thing.

Answer 3

It is absolutely illegal to adopt a child and change their true last name as the previous potser mentioned. The law in Islam and adoption are very strict about this YOU MAY NEVER DO THIS LEGALLY IN ISLAM. You may call your child by a chosen first name but his father's name is his father's and must be kept under the hadith of the prophet Muhammad PBUH. Mars is absolutely correct.

Answer 4

When you say "first name is something that isn't Islamic or is Pagan origin", do you mean that the meaning of the name is not Islamic or pagan? If it's something like--astaghfiru'llah--abdu'l maseeh (=slave of messiah), abdu'l nabi (slave of the prophet), Qayyoom (one of Allah's names that cannot be used as a name, unlike karim, for example), or anything against Islam, then it's Islamically okay to change the name (and may be a must), but make sure you keep the father's name (middle name) and the last name (family name)--if they, too, are not against Islamic rules.
And Allah knows best...

Answer 5

Ws Wr Wb
yes you should change it if it's of pagan origin.
One should always remember that the baby name given to a child is his or her first gift in life. Therefore great care must be taken in choosing baby names that have pleasant and beautiful meanings just like our Prophet (SAW) did.

Answer 6

Hello Shukran,
I can't really speak for Islam. But I think you should name your child whatever you want. It sounds like you have strong feelings and/or reasons for this and it is perfectly legal in this country.

Congratulations Mom & Dad

God Bless

Answer 7

As far as I'm aware when you adopt you can change the name to whatever you like lots of people do that as some son't like the birth name and choose to change it. I'm not sure if your choosing to adopt an Islamic child or what race will the child be???

Answer 8

Yes you can change the first name of the child in Islam.
It is according to sunnah (the examples of the Prophet's life what he said, did, implemented, how he implemented), to change a bad name (whether it is an arabic name or any other language) immediately, and it is permissible according to sunnah to exchange a name for a better one.

According to Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, "...if one's name is Abdul-Messiah, for example, or similar such names, then he is obligated to change it, as the Prophet had people with the names Abdul-Ka'bah and Abdul-Uzzah change their names upon accepting Islaam. If the original name does not comprise or imply anything forbidden in Islaam, then he or she is permitted to retain it (such as the name George, for example). As noted, though, it is preferable to change it to an Islaamic name, as this also distinguishes him or her from the kuffaar."

While it is not haram to retain the name under the conditions listed above, the muslim has a responsibility to the Sunnah of the Prophet , and is encouraged to choose "the best of names"; and the best of names are the humblest, insha'Allah. In addition, the best of names we have on this side of life, will be what we are called by in Paradise, insha'Allah.

We should not cut the ties to our father, and it is correct to retain the name of the father, even in the muslim's newly converted name. i.e. "Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips"... he chose (or was given, by another muslim) the name "Bilal" after the well-known companion Bilal, used the name "Abu Ameenah" meaning father of his daughter Ameenah, and he retained his father's last name, "Philips". Women are not encouraged to change their last name to their new husband's last name upon marriage, in situations where her father's last name is known.

While it is halal and encouraged to have a humble name such as "Abdur Rahman" (servant/slave of the most Beneficent [Allah]), having the name "Al-Rahman" ("Al-" means "The") is not permissible because it is the same as the Name of Allah, and no-one should compare themselves to Allah swt.

The prophet (saw) changed a few of his wives names because the name meant something negative. Also in Islam you should have a righteous name .

Answer 9

If it is a baby you can change the whole name. With the legal adoption the child will get your last name.

It this child is older, it would probably be upsetting for the child to change their first name. If need to you can make her middle name Islamic.

If you plan on living in the USA try to find a name that is closer to American sounding. My family came to America three generations ago and they adapted to being American.

God Bless you

Answer 10

Hello to you too!

I don't know about Ohio, but I live in Mass and when you adopt a child, it is perfectly OK to change their name to something of a different origin.

I hope your adoption goes well.