Is a muslim allowed to change there name, to another muslim name?
Question
asalamualaikum rahmatullah wabarakatuhu is it allowed to change ones name if everyone keeps calling them by a nickname? jazakalla
Answer
It has been reported in a Hadith that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said that on the day of Qiyaamat, 'you will be called by your names and the names of your fathers, therefore, keep good names.' (Mishkaat)
On various occasions, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) changed the names of sometimes his own family members because of their meanings being inappropriate. Similarly, once Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) changed the nickname of a person to another nickname because of inappropriate meaning. If the person is not offended by people calling him that nickname, on condition that his nickname is not just some shortform of his original name, etc. but it has a good meaning, then there is no harm in keeping the nickname. However, if the nickname is some sort of a stylist short form of the original name which holds absolutely no meaning at all, then it will be better to change the name.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
for: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
CHECKED AND APPROVED: Moulana Imraan Vawda
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- for: Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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