Question on shahada and name change

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Raaina

Raaina

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I have a question.

When I took my Shahada, I said I didn't want to change my name, but they said oh well pick one incase you change your mind later, so I did.

I did my shahada at the same time as my Nikah, but my Nikah is in my "non-muslim" name.

So, even if my shahada says i've changed my name to "A muslim name" do I have to use this one now or can I choose to use either?

I'm worried that i've changed my name and I didn't want to. :hmm:
 
Although not exactly the same , this might help

I was given the name Tyrone Anthony Parker at birth by my non-muslims parents. After taking shahada, I changed my name to Bilaal Faaruwq Abdus-Salaam. I have recently found out that I shouldn't have left my family name and I plan on returning to it. If my parents tell me to return to my given name (Tyrone-has pagan origins ; Anthony-means flourishing) do I have to do it?


Praise be to Allaah.

For the one whom Allaah has guided to Islam, it is sufficient for him to choose an Islamic first name for himself and to keep his father’s name or surname, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not command the Sahaabah to change their fathers’ and grandfathers’ names when they embraced Islam. However, he did change the first names of those who had names with forbidden or undesirable meanings. Because your first name has pagan origins, your changing it to another name, such as Bilaal, is proper and correct. But you should keep the rest of your name and surname as it is; this will please your parents. May Allah guide them, and may He give us and you strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.
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I didn't change my name either when I said my Shahahda because my name is the name of the wife of a phophet in the new testement, cousin of Mary.
2 years on I'm still trying to deside on changing my name but I'm going to keep my surname. I like my Christian name but I also like an islamic name. I don't really know what to do.
My advise is if you really want to change your name, keep your surname as that will keep the link to you family.
 
yehp thats true sis :)

from what i no either way its not "bad" or anything so its completely your choice, but it is sunnah to have a Muslim name :)

And about the surname, well islamically your not meant to ever drop your surname (fathers name) as that is sinful from what i found out recently. If i'm wrong then maybe someone can correct me, but i was informed that is why when you get married, you still hold onto your surname. And the point about breaking the link to your family is also very true :)

I can't really say much on the matter of your name change at the nikkah issuee as i don't no much about that yet :P

Goodluck
 
I never knew you were invited to change your name at the point of saying Shahada.
Is that the usual procedure?

Can anybody explain the reason behind it?
(Mods, please let me know if I should start a new thread for this question. Thanks.)
 
i was delighted to change my name :p now when people call me by my old name i cringe.:enough!:;D i felt that when i changed my name then i felt like a new person like a muslim...when i had my old name muslims were wondering why i didnt change it and thought that i felt ashamed to but i am so proud to be a muslimah and have people call me by my muslim name :D
 
glo said:
I never knew you were invited to change your name at the point of saying Shahada.
Is that the usual procedure?

Can anybody explain the reason behind it?
(Mods, please let me know if I should start a new thread for this question. Thanks.)
Click to expand...

Well I did my Shahada in Pakistan, where no one spoke english except me, my husband and the lawyer, so all the important things were translated for me. But after i'd said Shahada, they said you should pick a muslim name and you don't have to use it, but pick one, so I did. :p

But, the name on my Nikah is my non muslim name, so *shrugs* guess I can use either.
 
cat eyes said:
i was delighted to change my name :p now when people call me by my old name i cringe.:enough!:;D i felt that when i changed my name then i felt like a new person like a muslim...when i had my old name muslims were wondering why i didnt change it and thought that i felt ashamed to but i am so proud to be a muslimah and have people call me by my muslim name :D
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Thats wonderful sister :statisfie

The reason I don't use my muslim name is, my parents still don't know i've converted :skeleton:
 
cat eyes said:
i was delighted to change my name :p now when people call me by my old name i cringe.:enough!:;D i felt that when i changed my name then i felt like a new person like a muslim...when i had my old name muslims were wondering why i didnt change it and thought that i felt ashamed to but i am so proud to be a muslimah and have people call me by my muslim name :D
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was the old name Margaret or Belinda


the only two names that cause cringes
 
mystical_moon said:
Well I did my Shahada in Pakistan, where no one spoke english except me, my husband and the lawyer, so all the important things were translated for me. But after i'd said Shahada, they said you should pick a muslim name and you don't have to use it, but pick one, so I did. :p
.
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I always understood that Shahada is about making a declaration of faith.
I still don't understand how a new name is of importance in that process?
 
mystical_moon said:
Nope not yet. I have to wait for the right time imsad
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Please, please, please tell your parents, mystical moon!
Pray about it, and by all means find the right time for it - but do tell them!

I am speaking as a mother here: I cannot honestly say how happy I would be if my daughter converted to Islam - but I would be infinitely more hurt and upset if she did so secretly.
And for her to get married without telling me would break my heart!

I guess what I am saying is that your parents may not be happy with your life choices, they may even disagree strongly - but hopefully they will continue to love you, and with time they will hopefully come to accept your choices.
But they can only go through that process of acceptance, if you tell them in the first place.

(Out of interest, how old are you?)

I hope and pray that all goes well for you.
 
Dear Ms. Glo,

Your concern is already answered in Zakirs' post where it was suggested to keep one's name if it is not contradicted to the teaching of Islam. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) also changed name of those Sahaba (companion) whose names were as explained.

Hence, if Sis mystical moon's previous name is complying with islamic teachings of good meaning names, hence she does not need to change her name. Whereas she doesn't require to change her surename.

I agree with you, Glo, dear Ukhti M_Moon: you should tell your parents as it will be more hurting if they come to know from some other source.
 
Rafeeq said:
Dear Ms. Glo,
Your concern is already answered in Zakirs' post where it was suggested to keep one's name if it is not contradicted to the teaching of Islam. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) also changed name of those Sahaba (companion) whose names were as explained.
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Thank you for your reply.

My question was not relating to whether or not one should change one's name when saying Shahada.
Instead I was surprised that the issue of changing one's name should have anything to do with Shahada at all.

As far as I understood, Shahada is the declaration of one's faith as a Muslim, specifically that there is only one God and Muhammed is his final messenger.
Am I correct in thinking that's the meaning of Shahada?

My question and confusion is why and at what point of saying Shahada, would the issue of changing one's name be raised (presumably by the Imam?)?

One of the reasons I am asking is that I can imagine people wanting to say Shahada to revert to Islam.
They would come to the masjid to declare they new faith ... but I wonder how many would be prepared for the question whether they want to adopt an Islamic name ...
 
Hi Glo,

I can see where you're coming from.

The issue of name has nothing to do with shahadah per se. Shahadah is the declaration of faith that makes one a Muslim. Regardless of your name, having believed in the shahadah in your heart and having declared it verbally, you become a Muslim.

Most people wish to the pick a name so that they can be recognised by others as being a Muslim, or see it as a new phase in their lives, thus would like a new name to go with it. However that process is nothing to do with the shahada, but the shahada seems the best opportunity to discuss the subject, if the new Muslim so wishes to change their name.

Hope that makes it a bit clearer. :)
 
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^
Yes, that makes perfect sense, Insane Insaan. Thank you for your reply. :)

I had sudden visions of the Shahada going like "I declare that X ... and I will henceforth call myself Y".
I guess it isn't really like that ... :giggling:
 
Shahada is very simple ,

Arabic text: أشهد أن لا إله إلاَّ الله و أشهد أن محمدا رسول الله

Romanization: ʾašhadu ʾan laa ilāha illa (A)llāh, wa ʾašhadu ʾanna Muḥammada(n) rasūlo (A)llāh

Meaning: "I witness that there is no God but Allah and I witness that Mohammed is his messenger."
 
I had a choise at my shahada to change my name but I didn't for a number of reasons:
1. My name is one of the prophets wife (I can't remeber his name but I think it beigis with a Z and he's in the New Testament) and she is the cousin of Mary.
2. I didn't want my family to find out I was muslim (I did tell them 2 weeks later)
3. I really like my name and I didn't want to change it at the time.
I'm thinking changeing it now but my convertion certificate has my Christian name on it.
 
A few years after I converted, I went to al Azhar University in Egypt to get a shahada certificate, as I had heard the saudi government asks for proof of conversion when you apply for hajj.

They didn't have a certificate reconfirming one's shahada, so we just used the certificate they use for your ordinary, run of the mill shahada. It did include a section where you change your name. I'm like, no, see, I'm muslim. My name is Jennifer. Ergo, Jennifer is a muslim name, capish? Ok, I didn't say capish, but I did go all sassy american on them ;D

Here's what it said:

Having realized that she has adopted Islam by her own free will, we have informed her of the rights and obligations of a Muslim. She has chosen a Muslim name as:

________________________________
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So, what I'm understanding here is that you have a certificate that lists a "muslim" name? Or is it just something you did verbally? If it's verbal, no need to do anything other than use the name you want. If it's written, maybe see about going to a masjid in your area and getting a new shahada certificate done.

It really urks me that converts are pressured to change their names, as if it's something that's required. Aren't there more important things we should be telling newbie muslims at their shahada?
 
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