Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is it permissible to have the middle name of the newborn to be the wife`s last name and the last name to be father`s last name

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Call child by mother’s name

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 4-5:

…Allah has not made your adopted sons your real sons. These are the things which you utter from your mouths, but Allah says what is based on reality; and He Alone guides to the Right Way. Call your adopted sons after their father’s names; this is more just in the sight of Allah. And if you do not know who their fathers are, then they are your brothers in faith and your friends. There is no blame on you if you say something unintentionally; but you will surely be to blame for what you say with the intention of your hearts. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.711 Narrated by Abu Dhar

The Prophet (saws) said, "If somebody claims to be the son of any other than his real father knowingly, he but disbelieves in Allah; and if somebody claims to belong to some folk to whom he does not belong, let such a person take his place in the (Hell) Fire."

One amongst the general culture which was prevalent amongst the Arabs before the advent of the Last and Final Messenger (saws), and one which the Prophet (saws) himself adopted and endorsed, was that an off-spring (regardless of whether male or female) would be recognized by the name of its father.

If a child is born out of wedlock or ‘zina’, there is indeed allowance in Shariah that the child will be called and recognized by the name of its mother and not its unlawful biological father.

Your Question: Is it permissible to have the middle name of the newborn to be the wife`s last name and the last name to be father`s last name

Lets say Allah Subhanah blessed a believing couple with a child, and lets say the husband’s name is Salmaan bin (son of) Siddique, the wife’s name is Maryam binte (daughter of) Ahmed, and the couple chose Ammar as the first name of their child.

Under normal circumstances, the child would be called and recognized as Ammar bin (son of) Salmaan…..but if for whatever reason one wishes to include one’s wife’s last name in the name of their child and call their child Ammar Ahmed bin (son of) Salmaan….there is absolutely no harm and restriction in Shariah in doing so.

As long as the child ‘Ammar’ is known and recognized as the son of his father Salmaan, there is no specific restriction or prohibition in Shariah if one wishes to include whatever name/s one pleases as the second or third name of their child.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan