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:

Salam,

I was wondering, if I like someone that is a Christain, would it be possible that he can keep his last name? He is planning to follow the religion and to convert and to also have a muslim name, but he would use the muslim name when we have a religious fountion.

He wants to keep up his family name, so is that ok if you keeps his birth 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:

Marry a christian

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) 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 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221: Do not marry ‘mushrik’ women unless they believe………Likewise, do not wed your women to ‘mushrik’ men unless they believe……..These ‘mushrik’ people invite you to the Fire, while Allah by His grace invites you to the Garden and His Pardon, and He makes His revelations plain to the people so that they should learn a lesson and follow the admonition.

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared it impermissible and forbidden for a believing woman to marry a non-muslim, unless the person genuinely converts to Islam.

If after converting to Islam, the brother wishes to keep his Christian maiden name; there is absolutely no harm provided the name does not have an evil meaning or names that connotes ‘shirk’ or disbelief. Almost all the companions of the noble Prophet (saws) who converted from pagan religions to Islam were allowed to keep their original maiden or givennames; unless of course, if the meaning of their names clearly displayed shirk or disbelief, they were changed and given a new name. Thus there is absolutely no harm if the brother who converts to Islam wishes to keep his maiden Christian name, provided the name does not imply anything to do with ‘shirk’ or disbelief.

As regards the last name of the person, that should not be changed anyway; it is only the maiden or given name of the individual which is changed if its meaning is evil, or implies shirk or disbelief. The last name of the person would always remain the same even if he converts to Islam.

Dear and Beloved Sister in Islam, although you have not specifically asked us to comment on the conversion of your Christian friend; it is our duty as your brothers and well-wishers in Islam to make you aware of the situation at hand.

If the person indeed genuinely wishes to convert to Islam, genuinely wishes to follow the Commands of his Lord and Creator, and of his own free will submit to the

Will of the Lord All-Mighty; he will indeed be recognized and welcomed as a brother in Islam in this world and the Hereafter. All the rights that are due to believer will be accorded to him in full; he can marry a believing woman, he can visit the Sacred House, his children will be deemed muslims and they will inherit from him, he will be given a muslim burial at death, etc. Every single right that is given to a muslim will be accorded in full to the brother, and he will be recognized as a believer in this world and the Hereafter.

But, if in your opinion, the person is only declaring the ‘testimony of faith’ in order to facilitate the legality of the Shariah Law and becoming a muslim only so that he can marry a believing woman; you should be aware that although the person and those who encourage him thus will get away with it in the life of this world, they will be held severely accountable in the Just and Supreme Court of the All-Mighty Lord for making a jest and a mockery of His Laws. Thus, as your brothers and sincere well-wishers in Islam, we urge you not to go ahead with your marriage with the person unless and until you are absolutely convinced the person is converting to Islam because he believes in it, and not because conversion would legally facilitate his marriage with a believing woman!

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan