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:

Dear Burhan Bhai Assalam-o-alaikum,

My second name is Rahman. Some of my Arab friends have said that since it one of the names of Allah, I should have a pre-fix like Abdur. Should I actually go ahead and change it? This will require legal formalities and changes at a lot of places (office, bank, immigration, etc.). Will it be considered a sin in the eyes of Allah?

Please revert as soon as you can. 

(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:

Name person Rahman

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 17 Surah Israa verse 110:

110 Say: "Call upon Allah or call upon The ‘Rahmaan’: by whatever Name ye call upon Him (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 55 Surah Rahmaan verses 1-4:

1 The Ar-Rahmaan ((Allah, Most Gracious)!

2 It is He, Who has taught the Qur'an.

3 He has created man:

4 He has taught him speech (and Intelligence)

The name ‘Rahmaan’ is definitely one amongst the Absolute and Exlusive Names and Attributes of our Lord Creator, and none in creation has a right to be called or recognized by this name except Him!

Without an iota of a doubt, ‘Rahmaan’ is absolutely inappropriate and unlawful name to be given to anyone in creation, leave alone one who has professed belief in Allah and His Messenger (saws)!

Your Statement: Some of my Arab friends have said that since it one of the names of Allah, I should have a pre-fix like Abdur.

Your brethren who speak or understand the Arabic language are indeed right, as ‘Rahmaan’ is indeed one amongst the Absolutely Exclusive Names and Attributes of our Lord Creator. Indeed one in creation can only and truly be a slave to the Lord, and it would definitely be appropriate and a factful declaration to add a prefix of ‘Abdul-….’ to any of the Names of Allah Subhanah.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said that amongst the best names for a believer to have or keep are ‘Abd-Allah’ and ‘Abdur-Rahmaan’.

Your Question: Should I actually go ahead and change it? This will require legal formalities and changes at a lot of places (office, bank, immigration, etc.). Will it be considered a sin in the eyes of Allah?

First and foremost, you should never ever call yourself, or be recognized, or introduced as ‘Rahmaan’, but rather you should strive to call yourself and be recognized as ‘Abdur-Rahmaan’.

Because you were not responsible for appointing this name yourself, there will be no sin upon you….but if you insist on calling yourself by a name which is an Absolutely Exclusive Name and Attribute of Allah Subhanah, then indeed it would be considered a sin.

Beloved brother, if it is possible and do able, it would indeed be best and purest if you took the steps to legally change your name from ‘Rahmaan’ to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan’. And if it is not possible, then the least you could do is make absolutely sure that from this day forward, you call yourself and are recognized as ‘Abdur-Rahmaan’ rather than ‘Rahmaan’.

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