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:

As-Salaam-Alekum,

I`m a Hindu and will be converting to Islam lawfully next week and joining jammat for another week.(My heart is absolutely convinced regarding six fundamental articles of faith. I`ve recieted and learnt 'shahaadah'.

I was introduced closely to Islam after I met a muslim girl with whom i`m in love and intend to marry. My parents also like that girl. I plan to live separately(after marriage) so that we can practice Islam. I do not wish to tell my parents about my conversion. Is this marriage void. The girl is afraid as she thinks she doesnt want to commit `shirk` by marry me. Her sisters and mother know about me. I need your advise.

Also i wanted to know is it mandatory to change my name(Meaning of my name is "Ornaments`). I know many people who have a surname like my mine and are `Muslims`

Your guidance will be very helpful.

Allah hafiz

(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:

Change name revert

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.

Your Question: Is this marriage void.

The obligatory conditions for a marriage to be considered lawful in the Sight of Shariah are:

1. Proposal by one party and acceptance by the other.
2. The determination of ‘mehr’ gift for the bride.
3. The presence of (at least) two witnesses to the marriage contract.
4. The consent of the guardian of the bride.

Respected brother, as long as you sincerely believe in the six articles of faith and have professed belief in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah and in the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as the Last and Final Messenger of Allah…..and all the obligatory conditions of an ‘Islamic Nikaah’ are fulfilled, your marriage itself will be absolutely legal, lawful, and valid in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, in the Sight of Shariah Law, and in the sight of the believers.

Your Question: Also i wanted to know is it mandatory to change my name(Meaning of my name is "Ornaments`). I know many people who have a surname like my mine and are `Muslims`

A name assigned to each individual is no more than a sign or recognition of that person; and there is absolutely no obligation or compulsion in Shariah that a believer is obliged or required to keep a ‘traditional’ Islamic or ‘muslim’ name. One is at complete liberty to assign any good wholesome name to their off-spring in absolutely any language they will or please.

The only names which Islam prohibits from assigning to a believer are names which connote or denote polytheism or disbelief (Abdul-Lat, Abdul-Uzza, (slaves of the pagan gods like Lat and Uzza, etc.) or names like Ramdas (slave of the Hindu god Ram), etc.; or names which have an inherit evil or vile meaning.

Other than names which connote polytheism and disbelief, or names which have an inherently evil meaning….Islam has allowed the believers the complete freedom to chose and assign any good wholesome name in any language they will and please.

Most of the companions of the Prophet (saws) who accepted Islam kept the names assigned to them by their disbelieving parents, and the Prophet (saws) did not change them or order them to be changed unless and until the name had an inherent evil meaning or was associated with ‘shirk’ or disbelief.

Thus my respected brother in Islam, if the maiden name assigned to you at birth by your parents does not connote shirk or disbelief, nor does it have an inherent evil meaning…..you are at absolute liberty in Islam to be called and recognized by that name.

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