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:

Assalamu Allaikkum,

Can a person call his/her grandfather as a father....is there any hadees tht they should not call any1 as father except his/her real father

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Answer:

Father is only real father

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 4.712 Narrated by Wathila bin Al Asqa

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Verily, one of the worst lies is to claim falsely to be the son of someone other than one's real father, or to claim to have had a dream one has not had, or to attribute to me what I have not said."

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."

In light of the above quoted guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, it is evident that one should be called and recognized by the name of his own biological father. Although one’s grand-father is indeed considered as one’s fore-father, it would only be piety and righteousness and closest to the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, that if indeed one wishes to be recognized by the name of one’s grand-father for any reason whatsoever, one should call oneself ‘so-and-so’, the son of ‘so and so’ (father), the son of ‘so and so’ (the grand-father).

For example: if one’s maiden name is Abdullah, one’s father’s name is Salmaan, and one’s grand-father’s name is Ahmed……it would be outright wrong to call oneself Abdullah bin (son of) Ahmed, but one is at liberty to call oneself Abdullah bin Salmaan bin Ahmed, or simply Abdullah bin Salmaan.

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