Ruling on
changing names after Hajj
The ninth question of Fatwa no.
3323
:
Q: What is the ruling on a person changing their name like most of the Indonesian pilgrims do? Indonesians are used to changing their names when they go to
Makkah Al-Mukarramah
or
Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
Is this an act of Sunnah or not?
A:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to change the bad names to good ones. If the pilgrims of
Indonesia are changing their names for this purpose, not for finishing the rituals of Hajj or their visit to
Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy (the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah) to offer Salah (Prayer) therein, then this is permissible. |
| (Part No. 2;
Page No. 515) |
|
On the other hand, if they are changing their names because they are in
Makkah or
Al-Madinah or for finishing the rituals of Hajj, for example, then this is a Bid‘ah (innovation in religion) and not an act of Sunnah.May Allah grant us success! May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions!
Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Source: Fatwas of the Permanent Committee
