Question: Assalamu Alaikum, my question has 2 parts. Firstly, is it permissible and/or recommended for a man to change his family name if it is a non-Muslim name. And secondly, if that man chooses to keep his non-Muslim surname but does not wish for his future children to carry the name is it permissible for the children to carry their mother’s family name?
Answer:
Wa alaikum As Salaam,
Yes, it is permissible and also recommended for a man to change his family name if it is a non-Muslim name. In fact, if the name does not have a good meaning, then it will be essential for him to change it.
In the second case, it will be permissible for the children to carry their mother’s family name.
And Allah Knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan.
4/12/2013