Answered by: Maulana Selim Saldiran
Question
Are having Arabic names mandatory in Islam?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
No, it’s not mandatory in Islam to have Arabic names. It is recommended to keep a name with a good meaning. The Prophet Mohammad (saw) said: “You will be called on the Day of Judgement by your names and the names of your fathers, so choose good names.” [Abū Dāwud].
The Prophet (saw) used to change names with a bad meaning.
However, it is better to choose a name that is known by Muslims.[1]
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Selim Saldiran
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1]رد المحتار على الدر المختار 6/417[تَتِمَّةٌ]التَّسْمِيَةُ بِاسْمٍ لَمْ يَذْكُرْهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي عِبَادَةٍ وَلَا ذَكَرَهُ رَسُولُهُ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – وَلَا يَسْتَعْمِلُهُ الْمُسْلِمُونَ تَكَلَّمُوا فِيهِ، وَالْأَوْلَى أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَ. وَرُوِيَ: إذَا وُلِدَ لِأَحَدِكُمْ وَلَدٌ فَمَاتَ فَلَا يَدْفِنْهُ حَتَّى يُسَمِّيَهُ إنْ كَانَ ذَكَرًا بِاسْمِ