Giving children non-Muslim names coupled with Muslim names
13-7-2009 | IslamWeb
Question:
Can I give my children non Muslim names couple with their Muslim names.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Giving non-Muslim names to children, such as John, Joseph, George or the like, coupled with Muslim names, is not free of violations of Islamic rules. Indeed, giving the Muslim a name which is exclusive to the disbelievers is imitating them, and imitating the disbelievers in their distinctive matters is prohibited. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Whoever imitates a people belongs to them." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood] Moreover, non-Muslim names may lead the child to admire the morals of the disbelievers and thus adopt them. It is known that names often have a great impact on their bearers.
Truly, there is no benefit for the Muslim to give his children non-Muslim names, and the one who does so is like the people whom Allaah The Almighty described Saying (what means): {Would you exchange what is better for what is less?}[Quran 2:61] So, you should be careful.