Question Summary:
Changing one’s surname to husband’s surname and one’s children’s to stepfather’s surname

Question Detail:

I have a question regarding surname change I am a revert and I had 2 children before I was Muslim to my ex partner which isn’t in the kids lives for a few years now (I think his in jail) I have my mothers surname as I don’t know my father and he isn’t on my birth certificate. My eldest 2 children have my surname .. I got married and I now have 2 more children ..I want to change mine and my 2 eldest children’s surnames to my youngest 2 children’s surname so we all have the same surname as it’s a bit embarrassing that we have different to them .. I wanted my 4 kids and myself to all have the same surname .. is this allowed?

Answer :

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We pray that Allaah Ta’aala blesses you and your children. Aameen.

You enquire regarding two issues: changing your surname to your current husband’s surname, and changing your eldest two children’s surnames to their stepfather’s surname. The answers to your queries are as follows:

ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ 

Translation: “Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allaah.” (Surah Al-Ahzaab v.5)

The last two children may also assume your surname along with their father’s name. For example, if your surname is Jade and the father’s name is Zaid, the children may be called Ahmad Zaid Jade.

And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best

Muajul I. Chowdhury

Student, Darul Iftaa

Astoria, New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

_____

[i]  فتح المنعم شرح صحيح مسلم (4/ 436) 

قال الخطابي: أراد بهذا الكلام تألف الأنصار واستطابة نفوسهم والثناء عليهم في دينهم، حتى رضي أن يكون واحداً منهم لولا ما يمنعه من الهجرة التي لا يجوز تبديلها، ونسبة الإنسان تقع على وجوه. منها الولادة، والبلادية، والاعتقادية، والصناعية، ولا شك أنه لم يرد الانتقال عن نسب آبائه، لأنه ممتنع قطعاً

فتح الباري لابن حجر (8/ 51) 

قال الخطابي أراد بهذا الكلام تألف الأنصار واستطابة نفوسهم والثناء عليهم في دينهم حتى رضي أن يكون واحدا منهم لولا ما يمنعه من الهجرة التي لا يجوز تبديلها ونسبة الإنسان تقع على وجوه منها الولادة والبلادية والاعتقادية والصناعية ولا شك أنه لم يرد الانتقال عن نسب آبائه

آپ کے مسائل اور انکا حل  (8/ 266)

فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا (7/ 562)