Fatwa ID: 05115

Answered by: Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Question

Salam – question, in Islam, does a daughter need to carry her father’s name?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Normally, a daughter or son will carry the name of the father. No person should be attributed to being someone else’s daughter or son.

Allāh says in the Quran:

“Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with Allah. But if you know not their father’s (names, call them) your brothers in faith and Mawalikum (your freed slaves). And there is no sin on you if you make a mistake therein, except in regard to what your hearts deliberately intend. And Allah is Ever OftForgiving, Most Merciful.” (Sūrah al-Ahzab:5)

In the Qur’an when Allāh mentions the mother of Isa he says:

“And Maryam (Mary), the daughter of ‘Imran who guarded her chastity…”(Sūrah al-Tahrim:12)

She is attributed to her father and not her mother. There is sometimes an exception to this like with Isa who was created by Allāh without a father.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham