Fatwa ID: 05756

Answered by: Maulana Yusuf Khan

Question:

Is it haram to take our husband’s surname?

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

Answer:

Wāthilah ibn al-Asqa‘ (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “From the gravest of lies is someone who ascribes himself to other than his biological father, or claims to have seen something in a dream which he actually never saw, or ascribes something to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) which he did not say.” [Sahih Bukhari]

This hadeeth prohibits one from attributing themselves to a lineage other than their father. Adopting the surname of the husband does not negate the woman lineage. However, it would be impermissible if the woman rejects her own lineage thereafter.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Yusuf Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham