Can I change my surname to my husband’s surname?

· 6 Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1438 AH1 min readFatwa 39020English

Question

My question is I’ve been married for nineteen years now, and have not since changed to my husband’s surname. Please guide as to whether it is best for a woman to change to her husband’s surname.?

JazakAllah

Answer

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

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

A married woman may maintain her own surname or adopt her husband’s surname. She may do whatever she feels is practically best for her to do. [i]

If her husband wants her to adopt his surname, it is advisable for her to consider her husband’s wish in doing so. [ii]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdullah Syed Sajid

Student Darul Iftaa
Houston, TX, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

[i] آپ کے مسائل اور انکا حل (ج 7، ص 21)

[ii]و في المنح عن البزازية و قال الزندويستي حق العالم على الجاهل و حق الأستاذ على التلميذ واحد على السواأ و هو أن لا يفتح الكلام قبله و لا يجلس مكانه و إن غاب و لا يرد عليه كلامه و لا يتقدم عليه في مشيه و حق الزوج على الزوجة أكثر من هذا وهو أن تطيعه في كل مباح (الشامي ج-٦ ص-٧٥٦، سعيد)

و هكذا في البحر الرائق ج-٣ ص-٢٢١، سعيد و النهر الفقائق ج-٢ ص-٢٩٧، قديمي

فتاوى حقانية ج-٤ ص-٤٣٣، دار العلوم حقانية

امداد الفتاوى ج-٢ ص-١٨٦، مكتبة دار العلوم كراتشي

Answered by
Abdullah Syed Sajid
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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