FatwaPenangCreed (Aqidah)
KERTAS MAKLUMAN BERKAITAN PROSEDUR PENGISLAMAN DAN PENUKARAN NAMA SAUDARA KITA DI NEGERI PULAU PINANG
Must a convert to Islam in Penang change their name?
Short answer
A convert may choose to keep their own name and their father's name, or change the father's name to Abdullah or to an Asma' Al-Husna name preceded by Abdul.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Penang State Mufti Department
- Date
- Status
- Fatwa committee decision
- Series
- Keputusan Fatwa Negeri Pulau Pinang (e-Fatwa)
- Topic
- Creed (Aqidah)
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A convert may choose to keep their own name and their father's name, or change the father's name to Abdullah or to an Asma' Al-Husna name preceded by Abdul. Changing the name becomes obligatory if the original name carries a meaning that contradicts Islamic law. The decision was made by the Penang State Fatwa Committee in October 2024.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Diwajibkan ke atas seorang mualaf menukarkan nama sekiranya mengandungi makna yang menyalahi syarak.
Read the full fatwa on the Penang website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Penang State Mufti Department. “KERTAS MAKLUMAN BERKAITAN PROSEDUR PENGISLAMAN DAN PENUKARAN NAMA SAUDARA KITA DI NEGERI PULAU PINANG”, 15 October 2024. http://efatwa.penang.gov.my/fatwa_details.php?fatwaid=1680. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/must-convert-change-name-penang/