I have a worker named (Abd al-Rasul), so I changed his name on his salary card and in his file to (Abd Rabb al-Rasul). Is my action correct?
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The questioner : I have a worker named Abd al-Rasul, so I changed his name on his salary card and in his file to Abd Rabb al-Rasul. Is my action correct?
The Shaykh : The action is undoubtedly correct in general, because it is not permissible for anyone to worship other than Allah, as Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) transmitted the consensus on this, stating: "They agreed on the prohibition of every name that implies worship of other than Allah, except Abd al-Muttalib".
However, changing the name by which a person is known cannot be done from an administrative standpoint except by visiting the Civil Affairs office so that the matter is clarified and no confusion arises. In my view, if there is a reason necessitating a change, it is better to change the name entirely, meaning to change the name itself. So we do not say: Abd Rabb al-Rasul, but rather we say: Abd Allah, Abd al-Rahman, Abd al-Wahhab, Abd al-Hamid, Abd al-Majid, and the like. As for Abd Rabb al-Rasul, it is lengthy as is apparent, and moreover, everyone who hears this form of servitude knows that it is forced; there is something of an affectation in it. Furthermore, whoever hears this expression will immediately think in their mind that the original name is Abd al-Rasul, and perhaps they will have stubbornness, especially if they are among those who exalt the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as they exalt Allah, or even more. Perhaps they will have stubbornness and the name will remain as it was, Abd al-Rasul.
So if it is changed entirely and this name, meaning Abd al-Rasul, is uprooted to a form of servitude to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as Abd al-Rahman, Abd al-Aziz, Abd al-Wahhab, and the like, that would be better and more excellent.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The action is undoubtedly correct in general, because it is not permissible for anyone to worship other than Allah, as Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) transmitted the consensus on this, stating: "They agreed on the prohibition of every name that implies worship of other than Allah, except Abd al-Muttalib".
However, changing the name by which a person is known cannot be done from an administrative standpoint except by visiting the Civil Affairs office so that the matter is clarified and no confusion arises. In my view, if there is a reason necessitating a change, it is better to change the name entirely, meaning to change the name itself. So we do not say: Abd Rabb al-Rasul, but rather we say: Abd Allah, Abd al-Rahman, Abd al-Wahhab, Abd al-Hamid, Abd al-Majid, and the like. As for Abd Rabb al-Rasul, it is lengthy as is apparent, and moreover, everyone who hears this form of servitude knows that it is forced; there is something of an affectation in it. Furthermore, whoever hears this expression will immediately think in their mind that the original name is Abd al-Rasul, and perhaps they will have stubbornness, especially if they are among those who exalt the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as they exalt Allah, or even more. Perhaps they will have stubbornness and the name will remain as it was, Abd al-Rasul.
So if it is changed entirely and this name, meaning Abd al-Rasul, is uprooted to a form of servitude to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), such as Abd al-Rahman, Abd al-Aziz, Abd al-Wahhab, and the like, that would be better and more excellent.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.