Maiden Surname or Husband’s Surname

Could Mufti Saheb please verify if the following statement is true because almost all the married females I know take their husband’s surname and are known by it: “If a person (female) does not take their father’s name, even after marriage, they will be denied the fragrance of Jannah.”

Jazaakallahu Khairan

Bismihi Ta‘ala

Haamidan wa Musalliyan

Respected Sister in Islam

Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Ambiguity and un-clarity are disliked in Islam. Islam advocates clarity and transparency. Ambiguity means to present something in a manner that does not reveal the true picture or give the correct meaning. Thus, the maiden surname reveals one’s true identity and shows the family one comes from. In today’s times since changing the maiden surname to the surname of the husband is in vogue, the ambiguity no longer remains and thus it is permissible to change the surname to the surname of the husband. It is commonly understood in society that the surname is for identification purposes. Identification is either through lineage (i.e. one’s maiden surname) or through marriage (i.e. the surname of the husband).

It is however impermissible for one to attribute his lineage to someone besides his father.

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The one who attributes his lineage to somebody other than his father, the curse of Allah Ta‘ala, the Malaa-ikah and all the people will fall on him. None of his deeds will be accepted on the day of Qiyaamah.”

And Allah Ta‘ala knows best