Q: Is it true that if a person does not take their father's name (female) even after marriage, they will be denied the fragrance of Jannah?
A: Ambiguity and un-clarity are disliked in Islam. Islam advocates clarity and transparency and commands that one refrains from doing things that are unclear and ambiguous. Ambiguity means to present something in such a manner that does not reveal the true picture or give the correct meaning. Hence the maiden surname reveals ones true identity and shows the family one comes from. However, 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. ones maiden surname) or either through marriage (i.e. the surname of the husband).
It is however impermissible for one to attribute his lineage to someone besides his father. Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:
عن علي بن أبي طالب قال قال زسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من ادعى على غير أبيه فعليه لعنة الله و الملائكة والناس أجمعين لا يقبل الله منه يوم القيامة صرفا و لا عدلاً رواه مسلم (1/495)
“The one who attributes his lineage to somebody other than his father, the curse of Allah Ta’aala, the Malaaikah and all the people will fall on him. None of his deeds will be accepted on the day of Qiyaamah.”
Answered by:
Checked & Approved: