Is it permissible to call someone named Zakaria by "Zaki," or someone named Abdullah or Abdul Karim by "Abdou," keeping in mind that the Algerian dialect adds the elongation "ou" when referring to the pronoun "he"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There is no objection to calling a person by an altered version of their name, whether abbreviated, lightened, or softened, so long as it does not cause them harm. This is following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who called Aisha "Ya A'ish," Abu Hurayrah "Abi Hur," and Uthman ibn Affan "Uthm." However, changing a name out of contempt is not permissible, due to the Almighty's saying: "And do not defame one another, nor call each other by offensive nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after faith."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/130760
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 130760
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy