What is the ruling on a Muslim in the West changing his Arabic name to a foreign name, such as changing names like Ali, Omar, and Mahmoud, to avoid racial discrimination or assault, knowing that the change is formal and not in belief?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There is no harm in wearing a cross if there is a genuine necessity for it, and the motive is not to imitate disbelievers, provided that it does not carry a meaning forbidden by Islamic law, such as being a specific symbol for non-Muslims, or involving worship of other than Allah, or self-praise.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/102986
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 102986
- 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.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy