What is your guidance regarding naming a daughter "Rama" despite the father knowing the name's meaning—"Hindu deity"—and insisting on not changing it?
It is forbidden to be named after idols and deities worshipped besides Allah, the Exalted, such as "Lat," "Uzza," "Manat," "Isaf," and "Hubal," because it involves glorifying disbelief and imitating disbelievers. "Rama" is the name of a Hindu god, so it is not permissible to be named after it, and it must be changed. A Muslim must fear Allah and regulate their affairs according to the Shari'ah, as Allah, the Exalted, says: (It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error), and His saying: (But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full] submission).
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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