#355: Ruling on Progenies bearing their Forefather`s Name
As regards the question on bearing one’s grandfather’s name, can such names be extended to more than one or two or more generations? Like for example, in our family, we all bear our grandfather’s name as surname. Can I make my children to bear that name too as surname, since I like the name? BaarakAllaahu feel!
ANSWER
In response to the question, we say, relying upon Allāh: May Allāh also make Bārakah on you, Āmīn.
We explained on the answer we gave to that question that the father’s father has some equal rights with the father and that there is no blame in the child a name of his grandfather, the reason been that the father himself bears the grandfather’s name. Evidence has preceded that the Rasūl -salallāhu alahi wasallam- called himself by his grandfather’s name Abdulmuttalib.
If that is established, then is no harm in children bearing the names of their forefathers provided that does not lead to ambiguity. Or a false impression that one is actually a direct son of the forefather named.
The Ulamā of the past, most times use their family names and then their clan names, examples include Ibn Hajar, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn Al -Jazarī, etc.
But we advise against over using this practice as it endangers the ability to differentiate people from the same family with time.
Allāhu A’alam.
Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran
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