Registration of new members is currently closed. Guestbook opened for now.  Guests who have questions may post at our guestbook.  No lengthy debates please. Kindly note: MV is a place for serious learning through mutual consultation where we have zero tolerance for trouble-makers, narcissists and needless disputants. We simply stand for what is compatible with the Noble Quran regardless of titles such as "traditionalism" or "modernism." We have the right to our opinion just as you have the right to yours. All disagreements must be left at that. Final Judgement belongs to The Almighty.
MUSLIM VILLA - QURAN ONLY
March 28, 2024, 07:36:20 pm
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
 
  Home Help Search Arcade Gallery Links Staff List Calendar Login Register  

Married woman to retain her maiden name

+-
Shoutbox
November 01, 2023, 03:44:32 pm Zainab_M: Allahhuma ameen .. ameen.
November 01, 2023, 03:43:43 pm Ruhi_Rose: Yes .. making lots of dua everyday ..... watching those real life video clips, my face feels wet with tears all the time.  May ALLAH grant the best to these wonderful, brave & steadfast martyrs,  Ameen ya Allah.
November 01, 2023, 03:38:26 pm Zainab_M: Keep praying, praying a lot for Gaza. It's worse than a prison .. it's a concentration camp.  Children as young as 10 or 11 are having to care for their younger siblings ages 2, 3 and 4 becoz many have lost both parents.  It's a very, very, very tearful situation there.
October 26, 2023, 03:40:19 pm N. Truth Seeker: Don't forget to look up MV Blog Zainab's Lounge for our Gaza updates.
October 20, 2023, 04:24:44 pm Zainab_M: Right sister Heba.  Gaza hospital bombing has the fingerprints of Israel all over it.  For Israel this is no big crime.  They have done this and much worse many times in the past and intend to do the same and worse many more times in near future.
October 20, 2023, 04:20:20 pm Heba E. Husseyn: Catching Zionist lies isn't hard. Soon after Gaza hospital bombing killing and maiming hundreds, Israel was quick to accuse Islamic Jihad of a misfired rocket.  That didn't sound plausible because IJ does not have such sophisticated bombing devices.  Zionist lie was fully exposed when anglican archbishop of Jerusalem,Hosam Naoum,  said today that 3 or 4 days prior to boming Israel had warned Gaza hospital to evacuate. Yet CIA claims in its flawed analysis that the rocket did not come from Israel.  But conveniently does not explain how Israel could have known 4 days earlier that a "misfired" rocket from IJ was coming.  Yet on the basis of this flawed & bias analysis of CIA, Biden is comforting Israel he believes Israel didn't do that war crimes bombing.
July 29, 2023, 03:02:07 am Zainab_M: Yesterday was Ashura, Muharram 10, 1444 (July 27, 2023).  Read about this very tragic day and details of the world's greatest 7th century revolutionary: WHO WAS HUSSEIN.
June 28, 2023, 09:48:39 am Zainab_M: Walaikum As Salaam.  This was the first Hajj open to all after the pandemic. It was attended by 2.6 million Muslims.
View Shout History
Pages: [1]   Go Down
  Send this topic  |  Print  
Author Topic: Married woman to retain her maiden name  (Read 3954 times)
0 Members and 5 Guests are viewing this topic.
Zainab_M
TEAM MV Founder
Admin
Hero Member
*
Posts: 6318



WWW
Badges: (View All)
« on: July 11, 2008, 03:51:55 am »

The ideology of Islam has always encouraged a woman to retain her maiden name upon marriage. As we see through history, Muslim women of previous generations adhered to that practice.  But gradually being influenced by Western traditions, many Muslim families went along those steps and women began taking on their husbands' surnames under the misconception that it made them more modern.  Though a closer look at this Western tradition tells us that it's a highly derogatory practice toward women.  I wonder how the modern-day feminists haven't thought of it.  Taking away a woman's maiden name after marriage is robbing her of her birth identity.  It's not done with men, so why must it be done with women?  From the time of birth till adulthood is a very important part of a person's life, be it man or woman.  It consists of the home they grew up in and their association with their parents which is the most important earthly relationship between humans.  Thus, discarding a woman's maiden name after her marriage is an unfair law and a rude gesture.  Nowadays some married Western women do sometimes use their family surname as a middle name, but that's rare and officially quite insignificant.  The title with which they are commonly recognized is "Mrs. such and such" that contains their husband's family name.  

Also, nowadays in many parts of the Muslim world, some women are becoming aware of this matter and are demanding to keep their family names after marriage.  In countries such as Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, women often do not change their name after marriage.  This requires court action and a justification other than wanting one's husband name.  While in casual conversation such married women may at times be referred to as "Mrs. ..." yet legally she retains her name which is her father's last name.

Muslim women have always been allowed and expected to keep their maiden names after marriage.  This is an indication of their independence.

There are various verses in the Glorious Quraan that, if analysed, uphold this concept and lead to the conclusion of the importance of retaining a woman's maiden name even after she's married.

To look into this aspect from the Quraanic view point, we need to analyse the issue on adoption in the Quraan.

Adoption with the intent of changing one’s identity and lineage is clearly not allowed in the Quraan, but at the same time, Muslims are allowed to adopt a child with the intention of taking him/her under his/her guardianship for providing both physical and spiritual care. But the Quraan's stance on adoption rests on the necessity of keeping the biological parents of the child always in picture.  The says that the adopted child must be told who their biological parents are. From this I would clearly understand that it's preferable (if not necessary) to retain the original name of the child.  Thus, Muslims can raise (or adopt)  these children, look after them, and support them, but the children must be named after their real fathers.  Howeverm it isn't a sin if a person is named after the wrong father by mistake.  Probably it may also not be a violation if the real parents are unknown and thus child takes the name of his/her adopted parents.  

"Allah hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body, nor hath He made your wives whom ye declare (to be your mothers) your mothers, nor hath He made those whom ye claim (to be your sons) your sons. This is but a saying of your mouths. But Allah saith the truth and He showeth the way."  33:4

"Proclaim their real parentage. That will be more equitable in the sight of Allah. And if ye know not their fathers, then (they are) your brethren in the faith, and your clients. And there is no sin for you in the mistakes that ye make unintentionally, but what your hearts purpose (that will be a sin for you). Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful."  33:5


Maintaining and establishing one's biological lineage is one of the reasons as to why from the Islamic perspective, giving birth by articifial insemination is not considered proper.  The child's biological father remains unknown in most cases.  

The Quraanic emphasis on retaining a person's family surname (be it man or woman) is evident.  Also, in this connection, the Quraan does not mention nor does it give any reason to presume that marriage is an exception after which one's father's name can be abandoned.  

Besides, a person's original family surname is important in Islam also because many social rules like inheritance, custody, provision etc. are connected with blood relationships.

Thus, as per the information provided to us in the Quraan, only the children of a woman are to take her husband's name (i.e. the children's father), and similarly, she must adhere to her own father's name.

Any comments or feedback would be helpful and appreciated.

Only Allah knows best.
Report Spam   Logged

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Heba E. Husseyn
TEAM MUSLIM VILLA Villa Artisan
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4974



WWW
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2008, 07:14:23 pm »

I've thought of this many times.  I guess it's a matter of plain thinking.  I like your view on changing the maiden name after marriage as "robbing a woman of her birth identity."  That's precisely what it is.  This practice is a subtle reflection of Biblical values that have always subjugated women as a "nobody" who aren't worthy of recognition unless they ride on the coattails of their husbands. 

I suppose apparently it's these demeaning gestures pertaining to orthodox Christian values that once had such a strong hold in the Western society that have eventually created a backlash, and today we see feminism going to the other exteme. 

Salaam and thanks sister Smiley
Report Spam   Logged

Zainab_M
TEAM MV Founder
Admin
Hero Member
*
Posts: 6318



WWW
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2008, 03:40:26 am »

This practice is a subtle reflection of Biblical values that have always subjugated women as a "nobody" who aren't worthy of recognition unless they ride on the coattails of their husbands. 

Absolutely right.


I suppose apparently it's these demeaning gestures pertaining to orthodox Christian values that once had such a strong hold in the Western society that have eventually created a backlash, and today we see feminism going to the other exteme. 


That's excellent observation.  Too much of anything eventually rebounds to the other extreme as an erratic part of human nature.
Report Spam   Logged

N. Truth Seeker
Quiet guy technology nerd | TEAM MUSLIM VILLA
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4347



WWW
Badges: (View All)
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2009, 08:41:33 pm »

Very good post.  It's absolutely correct that married women are Islamically fully entitled to retain their father's name.  Only their children are to take the husband's name, provided the children are the biological offspring of the husband.  But if that husband is the children's step-father, then the children need to retain the surname of their mother's previous husband who is the children's real father.
Report Spam   Logged


Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Send this topic  |  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by EzPortal
Scammers & spammers will be reported | © If you borrow MV contents you must mention our link with hypertext | MV Team is not responsible for comments by members or guests.
Bookmark this site! | Upgrade This Forum
SMF For Free - Create your own Forum


Powered by SMF | SMF © 2016, Simple Machines
Privacy Policy