Are converts to Islam obliged to change their name to an Arabic one or is this a matter of personal taste?

As many have already stated before me it is a matter of personal taste EXCEPT for it that name has a bad meaning.





A good example is one of the Prophet's (pbuh) companions Abu Huraira (ra). Perhaps you've heard his name before? He was a major contributor to the hadiths or narrations of the Prophet (pbuh) life.





-- Abu Hurayrah became a Muslim at the hands of at-Tufayl ibn Amr the chieftain of the Daws tribe to which he belonged. The Daws lived in the region of Tihamah which stretches along the coast of the Red Sea in southern Arabia. When at-Tufayl returned to his village after meeting the Prophet and becoming a Muslim in the early years of his mission, Abu Hurayrah was one of the first to respond to his call. He was unlike the majority of the Daws who remained stubborn in their old beliefs for a long time.





When at-Tufayl visited Makkah again, Abu Hurayrah accompanied him. There he had the honor and privilege of meeting the noble Prophet who asked him: "What is your name?"





"Abdu Shams - Servant of a Sun," he replied.





"Instead, let it be Abdur-Rahman - the Servant of the Beneficent Lord," said the Prophet.





"Yes, Abdur-Rahman (it shall be) O Messenger of God," he replied. However, he continued to be known as Abu Hurayrah, "the kitten man", literally "the father of a kitten" because like the Prophet he was fond of cats and since his childhood often had a cat to play with.


http://www.mohammad-pbuh.com/3/abuhurera...





Because cats/kittens were always following him around and he was always seen with one, he became known as abu huraira.





ANYWAY :p... because a slave of the sun isn't appropriate, he got his name changed.





Many people do prefer to change it for many personal reasons. Others prefer to keep it. And some change and than go back to their old names. But the ones i know of are all great Muslims mashaAllah.

Are converts to Islam obliged to change their name to an Arabic one or is this a matter of personal taste?
Ofcourse not Islam doesn't care about your name or the out look but Islam cares about who you are inside, if you are a Muslim you are a muslim inside not because you born as one or you ID card says you are, Usama bn Ladn say he is a muslims but is he? NO bcoz he do stuff aginst Islam he just has a Muslim or Arabic name


anyway the name doesn't mean anything
Reply:it is a personal choice


unless the meaning of your name is not nice


as Mohammad pbuh told us to choose good and nice names to our children


as once he asked a Man what is your name, the man answered "War"


so the prophet smiled and gave him a nice name. I cannot remember the full story and there was another too.
Reply:In England, Islambs usually follow the crowd and blow themselves up before they formally choose a name.
Reply:You are not obliged to, no. As long as your name has a good meaning you can keep the name you have, yes its a personal choice...
Reply:it's a matter of personal obligation. (two points)
Reply:Muhammad Ali did, Michael Jackson hasn't
Reply:No, there is no obligation.
Reply:not necessarily only if they want to. I converted and i dd not change my name...
Reply:It's your choice, you don't have to if you don't want to.
Reply:yes. you must show people you are muslims and better than them
Reply:they have to have nobhead in there name somewhere.


like ali nobhead mohamad paedo.