Changing a New Muslim’s Name: Custom or Religious Practice?

Changing a New Muslim’s Name: Custom or Religious Practice?

Quote:

" As a matter of fact Salman is a Persian name and while the Prophet ﷺ witnessed his embracing Islam and spent much time with him, he never suggested Salman radi allahu `anhu(may God have mercy on him) change his name. He only changed the names which were either indicating the worship of other than God or a name that was a bad meaning like the following:

1. ‘Aasiyah (sinner) to Jameelah (beautiful)
2. Abdul-Shams (Slave of the sun) to Abdul-Rahman (Slave of the Merciful God)
3. Haram (forbidden) to Halal (permissible)
4. Thalim (oppressor) to Rashid (rightly guided)
5. Harb (war) to Muslim (committed to God)

In retrospect, after being trained in the Islamic sciences and objectives, I have come to realize that this brother who sought to change my name was no doubt sincere, but ignorant of the big picture of Islam in America."