Can Muslims Name Their Children After Non-Muslim Religious Figures?
Question
Is it permissible to name my son Muhammad Sidhart Ali or Muhammad Zaradusht Ali as Sidhart and Zaradusht considered religious founders but not dieties, idols, worshiping figures, both names have good and permissible meanings as well as not dieties like Rama or Krishna or Vishnu, i don't want to create confusion in any sense but these names are not bad in any sense because Greek, Persian and Sanskrit origin names are already in use by many Muslims
Islamic Ruling & Answer
Although "Siddhartha" and "Zaradusht (Zoroaster)" are not names of deities, they are the names of the founders or prominent religious figures of non-Islamic religions. Hanafi jurists have stated that names which are regarded as distinctive religious symbols or identifiers of non-Muslims are not permissible for Muslims to adopt, because doing so involves resemblance to non-Muslims. Therefore, one should avoid naming a Muslim child "Muhammad Siddhartha Ali" or "Muhammad Zaradusht Ali." Instead, it is preferable to choose names of the Prophets, the Companions, or other righteous Muslims.
Answered by
Daurah-e-Hadith (Fazil), Darul Uloom Deoband · Specialization in Fiqh & Ifta (Grade A), Jamea Tul Hidaya, Jaipur
June 24, 2026
Researched & verified under our editorial & answer-review policy.
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