My Muslim Name

Something I find bizarre is that some Muslims will actually argue with me about what my own name is. “No! What’s your new name?” is not a response most people would expect when they introduce themselves.

Well, my name is Catherine - it always has been and it always will be, insha’Allah. The name Catherine comes from a Greek root meaning ‘pure’, so I think it’s actually a pretty good Muslim name. And at the time of the Prophet (pbuh) the companions kept their names when they became Muslim, unless the meaning was unsuitable.

To me, the pressure that exists now on converts to change our names is typical of a mindset that sees Islam in superficial terms and loves nothing more than arguing over details.

(And there’s another can of worms – why do people insist I describe myself as a ‘revert’ rather than a convert? Yes, I know we’re all born in a state of Islam (submission to God). But when I come back from holiday I don’t ask the Bureau du Change to ‘revert’ my foreign currency back to pounds!).

Surely Islam means more than just being called Ayesha or Abdullah? (After all, we know there are plenty of drug dealers out there with Muslim names!). Islam means you love for your brother what you love for yourself. Islam means you feel the suffering of the Ummah, just as your body feels the suffering when one part of it is in pain. And Islam means you never tolerate oppression and injustice when God has given you the power to do something about it.

Are we Muslim by name or Muslim by nature?