Topic:
Using a Title or Pen Name
(No-66101)
Assalamu Alaikum, Mufti Sahib! A hadith states that the Prophet ﷺ said: whoever abandons their father's lineage and attributes themselves to someone else, Paradise is forbidden for them. In light of this hadith, if a person adopts a title or pen name for themselves, would they also fall under this warning?
The hadith in question concerns the changing of one's lineage, meaning that a person attributes themselves to someone other than their own father. Adopting a title or pen name, however, does not necessarily involve any change of lineage. Therefore, this hadith does not establish a prohibition against using a title or pen name.
Allah the Almighty knows best.
Darul Ifta Al-Ikhlas, Karachi.
صحیح البخاري: (رقم الحدیث: 4526)
عن سعد ابن مالک رضي اللّٰہ عنہ قال: سمعتہ أذناي ووعاہ قلبي من محمد صلی اللّٰہ علیہ وسلم أنہ قال: من ادعی إلی غیر أبیہ وہو یعلم أنہ غیر أبیہ فالجنۃ علیہ حرام۔