Why do converts change their names

Viewed 2k times. Avram became Avraham, and Sarai became Sarah. Improve this question. Adam Mosheh Adam Mosheh 5, 1 1 gold badge 28 28 silver badges 56 56 bronze badges. Adam Also, consider changing the title to be more specific, like: Converts' retaining their Non-Jewish names, or: Name changes post-conversion.

Okay thanks rabosai, now I finally learned how to view the edit history! And it is clear from the gemara that certain tannaim kept their Greek or Roman names and just Hebraized them.

Nowadays most American Jews don't go by their Hebrew names. Yesh lehatzdik minhag zu. What evidence do you have that people commonly do change their names? Note: adopting a Hebrew name where none was previously present is not the same thing. Show 18 more comments. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer.

Ploni 5, 20 20 silver badges 64 64 bronze badges. I also like your answer, Vram. It seems it is not just different generally , but that the person is disconnected from his past sins. But what does that have to do with a convert? Moreover, the Rambam ostensibly gets this from the gemara in Rosh HaShanah 16b but there the context is not about sin at all, but about removing an evil decree for which a name change is effective — Curiouser.

Add a comment. Monica Cellio Monica Cellio I like your answer, good thinking. Look at what I commented on my question in which I quoted Reb Moshe.

In a post- Matan Torah world, I think he expands on the point you suggested. However, on the other hand, just because something is difficult doesn't necessarily mean that it is not something that Hashem wants people to do. Avraham's name was initially Avram, after all.

When they read the Quran, they read it at the speed of light! The devil has tricked them to believe that for every letter of the Quran they read they are credited with ten credit points!!! So the faster they read the more credit points they get ……… something like a 'green stamps' collection, the more you spend the more stamps you get!

It is thus easy to understand why they advise you, with such authority, that you have to change your name immediately to become a Muslim ……… if they idolise all the family and friends of Muhammad and praise and greet them in their prayers, it is understandable that they want everyone to be called with their names! Sadly, they have rejected the Quranic truth that it is God alone who is worthy of constant praise They have also been blind to the fact that God never laid any importance on names, or appearance in the Quran.

The Quran consistantly confirms that those who will be saved in the hereafter are those who arrive with a pure heart, and not the ones who have certain names!

This is what was promised to every repenter, steadfast. They reverenced the Most Gracious, in their privacy, and came with pure and faithful heart.

Enter it in peace; this is the Day of Eternity. Thus to claim that only the names of the Arab Muslims are fit to be used by any new convert to Islam is in fact to show ignorance of the Quran.

In reality, the act of becoming a true Muslim Submitter makes it necessary for a person to abandon their idolatry and not their identity.

Furthermore, and since Islam is a universal faith that does not distinguish between any culture, race or colour, the act of insisting on a name change does not make the person a Muslim but in fact alienates the person from the universality of Islam. For that it is necessary to look closely at the phrase 'Islamic Name'. Referring to a body of judgments, the bench held that loss of caste is not irrevocable and the caste can be revived if the two religions permit its retention.

Further, Sadique got his daughters married in Hindu families and was accepted by the Sikh community, which was apparent from his visits to gurdwaras where he performed kirtans and other ceremonies and rituals.

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