Just curious- where's the negative connotation against Islam in the name Christine?

Because it stems from the word "Christ" or "Christian"?

Why would that be considered negative towards Islam?

Christine is the female version of Christian which is the follower of Christ.

I agree with you here!

I am a Buddhist/Hindu so am sorry to butt in here but had to share my experience - my birth name actually is Christine and I changed it to the name my Guru/Lama gave me when I officially became Buddhist(took refuge) 6 years ago, went through the legal paperwork and everything 5 years ago, even though most people don't - it was a personal decision since my name was so obviously 'Christian'. My mom and her family have balked at it and now I don't really mind if she calls me Christine - I know that's how she refers to me behind my back because she's slipped a couple of times when I've come to visit... I also have a Hindu name which I picked out - Giripriya - which means 'lover of mountains' - one of the 1008 names of Shiva. Sometimes my sweetie calls me 'Priya' which means 'beloved' and is also a nickname.

okay, I'll leave now and go back to my peeps in S. Asia...

My husband and both do that. That has nothing to do with religion or MENA per say. Varies country to country. Like, in my country I would be(example) Madame Smith, Leila Nour ....
About your second question. There is much debate about... varies Salafis say one must have the arabic version, while more progressive Muslims would say spelling does not count. But I *think* it boils down what is your heart. God, your God knows you best, so....

My husband and both do that. That has nothing to do with religion or MENA per say. Varies country to country. Like, in my country I would be(example) Madame Smith, Leila Nour ....
About your second question. There is much debate about... varies Salafis say one must have the arabic version, while more progressive Muslims would say spelling does not count. But I *think* it boils down what is your heart. God, your God knows you best, so....

My husband and both do that. That has nothing to do with religion or MENA per say. Varies country to country. Like, in my country I would be(example) Madame Smith, Leila Nour ....
About your second question. There is much debate about... varies Salafis say one must have the arabic version, while more progressive Muslims would say spelling does not count. But I *think* it boils down what is your heart. God, your God knows you best, so....

I hate when they do that. Esp for girls.... like Sharif, Leila Zeid(!!?!) I donnot like the way it looks or sounds. But anyway that is my opinion

True, it is. But while many Muslims (Salafi) would say this goes against Islam... I cannot see why. It is one of the religions of the books. I see how someone named Christine or Christien even if Muslim would be considered a Christien...but if your parents gave you that name and you donnot want to change it ...then why would you have to? God knows best and is all merciful... so I am pretty HE knows what is in our hearts.

Quote from a Islamic www

ty henia

You are welcome

Names of the prophets are very popular in Islamic cultures. Of course Muhammad is the most common. But you will also often see Ibrahim, Ismail, Yacub, Yusuf, Musa, Suleiman, Dawood, Issa (Abraham, Ishmael, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, David, Jesus) and many more. One of my husband's brothers is named Izhaq (Isaac.)



-MK

Also names of companions or relatives of the prophet (pbuh) such as Hamza, Aisha, Fatima, Ali, Hassan, Husein, Khadiga, Zayd, etc.

My sons both have their father's name as a middle as well as their grandfather and great grandfather's names. If I have a daughter one day (isa) I would keep with that tradition. It wouldn't bother me to have Mohamed Abderrazek as my (future) daughter's middle name.

Absolutely

Maryam (Mary) is also a verrrrry popular name for a girl. And Asma' (daughter of Abu Bakr.)



-MK

So Jesus would be ok? And Christine not?

I've been pretty confused too as to which names would be considered offensive and why.

Yes, because Jesus (pbuh) is a prophet of Allah although it's not terribly common name in the MENA. The name, Christine, has no religious significance (sp) in Islam.

A common name formula in much of the muslim world has been abd (slave) of _______. It is generally frowned on to be considered a slave of anything but God. So, you can be Abdullah (slave of God) and AbdurRahman (slave of the Most Merciful), but it would be a no no to be be Abd'Muhammad (slave of Muhammad). I think Christian, implicating a follower of Christ, could be in that same category. However, I think it may also mean anointed, which I suppose would be an ok name.

Perhaps not in Egypt. But "Issa" is a fairly common name in Palestine, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. Both Muslim and Christians use this Arabic version of "Jesus."

Thanks.

So what other names would be considered as being negative towards Islam and therefore would be "worth" changing?

No one said that Christine is a "negative" name. It's just not traditionally "Islamic".

Though it does not really apply to me, it could apply to my husband. (I want to say I only read the 1st page so sorry if I am missing an important part of this topic, I'll read the rest later...)

He was born in a Hindu family with a Hindu name, and when he became a Christian later in life he did not change his name and I would not want him to. I know some ppl in India might want to change their name when they become a Christian if they were Hindu or Muslim, etc because names unfortunately are so obvious in India as to what religion you are. Your name says what you are. PPL just assume. I don't like it, people should not have to be whatever religion their name supposedly is. I like that I have a supposedly Hindu last name now and my husbands name is Sujeet, and yet we are very devoted Christians, and not Hindu at all.

Sorry if that came across the wrong way, I was referring to the posts quoted below.

I was trying to think of a name with a possible negative connotation and couldn't think of any and that's why I asked.

Where's Amal's disclaimer when I need it?

I should have said, "for me....", I would probably want to change it. To be a follower of anyone but Allah is in my own personal opinion not very Islamic. One of the things in the shahada, which is the phrase one says to publically declare themselves a muslim, is that "I declare there is none worthy of worship except Allah (God)"...

again.....my humble opinion for whatever it's worth.

Maybe I just did not like my ex

So I have a question, if you have converted to Islam and changed your name...what about the names of your children?

Well, I didn't change my name, but my kids will have names that are religiously oriented, if we ever get around to having kids lol!

Jannah (paradise) for a girl and Mo'men (faithful) for a boy. From my understanding, they're not very common names in Egypt. I'm going to call them JJ and Momo

Sorry let me clarify...I mean kids from a previous marriage that already have names that are non-arab/non-islamic.

My kids are not muslim but insha Allah if they decide to convert they can change their names if they want to. I wouldn't mind.