Q:

If we read a name that has shirk have we commited shirk. Are we allowed to resd the books of people that have shirk names?

Obviously muslims are not allowed to have names that have shirk and many muslims change their names for this purpose. However one some occasions you come across names of people that do have shirk. Such as names that mean Enternal and names that used to be the names of idols that were worshipped. I am asking that if we were to read a name have we commited shirk. For example if i have a book and the author is Martin (which is a idols name) should i throw the book away? If i have to call someone by this name what should i do?

A:

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving.

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

Reading and even pronouncing un-Islamic names, when needed, is not sinful. In the battle of Hunayn, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) cried, “I am the Prophet, no doubt. I am the Son of `Abdul Muttalib.” `Abdul Muttalib means the salve of al-Muttalib. In Islam, it is prohibited to give a person such a name. However, it is not prohibited to call a person who has this name with it, since it has already become his name by which he is known. The essence of the issue here is to draw distinction between giving a name to a person and calling him with this name. The latter does not necessitate approval of the former.

Allah knows best.