As-salaamu 3laikum, what is the ruling on a Muslim who deliberately uses the symbol of a pagan god as a name for his shop and hangs a sign in the shop explaining the meaning of the symbol? Jazaakum Allahu khairan

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is not permissible for a Muslim to give his shop (business) a name that refers to pagan gods, and the prohibition is even more emphasized if it also involves hanging signs explaining the meaning of that symbol, as this involves displaying and revering those gods.

The Standing Committee for Issuing Fataawa was asked: There is a men's tailor shop with the name Manaaf. Please advise regarding the permissibility of naming the shop with the above name.

After studying the issue, the Committee for Issuing Fataawa provided the following response:

“Manaaf is the name of an idol. It is the name that ‘Abd Manaaf ibn Qusayy ibn Kilaab, the father of Haashim, was named after; and his mother placed him in the service of this idol. With this in mind, it is not permissible to name anything after idols, such as Manaaf, Al-Laat, Al-‘Uzza, Manaat, or the like, as this consists in displaying these idols favorably, and honoring and revering them, which is forbidden. So, the name of the shop must be changed to a name that does not involve anything prohibited, so as to sever the paths to idolatry, and block what leads to it.”

Allaah Knows best.