My Name is: Ilahi Bakhsh | My god is Bakhsh

Question:

I am a Pakistani resident by the name of Ilahi Baksh Imam Baksh (literally translated to: My god is Bakhsh...). I have been living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a long time, and my name Ilahi Bakhsh has caused me a lot of problems, and I have faced many objections, some of which are from official bodies requesting I change my name due to the word Ilahi (My god is) which prompted me to write to you and ask your opinion about this name, and if I have the right to change it. As you know, it is my father who chose this name for me, in line with Islamic Urdu culture. The name in Urdu means; Gift of Allah. It is a compound noun made of two names.

1. Ilahi: Means Allah
2. Bakhsh: Means gift or bestowal.

Grammatically, in Urdu, the word order of a compound noun is in the opposite order to Arabic. So in Urdu my name is Gift of Allah (Allah's Gift), and I have previously asked some scholars who were of the opinion that there is no issue with this name.

Dear Sir, please excuse me for requesting a Fatwa from you about this topic that has caused and continues to cause me a great deal of confusion and problems. May Allah protect and preserve you.

Answer:

If the affair is as you have described, then there is no problem with the name Ilahi Bakhsh, which means when translated to Arabic; Allah’s Gift or Allah’s Bestowal. Changing this name to its meaning in Arabic is safer.

And success lies with Allah, and may the Salat and Salam be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and companions.

The Permanent Committee:

Member: 'Abdullah ibn Ghudayan

Vice President: 'Abdur Razzaq 'Afifi

President: 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Baz