Using the father’s given name as a surname (a common practice in many Indian Muslim families, e.g., ‘Ahmed Ibrahim’ where Ibrahim is the father’s name) is fully compatible with Islamic principles, since it directly fulfils the Quranic instruction to attribute children clearly to their biological fathers (Surah al-Ahzab, 33:5). This also conveniently satisfies India’s bureaucratic requirement for a surname on official documents like Aadhaar, PAN, and passports. Similarly, an established family or community name that has been used for generations is generally acceptable. The one principle to be mindful of is avoiding a surname that would falsely claim descent from someone who isn’t the child’s actual biological father, since accurate lineage is the core value being protected.