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Is it permissible to say رحمه الله for someone who is still alive although it is used for those who have passed away?
It is permissible to make any duʾā for any Muslim who is alive or has passed away. In the case of raḥimahullāh (رحمه الله), it may be used as a general supplication asking Allah ﷻ to have mercy on an individual. This usage is supported by numerous examples in the hadiths, where the Prophet ﷺ would make this duʾā for living individuals. For instance, the Prophet ﷺ is reported to have said, “May Allah ﷻ have mercy on a man who prays four rakʾāt before Asr.”[1]
Nonetheless, since raḥimahullāh is commonly associated with those who have passed away, its use in certain contexts might lead to confusion or misunderstanding, leading people to assume the person has passed away. In such cases, it would be preferable to use other forms of supplication, such as ḥafiẓahullāh (حفظه الله), which is generally used for the living. In this manner, one can fulfill the intention of supplication while avoiding any unnecessary confusion.
And Allah knows best.
Ml. Zimraan Ghazi
Student, Darul Iftaa Chicago
Checked and Approved:
Mf. Abrar Mirza
Head Mufti, Darul Iftaa Chicago
[1] وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَءًا صَلَّى قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ أَرْبَعًا"
(رواه الترمذي)
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ زَوَّجَنِي ابْنَتَهُ وَحَمَلَنِي إِلَى دَارِ الْهِجْرَةِ وَأَعْتَقَ بِلاَلاً مِنْ مَالِهِ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ الْحَقَّ وَإِنْ كَانَ مُرًّا تَرَكَهُ الْحَقُّ وَمَالَهُ صَدِيقٌ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عُثْمَانَ تَسْتَحْيِيهِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَلِيًّا اللَّهُمَّ أَدِرِ الْحَقَّ مَعَهُ حَيْثُ دَارَ"
(رواه الترمذي)
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ". قَالُوا وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ." قَالُوا وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ الْمُحَلِّقِينَ" قَالُوا وَالْمُقَصِّرِينَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ "وَالْمُقَصِّرِين"
(رواه ابن ماجه)
وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: "رَحِمَ اللَّهُ رَجُلًا قَامَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّى وَأَيْقَظَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَصَلَّتْ فَإِنْ أَبَتْ نَضَحَ فِي وَجْهِهَا الْمَاءَ. رَحِمَ اللَّهُ امْرَأَةً قَامَتْ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَصَلَّتْ وَأَيْقَظَتْ زَوْجَهَا فَصَلَّى فَإِنْ أَبَى نَضَحَتْ فِي وَجْهِهِ المَاء"
(رواه أبو داود)
عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَوْمَ الْجَمَلِ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ يَعْهَدْ إِلَيْنَا عَهْدًا نَأْخُذُ بِهِ فِي الْإِمَارَةِ وَلَكِنَّهُ شَيْءٌ رَأَيْنَاهُ مِنْ قِبَلِ أَنْفُسِنَا ثُمَّ اسْتُخْلِفَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي بَكْرٍ فَأَقَامَ وَاسْتَقَامَ ثُمَّ اسْتُخْلِفَ عُمَرُ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى عُمَرَ فَأَقَامَ وَاسْتَقَامَ حَتَّى ضَرَبَ الدِّينُ بِجِرَانِهِ.
(رواه أحمد)
December 26, 2024
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