Is it permissible to say "O my father" to someone other than one's father as a sign of respect?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: What is the ruling on a young man saying "O my father" to someone who raised him but is not his actual father, as a sign of respect and appreciation?

Answer:
By Allah, claiming a father other than one's own is a major sin among the major sins. Therefore, one should not use this phrase. One should not use this phrase because it is imitating those who claim a father other than their own. However, if this is said as a sign of appreciation and respect, such as saying "O father" or "O uncle" to an elder, or saying "O father" to a scholar, or the like, as a sign of reverence, there is no harm in that, if Allah wills. Yes.