The saying of many people, "It is forbidden for you," when doing something that people do not approve of or when an undesirable event occurs, even if the speaker does not intend to forbid something
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The questioner : It has become common on the tongues of many people that when someone does something that is not approved of, or when an undesirable event occurs, they say, "It is forbidden for this to happen" or "It is forbidden to do this," even if the speaker does not intend to declare lawful something that Allah has made lawful. However, it is a phrase they have become accustomed to saying. Is there any sin on them for this, or is it among the idle words for which one is not held accountable?
The Shaykh : What they describe as forbidden is either something that Allah has actually forbidden, such as saying, "It is forbidden for this man to commit adultery" or "It is forbidden for a person to steal," and the like. In that case, describing the thing as forbidden is correct and in accordance with what the Shari'ah has brought. However, if the thing is not forbidden, it is not permissible to describe it as forbidden, even verbally, because that may imply forbidding what Allah the Exalted has made lawful, or it may imply restricting Allah the Exalted in His decree and divine decree, such that they intend by "forbidden" the meaning of natural impossibility.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because prohibition can be natural or legislative. What pertains to the action of Allah the Exalted is natural prohibition, and what pertains to His legislation is legislative prohibition. Accordingly, these people are to be forbidden from using such a phrase, even if they do not intend legislative prohibition, because natural prohibition is not within their power either; rather, it belongs to Allah the Exalted. He does what He wills, bringing into existence what He wills to bring into existence and preventing what He wills to prevent.
The important point is that I see they should refrain from this word and stay away from it, even if their intention with it is something correct, where I think they intend that this thing is unlikely to happen or unlikely not to happen. Nevertheless, I see that they should refrain from this word.
The Shaykh : What they describe as forbidden is either something that Allah has actually forbidden, such as saying, "It is forbidden for this man to commit adultery" or "It is forbidden for a person to steal," and the like. In that case, describing the thing as forbidden is correct and in accordance with what the Shari'ah has brought. However, if the thing is not forbidden, it is not permissible to describe it as forbidden, even verbally, because that may imply forbidding what Allah the Exalted has made lawful, or it may imply restricting Allah the Exalted in His decree and divine decree, such that they intend by "forbidden" the meaning of natural impossibility.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because prohibition can be natural or legislative. What pertains to the action of Allah the Exalted is natural prohibition, and what pertains to His legislation is legislative prohibition. Accordingly, these people are to be forbidden from using such a phrase, even if they do not intend legislative prohibition, because natural prohibition is not within their power either; rather, it belongs to Allah the Exalted. He does what He wills, bringing into existence what He wills to bring into existence and preventing what He wills to prevent.
The important point is that I see they should refrain from this word and stay away from it, even if their intention with it is something correct, where I think they intend that this thing is unlikely to happen or unlikely not to happen. Nevertheless, I see that they should refrain from this word.