Using the terms "al-Marhum" (the deceased) and "al-Maghfur Lahu" (the one whom Allah has forgiven) for the deceased
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 8217 ):
Q: I have heard some words that some people repeat, and I want to know what is the position of Islam regarding these words? For example: when a specific person dies, some people say: ("Al-Marhum So-and-so"), and if he held a high position, they say: ("Al-Maghfur Lahu So-and-so"). Did they look into the Preserved Tablet and know that So-and-so is forgiven and So-and-so is the deceased? Therefore, it was obligatory for me to question this point, and Allah the Exalted said in His noble Book:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it."
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلاَ تَكْتُمُونَهُA: The establishment of Allah's forgiveness for a person, or His (Glorified and Exalted is He) mercy upon him after his death, is among the unseen matters that no one knows except Allah the Exalted, and then those whom Allah has informed of it
among His angels, messengers, and prophets. So, informing a person other than these about a deceased person that Allah has forgiven him or shown him mercy is not permissible except where there is an explicit text from the Infallible (peace and blessings be upon him). Without that, it is speculation about the unseen. And Allah the Exalted said:
Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah
قُلْ لاَ يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلا اللَّهُ(26) [He is] Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His [knowledge of the] unseen to anyone (27) Except whom He has approved of messengers, and indeed, He sends before each messenger and behind him observers
عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ فَلا يُظْهِرُ عَلَى غَيْبِهِ أَحَدًا (26) إِلا مَنِ ارْتَضَى مِنْ رَسُولٍIndeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُThat the mother of al-'Ala' - a woman from the Ansar who had pledged allegiance to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) - informed him that the Muhajireen drew lots, and Uthman ibn al-Ma'zun came up for us, so we housed him in our homes. Then he suffered the pain in which he died. When he died and was washed and shrouded in his garments, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entered. I said: "May Allah have mercy on you, O Abu al-Sa'ib. My testimony for you is that Allah has honored you." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "And what makes you know that Allah has honored him?" I said: "May my father be your ransom, O Messenger of Allah, who does Allah honor?" He said: "As for him, certainty has come to him. And by Allah, I hope for him good. And by Allah, I do not know, while I am the Messenger of Allah, what He will do with me." She said: "By Allah, I will not praise anyone after that, ever."
أن أم العلاء - امرأة من الأنصـار قد بايعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم - أخبرته أنه اقتسم المهاجرون قرعة فطار لنا عثمان بن مظعون فأنزلناه في بيوتنا فوجع وجعه الذي توفي فيه فلما توفي وغسل وكفّن في أثوابه دخل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقلت: رحمة الله عليك أبا السائب ، فشهادتي عليك لقد أكرمك الله، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وما يدريك أن الله أكرمه؟، فقلت: بأبي أنت يا رسول الله، فمن يكرمه الله؟ فقال: أما هو فقد جاءه اليقين، والله إني لأرجو له الخير، والله ما أدري وأنا رسول الله ما يفعل بي، قالت: فوالله لا أزكي أحدًا بعدُ أبدًاand his saying (peace and blessings be upon him)
but by Allah, I do not know what Allah will do with me though I am Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
والله ما أدري وأنا رسول الله ما يفعل بي(1) Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest (2) That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow
إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُبِينًا (1) لِيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.