What is your opinion of these words: "haz" (luck), "sadafa" (chance), "ya sayyid" (O master), and "al-akh al-karim" (the noble brother) when used for a disbeliever?

The questioner : The questioner says: What is your opinion, O honorable Shaykh, of these words: "haz" (luck), "sadafa" (chance), "ya sayyid" (O master), and "al-akh al-karim" (the noble brother)?

The Shaykh : Regarding "haz" (luck), if one means what is known among people as the prize in a sale that is considered gambling, then this is not permissible. However, if we say that so-and-so has a "haz" (share), there is nothing wrong with it. Allah the Exalted said: Here, "haz" means a share, and there is nothing wrong with it. As for "sadafa" (chance), likewise, there is nothing wrong with it if a person intends that it is a chance encounter for him, not for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Things do not happen by chance with regard to Allah, because everything is with Him by measure and known to Him, and nothing happens that is a chance occurrence with regard to Him (Blessed and Exalted is He). But with regard to us, a person may chance upon you without a prior appointment. That is why there is a proverb that says: "A chance encounter is better than an appointment". So, "sadafa" (chance) is not applicable or permissible with regard to the divine decree and destiny of Allah, and it is not lawful for us to say that. But with regard to us, it is permissible and occurs because our knowledge is limited. Yes. As for "al-sayyid" (the master), "al-sayyid" with the definite article is not valid except for Allah, because absolute lordship belongs to Allah (Mighty and Majestic). But "sayyid" when attributed to a group of people or a tribe is fine. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he said to the Ansar when Sahl ibn Mu'adh came: So, if "sayyid" is attributed to a group, a clan, a community, a country, or something similar, there is nothing wrong with it. But when "al-sayyid" is used in an absolute sense, it is not valid except for Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, in some regions, the word "sayyid" is used, but they do not intend its meaning; they only intend it to be a proper name. This is common in some Arab countries; they say "Sayyid So-and-so," and they do not intend the meaning but only a name from the names. This is fine because it is permissible to take names from the names of Allah the Exalted that are not exclusive to Him, provided one does not intend to combine the name with the descriptive attribute. For example, Hakim ibn Hizam: the name "Hakim" is one of the names of Allah, is it not? But since the attribute was not intended in it, and it was merely a proper name, it became permissible. However, if you say to a Christian, "You are a noble brother," that is not permissible. But if he is a Muslim, there is no harm in saying "the noble brother." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So, there is nothing wrong with such matters, provided that the description applies to them.