Is it permissible to say, "He has passed into the mercy of Allah"?

The questioner : Regarding the phrase some of our brothers use, "He has passed into the mercy of Allah," is this permissible? How do we know?

The Shaykh : Why is it not permissible?

The questioner : How do we know that he has passed into the mercy of Allah? This is a matter of the unseen.

The Shaykh : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh. I am not denying you; I am making a supplication for you. I am not denying you. I am making a supplication for you. What is the difference? Did you accept this supplication?

The questioner : I accepted it.

The Shaykh : What is the difference between them?

The questioner : This is a supplication. Say, "May Allah have mercy on him."

The Shaykh : Okay, "May Allah forgive him"—is that a name or a verb?

The questioner : A verb.

The Shaykh : A past tense verb, a future tense verb, or an imperative?

The questioner : A past tense verb.

The Shaykh : And "May Allah have mercy on him," what is that?

The questioner : It is similar to it. "May Allah have mercy on him" is like it.

The Shaykh : So why did you distinguish between them?

The questioner : "He has passed into the mercy of Allah."

The Shaykh : Now, this is a new innovation. Be patient. Now, pay attention. These phrases have great significance. It is permissible. I may have made a mistake. I did not hear the word "passed" at first. I heard from you "May Allah have mercy on him." I heard from you that it is permissible to say "May Allah have mercy on him." Now you have elevated it, but the patchwork is a failure. I was saying "He has passed into the mercy of Allah." Stick to one of the two so that we can clarify it for you. Do you want "May Allah have mercy on him"? Limit your question to "May Allah have mercy on him" or limit it to "He has passed into the mercy of Allah"?

The questioner : "He has passed into the mercy of Allah."

The Shaykh : "Passed"—what type of verb is that? Stay in your place. It is not a past tense verb. What is the difference? Whether you say "May Allah have mercy on him" or you say "He has passed into the mercy of Allah." And I will add to the problem to make it clearer. What is your opinion on "The one whom Allah has forgiven"? Is it permissible?

The questioner : Some people said this is a statement of fact.

The Shaykh : May Allah guide you. Why are you putting a wedge between me and them? You are saying "some people." I am speaking now, you and I. What is your opinion on "The one whom Allah has forgiven"? Is it permissible?

The questioner : If it is a statement of fact, it is not permissible. And if it is a supplication...

The Shaykh : And "May Allah have mercy on him" is permissible?

The questioner : A supplication is permissible.

The Shaykh : And "He has passed into the mercy of Allah."

The questioner : This is a statement of fact, not a supplication.

The Shaykh : Glory be to Allah, my brother. "May Allah have mercy on him" is also a statement of fact.

The questioner : The predominant meaning is supplication.

The Shaykh : "May Allah have mercy on him" is also a statement of fact. "May Allah have mercy on him" is a statement of fact. You are talking about a past event. The important thing is, may Allah bless you. The scholars say that if a sentence is a statement of fact but is intended as a supplication, there is no harm... So whether you say "May Allah have mercy on him" or "He has passed into the mercy of Allah," the criterion is here. I am telling you from before that we must look at the intention, not just the wording. And finally, I gave you an example of those who seek aid from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). If they intend a request, it is one form. And if they intend seeking nearness to Allah through a means, it is another form. Now, if someone says "May Allah have mercy on him" as a statement of fact, not as a supplication, is it permissible?

The questioner : No.

The Shaykh : It is not permissible. This would be ascribing something to Allah the Exalted. Correct? Okay, exactly the same in the negative and the positive. If he says "He has passed into the mercy of Allah" and intends a statement of fact, it is misguidance. And if he intends a supplication, it is a supplication with no problem. If it is "May Allah have mercy on him," "He has passed into the mercy of Allah," "The deceased," "The one whom Allah has forgiven," they are all the same. If he intends a supplication, all of it is permissible. And if he intends a statement of fact, it is ascribing something to Allah and dictating to Allah, and this is not permissible.

The questioner : There is no report from the righteous predecessors regarding this matter; did they specify it, or did they report it?