The ruling on saying "the late so-and-so" or "the one whose sins were forgiven" when someone dies

Our brother 'Abd al-Wahhab Khalid al-Halibi from King Faisal University in al-Ahsa sent a message containing a set of questions. In his first question, he asks: What is the validity of the phrases used for the deceased? We hear people say "so-and-so, the one whose sins were forgiven" or "the late so-and-so." Are these phrases correct, and how do you guide the people?
Answer: It is obligatory in this matter to say: "May Allah forgive him" or "May Allah have mercy on him." One should not assert that he is "the one whose sins were forgiven" or "the late one." This is what the scholars have mentioned. The people of the Sunnah and the community used to say: It is not permissible to testify for a specific person that he is in Paradise or in the Fire, except for those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to, or those whom Allah testified to in His Book. Otherwise, it is not done. Among those whom Allah testified to in the Noble Book as being in the Fire is Abu Lahab; Allah testified that he is in the Fire. Likewise, those whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to as being in Paradise include Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Ali, and the rest of the Ten, as well as others whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) testified to, either for Paradise or for the Fire. One testifies for them accordingly.
As for those for whom neither Allah nor His Messenger has testified, neither for Paradise nor for the Fire, we do not testify for them in either case. However, the people of the Sunnah hope for the doer of good and fear for the doer of evil.
It appears that saying "the late so-and-so" or "so-and-so, the one whose sins were forgiven" is in the sense of testifying, in the sense of testifying for Paradise or the Fire. This is because "the late one" and "the one whose sins were forgiven" mean that he is in Paradise, since every person who is "the late one" or "the one whose sins were forgiven" is from the people of Paradise. This involves presumption and a lack of scrupulousness. Therefore, what should be done in such a case is to say: "May Allah have mercy on him" or "May Allah forgive him." This is what is appropriate in this context. Yes.