***** For other Fatawa, please click on the topics on the left *****



List Of Topics

فتاویٰ > Miscellaneous

Share |
f:688 -    Using Raziallahu Anhu for saints, etc.
 Country : India,
Name : Muhammad Shahabuddin
Question:     Can we use "Raziallahu Anhu" meaning "May Allah be well pleased with him" for Hadhrat Khwaja Ghareebnawaz (May Allah shower His mercy on him)?
............................................................................
Answer:     "Raziallahu Anhu" is particularly used for the Companions and generally for the pious elite of the Ummah.  As Almighty Allah says in Surah Bayyina:

Their reward is the Gardens of eternal living in the Presence of their Lord, with streams flowing under them. They shall live in them forever. Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him. This (status) is meant for the one who fears his Lord.  Surah Bayyina (98:08)

In the Holy Quran, "Raziallahu Anhu" has been used for those whose hearts are filled with the fear and awe of Allah Most High.  Apart from this, in Surah Tauba, the approval of Almighty Allah for the pious predecessors, the natives of Madina, the Emigrants, the Companions and for all those who follow in their footsteps until the Day of Judgment has been mentioned in these words:

The pioneer Emigrants and their supporters (Ansar), the vanguard of the believers, and those who follow them in the grade of spiritual excellence — Allah is well pleased with them (all) and they (all) are well pleased with Him. And He has prepared for them Gardens with rivers flowing under them. They will live in them forever. This is indeed a colossal achievement.  Surah Taubah (9:100)

In the above mentioned verse of the Holy Quran, "Raziallahu Anhu" has been used for those who follow in their footsteps with "Ihsan" as described in Tafseer Ruh Al Bayan by Ismail Haqqi Hanafi (May Allah shower His mercy on him) in Vol. 3, Pg. No. 514.

For this reason, the Hadith-experts and Jurists have used "Raziallahu Anhu" for the pious predecessors.  Imam Jalaluddin Suyuti (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written "Raziallahu Anhu" for his teacher Imam Jalaluddin Mahalli (May Allah shower His mercy on him), as given in Tafseer Jalalyn, Pg. No. 240.

Also, Hadhrat Mulla Ali Qari (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has written "Raziallahu Anhu" for Imam A'adham Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) numerous times, as seen in Sharh Musnad Abu Hanifa:

Translation:  There are many collections of Hadith (Masaneed) of Imam Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) (Sharh Musnad Abu Hanifa, Pg. No. 7).

Again it is given on Pg. No. 47 of the same book:

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) has said this.

Again, "Raziallahu Anhu" has been used with the name of Hadhrat Abu Hanifa (May Allah be well pleased with him) on Pg. No. 141.

Imam Badruddin Aini (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has used "Raziallahu Anhu" for Imam A'adham many times in his "Umdatul Qari Fi Sharh Sahih Bukhari"  For e.g. in Vol. 1, on Pg. No. 226.

The author of Hidayah, Imam Marghinani (May Allah shower His mercy on him) has used "Raziallahu Anhu" numerous times for Imam Quduri (May Allah shower His mercy on him) and his students have used "Raziallahu Anhu" for him.

This shows that using "Raziallahu Anhu" for other scholars and saints apart from the Companions has been the practice of the elders of the Ummah.

Using "Raziallahu Anhu" for those scholars/saints about whom it is famous that they are not from the Companions, is permissible without any reservations.  However, those scholars/saints who are named after the Companions and it is not commonly known that they are not from among the Companions, then it is better to use "Rahmatullah alaih" or a similar honorific for them.

And Allah Most High knows best.

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,
Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]
All Right Reserved 2009 - ziaislamic.com