Using Raziallahu Anhu for saints

"Raziallahu Anhu" is particularly used for the Sahabah and generally for the pious elite of the Ummah.  As Allah Ta'ala 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 Ta'ala.  Apart from this, in Surah Tauba, the approval of Allah Ta'ala for the pious predecessors, Ansar, Muhajireen, Sahabah and for all those who follow in their footsteps until the Qiyamah 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 Muhadditheen and Fuqaha 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 of Hadith:  There are many Masaneed (Plural of Musnad) 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 of Hadith: 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 Sahabah 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 Sahabah, is permissible without any reservations.  However, those scholars/saints who are named after the Sahabah and it is not commonly known that they are not from among the Sahabah, then it is better to use "Rahmatullah alaih" or a similar honorific for them.

 

And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) knows best.

 

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri,

 

[Professor of Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]