Q: Your Eminence, some people in our country say words with good intentions, but I have doubts about them. Some of the things they say are: 1. “I swear thrice by Almighty Allah.” (Oath) 2. “May the rest be in your life.” (Condolences to a bereaved family) 3. “La Hawl Allah (There is no might with Allah)” instead of saying, “La Hawla wa la Quwwatta illa Billah (There is neither Might nor Power except with Allah)” 4. When offering the Salam (Islamic greeting of peace), they say: “As-Sam ‘Alaykum (Death be upon you)!” 5. Using dubious names, such as ‘Abdul-Naby, or ‘Abdul-Rasul.

A: First: Saying, “I swear thrice by Almighty Allah” is considered to be a Shar‘y (Islamic legal) oath, and so is subject to the rulings of an oath. Second: Saying, “May the rest be in your life” is one of the condolence phrases that some people use. It means: may Allah compensate you for what you have lost due to the death of so-and-so by (Part No. 26; Page No. 365) making the rest of your life good and useful. If this is the intended meaning, this is not wrong. However, it is better to follow the words of the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet), prescribed to be said on such an occasion. Third: Saying: "La Hawl Allah" is an abominable abbreviation of: "La Hawla wa la Quwwatta illa Billah", which is not permissible, because it changes the meaning. Fourth: It is Haram (prohibited) to say: "As-Sam ‘Alaykum", because it an evil saying and a distortion of the greeting of Islam. It is one of the greetings of the Jews (may Allah curse them) with which they used to greet the Prophet (peace be upon him). Therefore, it is not permissible for Muslims to say or approve of it. Fifth: It is Haram to name a person ‘Abd (slave) to other than Allah according to Ijma‘ (consensus of the scholars). Therefore, the names mentioned in the question: ‘Abdul-Naby (Slave of the Prophet), ‘Abdul-Rasul (Slave of the Messenger), and also names such as: ‘Abdul-Husayn (Slave of Al-Husayn) or ‘Abdul-Amir (Slave of the Prince), are not permissible.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.