What is the ruling on saying "damn," "what the hell," "holy cow," "holy crap," "oh God/oh Allah," "Christ," and "what is this," and is saying "what the hell" considered disbelief?
A Muslim must avoid foreign phrases loaded with false meanings or those that involve imitation of disbelievers, such as: 1. "What the hell?": This is a form of swearing by other than Allah, which can be major or minor depending on the belief. 2. "Oh God": If it refers to the god worshipped by disbelievers rather than Allah, it is shirk, and it must be avoided because it is a slogan of the disbelievers. 3. "Jesus": If it is a supplication or an invocation of help from Christ, it is major shirk. 4. "Damn": Avoid it because it is not part of a Muslim's ethics, and there is a prohibition against cursing and a severe warning for those who do it. 5. "Holy cow": This phrase involves the sanctification of other than Allah, and it is an imitation of the speech of disbelievers.
It is emphasized that some of these phrases may amount to shirk with Allah the Almighty, while others are forbidden, and a Muslim must guard his tongue.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy