What is the ruling on saying: "God blew into his form" when someone recovers?
"Kinayah" (metaphor/allusion) is a well-known Arabic rhetorical device that involves speaking about one thing while intending another. It is a phrase uttered with the intent of its necessary, not literal, meaning, accompanied by a context that does not preclude the literal meaning from also being intended.
The phrase "نفخ الله في صورته" (Allah breathed into his form) falls under this category. It appears that the speaker's intention is that the person has recovered and the spirit of life has entered him after he was close to death, as if Allah brought him back to life through healing. It may also be said as a supplication for someone on the verge of perishing, asking Allah to heal him.
There is no objection to using this phrase with this apparent meaning. However, it is preferable to use clear words and religiously prescribed phrases, and to avoid what is ambiguous. For whoever has doubts about something, let him adhere to what is clear, based on the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) saying: "Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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