How can we reconcile the Prophet's (PBUH) saying to Umm Al-Ala regarding Uthman ibn Maz'un: "And what makes you know?" She said, "O Messenger of Allah, Uthman ibn Maz'un." He (PBUH) said, "Yes, Uthman ibn Maz'un. We have only known him to be good. And I am the Messenger of Allah, and by Allah, I do not know what will be done with me?" with the hadiths "You are Allah's witnesses on earth," and "The people of Paradise are those whose ears Allah fills with the good praise of people while they are listening," and his saying "Soon you will recognize the people of Hell from the people of Paradise"?
The prohibition in Umm al-'Ala's hadith is against definitively asserting that the deceased is among the people of Paradise, because that pertains to the unseen. This differs from other hadiths that speak of praising the deceased based on their known good deeds, as this is not from the unseen. Bearing witness to the good of the deceased is a covering from Allah for them in this world and the Hereafter.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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