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Is it permissible to describe a deceased Muslim as "the late" (al-marḥūm), or should one say "the late, by the grace of Allah" (al-marḥūm bi-idhn Allāh)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The word "marhoom" (deceased, literally "one who has been shown mercy") is a common word. If it is intended to convey that the deceased has actually been shown mercy, then it is not permissible. However, if it is intended as a supplication (dua), then there is no harm in it. It is preferable to use "rahimahullah" (may Allah have mercy on him) or "ghafarallah lahu" (may Allah forgive him).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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