I received a list of phrases that are said to be religiously inappropriate or impermissible to say, and I would like to verify their validity before sharing them with others. Could you clarify the religious ruling on each one?
1. "Praise be to Allah, Who is not praised for any disliked thing except Him": Permissible, but "Praise be to Allah in every circumstance" is better, following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
2. "O Allah, I do not ask You to avert the decree": This has been discussed previously.
3. "It is forbidden for you for a fleeting matter": If the intention is religious prohibition, then it is only permissible for that which is religiously forbidden. Otherwise, the matter is broad.
4. "May Allah spare us the evil of this laughter": There is no objection to using it.
5. "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad when forgetting something": A weak hadith has been reported regarding this, but Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned it as one of the occasions for sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).
6. "Allah was knowledgeable": Permissible, for "was" here means "has always been," as in His saying: "And Allah is ever Knowing and Wise."
7. "There is no power of Allah": This is an incorrect phrase because it completely alters the meaning of "There is no power and no strength except with Allah."
8. "Cursing the religion": This expels one from the fold of Islam.
9. "Religion is pith and peel": This has been discussed previously.
10. "So-and-so's appearance is wrong": This has been discussed previously.
11. Naming "sunflower" (literally "worshippers of the sun"): It is not permissible, because the plant is a servant of Allah, not of the sun. It can be called "dawaar al-shams" (literally "sun-turner").
12. "Allah knows that I did so-and-so": If one is truthful, there is no objection. If one lies, then they have lied about Allah, which is a grave matter.
13. "Buried to his final resting place": This phrase is outwardly incorrect, for the final resting place is Paradise or Hell. It is correct if the intention is the final resting place in this world.
14. "You forgot me, death forgot you": This is an incorrect phrase, for death does not forget anyone.
15. "With prosperity and sons": This is disliked in congratulations for marriage, due to the prohibition reported regarding it, and because it is from the sayings of the Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic era).
16. "He wronged me, may Allah wrong him": This is never permissible, for Allah does not wrong even an atom's weight.
17. "Our Lord remembered so-and-so": This is not permissible, as it implies that He was forgetful and then remembered, and Allah is far removed from forgetfulness.
18. "So-and-so does not deserve it" (when a calamity strikes): This is not permissible, as it objects to Allah's decree and accuses Allah of injustice.
19. "The wisdom of Allah willed, and fate willed": This has been discussed previously.
20. "May Allah curse the disease": This is not permissible, for illness is good for the believer, and through it sins are expiated and ranks are elevated. Cursing it is an objection to divine decree.
21. "So-and-so is a martyr": This has been discussed previously.
22. "Whoever taught me a letter, I was his servant": If the intention is the outward servitude of bondage in context, there is no harm. If the intention is servitude that belongs only to Allah, then it is not permissible.
23. Addressing a disbelieving nurse as "Ya Sister": If the intention is kinship, even if distant, there is no harm. If the intention is religious brotherhood, then it is not permissible.
24. "You ram, you donkey": This is among the prohibited forms of insult.
25. Calling religious rulings "customs and traditions": This is an error, for religious rulings are from Allah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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