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What is the ruling on using the colloquial words "Woob Ali" and "Wakar Ali," which were the names of kings worshipped before Islam?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The basic principle regarding utterances is permissibility, and nothing is forbidden among them except with evidence. The claim that some words are deities is a fabrication by some who exaggerate. The common folk do not intend them to be deities; rather, they are expressions that flow from their tongues out of regret or similar feelings, like the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "He succeeded, by his father, if he spoke truthfully." This was a phrase that flowed from his tongue according to common speech, not with the intention of an oath. Arabs use it for emphasis, not for glorification. The prohibition of swearing by fathers necessitates the glorification of the one by whom the oath is sworn, and all glory belongs to Allah alone, for none other than Allah can rival Him in that. The same applies to phrases like "May your hands be soiled" (Tarihat Yaddak) and "May your mother lose you" (Thakilatka Ummuka); these are not supplications but rather expressions that flow from the tongue, and their literal meaning is not intended.

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

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