Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Some of my friends object when I say "Khuda Hafiz",, They insist on me saying "Allah Hafiz",, While I understand the point, I know that when I say Khuda, meaning God, I mean Allah,, Please clarify,, Also let us know what wrong in using the word "God",, 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Khuda & Allah Hafiz

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His 

forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The fact of the matter is that the correct way and term translation of the Arabic phrase ‘Fee-Amaan Allah’ is ‘Allah Haafiz’.

The term ‘Khuda’ is of Persian origin and basically means god or ‘ilaah’.

There is no harm if one says ‘Khuda’, or uses the word ‘God’; provided his intention is the One and Only Eternal Lord of the Worlds, when he uses the term. But it is preferable for the believers to call the Merciful Lord by the name that He has called Himself in the Glorious Quran; that is, ‘Allah’.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 20 Surah Taha verse 14:It is I Who am Allah! There is no god but Me! So worship Me, and establish Salaat to remember Me.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Israa verse 110:Say, “You may call Him by any name, Allah or Rahmaan! Call Him by whatever name you may, for all His names are the Most Excellent.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraaf verse 180:Allah is entitled to the most excellent names; so call Him by excellent names only, and leave alone those who deviate from the Truth in giving names to Him. They shall be recompensed for what they have been doing.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan