Fatwa ID: 02975

Answered by:  Molana Abu Muhsin Osmani

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

My question is regarding the permissibility of using non- Arabic letters (huroof) for communicating in writing those words or combination of words that are also from the or found in the Qur'an. There are a number of parts to this question and I would be grateful if you could make clear the position of the Ulema past and present if there is a difference amongst the Ulema esp. in the Hanafi Madhab.

a) Is it permissible without any dislike, permissible with dislike/ discouraged/disliked or haraam?

b) If permissible then please explain under what circumstances e.g. only permissible for those who can't read write Arabic or for is it general so long as one is not trying to only refer to the transliteration of words such as for example; "Alhamdulillah, Subah'Allah, or inna lillahi wa inna elayhi raji'oon".

c) I understand the preservation of the Qur'an must be in Arabic and in worship Arabic essential and at times obligatory etc. but what is the ruling on WhatsApp communication and SMS etc.

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The question seems a little unclear. If you are enquiring about transliterating Arabic words into English whilst communicating via SMS, WhatsApp, etc.; e.g. typing inshaAllah, MashaAllah, SubhanAllah, etc., then it is permissible without any dislike. 

Only Allah تعالى knows best

Written by Molana Abu Muhsin Osmani

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham