Search In Fatwa

Ruling on saying ‘Hallelujah’

Question

Can Muslims use the word 'Hallelujah' in their conversation? It means 'Praise for God'. I heard that it stems from Jewish tradition. Does that affect the ruling?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If this word means 'Praise for God', then there is no problem in this case. The fact that the Jews use this term does not mean that one may not utter it.

The problem, however, is that they may use it in order to glorify their gods; as Allah informed us about them that they believe that ‘Uzayr is the son of Allah.

On the other hand, the scholars stated that it is disliked to speak in a language other than Arabic without a need. Ibn Taymiyyah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said, “The habitual discourse in a language other than Arabic, which is the slogan of Islam and the language of the Quran, until it becomes a habit for the country and its people, and the family in the house, and a man with his friend, and the people in the market, or the rulers, or government members [representatives], or the people of Fiqh, then there is no doubt that this is disliked, as this constitutes imitation of the non-Arabs, which is disliked, as we have already mentioned.

Allah knows best.

Related Fatwa