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Title used to address someone

Question

In our home (country) the word 'Sayyiduna' for the clerk (Shaykh or Aalim) is common for calling them either they are present or absent. It seems to me as they are considering them as the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and his companions, may Allaah be pleased with them. What can you advise or inform me?

Answer

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

The word 'Sayyid' is derived from the word 'As-su'dud' which means honour and glory, and it is permissible to call someone who is noble and well-mannered 'Sayyid' or someone who has the qualities of righteousness, kindness, nobility, worship and God-fearingness, patience, wisdom, virtue, chastity and generosity, etc. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said about Al-Hasan Ibn 'Ali  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him: "This grandson of mine is a 'Sayyid'." [Al-Bukhari]

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) also said to the Ansaar: "Stand up for your Sayyid", meaning for Sa'd Ibn Mu'aath  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him. [Al-Bukhari]

So it is permissible to call 'Sayyid' whoever has the above mentioned qualities, whether he is present or absent.

As regards those who do not have these qualities like the Sufi innovators and insane people, then it is not permissible to call them so. The same applies to a hypocrite. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Do not call a hypocrite a Sayyid, because if you consider him so, you have indeed caused the anger of Allaah, The Most-High." [Abu Daawood]

But if one thinks that a specific person is of the same status as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) then he is indeed gone astray. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "I am indeed the master (Sayyid) of the child of Aadam." [Muslim, Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]

It might be that you are mistaken by thinking that they consider them at the same status as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

Allaah Knows best.

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