Saying ‘Khuda Hafiz’ at the time of leaving

Saying ‘Khuda Hafiz’ at the time of leaving

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

  What do the blessed ‘Ulama state regarding the following matter: After meeting, people say ‘Khuda Hafiz’ at the time of leaving; is it correct to do so?(Questioner: Danish Raza)

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

  It is Sunnah to say Salaam while leaving also after meeting. The same persuasion has been given in a blessed Hadees. However, there is no harm if a person says ‘Khuda Hafiz’ also along with saying Salaam as it is a sentence of Du’a and it is proved from the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم to give Du’a while seeing off someone. Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰہُ عَنْهُمَا has narrated:

کان النبی صَلَّى اللّٰہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم اذا ودع رجلا اخذ بیدہ فلا یدعھا حتی یکون

الرجل ھو یدع ید النبی صَلَّى اللّٰہُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ویقول استودع اللّٰہ دینك وامانتك وآخر عملك

  Translation: When the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would see off someone, he صَلَّى اللّٰہ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would hold his hand and would not leave until that person would himself bring back his hand, and [the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم] would say: I give your Deen, trust and last deed in Allah’s protection.(Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 1, pp. 455, Hadees 2435)

However, one should not restrict himself to saying ‘Khuda Hafiz’ only instead of Salaam as the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has persuaded us to say Salaam at the time of leaving as well. The Holy Prophet

صَلَّى اللّٰہ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has stated:

اذا انتھی احدکم الی مجلس فلیسلم فان بدا لہ ان

یجلس فلیجلس ثم اذا قام فلیسلم فلیست الاولی باحق من الاٰخرۃ

  Translation: When any of you reaches a gathering, he should say Salaam to them; then if he wants to sit there, he may sit. When he leaves, he should say Salaam again as the Salaam [said] at the first time is not better than the Salaam [said] at the last time. (I.e. Saying Salaam on both the occasions has its own importance.)(Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 324, Hadees 2715)

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ  عَزَّوَجَلَّ  وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Mufti Abu Muhammad Ali Asghar Attari