Ruling on Using the Words “Mawlānā” or “Mawlā” for Other Than Allah
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 93
Question:
Is it permissible to use the word “Mawlānā” or “Mawlā” for anyone other than Allah, such as a human, jinn, or any other creation? (Muhammad Ayub)
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
The usage of the words “Mawlānā” or “Mawlā” for other than Allah is permissible without any dislike, and numerous authentic Ahadith serve as evidence for its permissibility.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: أَطْعِمْ رَبَّكَ وَضِّئْ رَبَّكَ، اسْقِ رَبَّكَ، وَلْيَقُلْ: سَيِّدِي مَوْلَايَ، وَلَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: عَبْدِي أَمَتِي، وَلْيَقُلْ: فَتَايَ وَفَتَاتِي وَغُلَامِي"
Translation:
“None of you should say: ‘Feed your rabb, give drink to your rabb, help your rabb to perform ablution’; rather, say: ‘My master, my Mawlā’. And none of you should say: ‘My slave or my slave-girl’, rather say: ‘My boy, my girl, my servant.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3/124, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2/316)
This ḥadīth clearly proves that the word “Mawlā” can be used for someone other than Allah, as the Prophet ﷺ himself approved and encouraged its use in this context.
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله states:
“The word As-Sayyid (Master) is also used for Allah ﷻ, yet there is no authentic marfū‘ narration proving that Mawlā is exclusive to Allah. When As-Sayyid can be used for a human master, then Mawlā can even more rightfully be used, especially since it is also used for a slave (inferior).”
(As-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah 2/55)
Thus, the usage of Mawlā for human beings is Islamically valid.
Narrated by Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib رضي الله عنه, that during the treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to ‘Alī رضي الله عنه:
"أَنْتَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْكَ"، وَقَالَ لِجَعْفَرٍ: "أَشْبَهْتَ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي"، وَقَالَ لِزَيْدٍ: "أَنْتَ أَخُونَا وَمَوْلَانَا"
Translation:
“You are from me and I am from you (to Ali),” and to Ja‘far (ibn Abī Ṭālib) he said: “You resemble me in appearance and character.” And to Zayd (ibn Ḥārithah), he said: “You are our brother and our Mawlā.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Mishkāt 2/293)
This ḥadīth is decisive evidence that the Prophet ﷺ himself used the term “Mawlā” for Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه, which clearly proves its permissibility.
The word Mawlā carries multiple meanings, amounting to around 14 interpretations. It is used for Allah ﷻ as well as for other than Allah.
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/228), a narration mentions that a slave should not call his master “Mawlā”, but the wording of that narration differs across versions.
Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله explains:
“Imām Muslim رحمه الله recorded a difference in narration from Al-A‘mash — some versions include the prohibition of ‘Mawlā’, while others omit it. Imām ‘Iyāḍ رحمه الله said that the omission is more correct, and Imām al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله agreed that the omission is more established.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah 2/453-454)
Due to the non-establishment of this narration, the general usage of Mawlā remains permissible.
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Kitāb al-Adab, 2/332), it is stated:
“He should say: my Mawlā.”
This also further supports the permissibility of the word's usage for someone other than Allah.
① The usage of the words “Mawlā” and “Mawlānā” for other than Allah is Islamically permissible.
② Authentic ḥadīths prove that the Prophet ﷺ himself addressed Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه with the title “Mawlānā”.
③ There exists no valid Shar‘ī evidence that restricts the usage of Mawlā exclusively to Allah ﷻ.
④ The word Mawlā is used with varied meanings in the Qur’an and Ḥadīth, and Ahl al-Sunnah scholars do not consider its usage for humans as objectionable.
⑤ However, in specific contexts where the meaning opposes Islamic principles (e.g., implying divinity), its usage can be discouraged.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 93
Question:
Is it permissible to use the word “Mawlānā” or “Mawlā” for anyone other than Allah, such as a human, jinn, or any other creation? (Muhammad Ayub)
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
The usage of the words “Mawlānā” or “Mawlā” for other than Allah is permissible without any dislike, and numerous authentic Ahadith serve as evidence for its permissibility.
❖ First Ḥadīth Evidence
Narrated by Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"لَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: أَطْعِمْ رَبَّكَ وَضِّئْ رَبَّكَ، اسْقِ رَبَّكَ، وَلْيَقُلْ: سَيِّدِي مَوْلَايَ، وَلَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ: عَبْدِي أَمَتِي، وَلْيَقُلْ: فَتَايَ وَفَتَاتِي وَغُلَامِي"
Translation:
“None of you should say: ‘Feed your rabb, give drink to your rabb, help your rabb to perform ablution’; rather, say: ‘My master, my Mawlā’. And none of you should say: ‘My slave or my slave-girl’, rather say: ‘My boy, my girl, my servant.’”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3/124, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2/316)
This ḥadīth clearly proves that the word “Mawlā” can be used for someone other than Allah, as the Prophet ﷺ himself approved and encouraged its use in this context.
❖ Shaykh al-Albānī’s Research
Shaykh al-Albānī رحمه الله states:
“The word As-Sayyid (Master) is also used for Allah ﷻ, yet there is no authentic marfū‘ narration proving that Mawlā is exclusive to Allah. When As-Sayyid can be used for a human master, then Mawlā can even more rightfully be used, especially since it is also used for a slave (inferior).”
(As-Silsilah aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah 2/55)
Thus, the usage of Mawlā for human beings is Islamically valid.
❖ Second Ḥadīth Evidence
Narrated by Al-Barā’ ibn ‘Āzib رضي الله عنه, that during the treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to ‘Alī رضي الله عنه:"أَنْتَ مِنِّي وَأَنَا مِنْكَ"، وَقَالَ لِجَعْفَرٍ: "أَشْبَهْتَ خَلْقِي وَخُلُقِي"، وَقَالَ لِزَيْدٍ: "أَنْتَ أَخُونَا وَمَوْلَانَا"
Translation:
“You are from me and I am from you (to Ali),” and to Ja‘far (ibn Abī Ṭālib) he said: “You resemble me in appearance and character.” And to Zayd (ibn Ḥārithah), he said: “You are our brother and our Mawlā.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Mishkāt 2/293)
This ḥadīth is decisive evidence that the Prophet ﷺ himself used the term “Mawlā” for Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه, which clearly proves its permissibility.
❖ Multiple Meanings of “Mawlā”
The word Mawlā carries multiple meanings, amounting to around 14 interpretations. It is used for Allah ﷻ as well as for other than Allah.
In Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (2/228), a narration mentions that a slave should not call his master “Mawlā”, but the wording of that narration differs across versions.
Imām Ibn Ḥajar رحمه الله explains:
“Imām Muslim رحمه الله recorded a difference in narration from Al-A‘mash — some versions include the prohibition of ‘Mawlā’, while others omit it. Imām ‘Iyāḍ رحمه الله said that the omission is more correct, and Imām al-Qurṭubī رحمه الله agreed that the omission is more established.”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, aṣ-Ṣaḥīḥah 2/453-454)
Due to the non-establishment of this narration, the general usage of Mawlā remains permissible.
❖ Other Books Permitting the Usage of “Mawlā”
In Sunan Abī Dāwūd (Kitāb al-Adab, 2/332), it is stated:“He should say: my Mawlā.”
This also further supports the permissibility of the word's usage for someone other than Allah.
Summary and Shar‘ī Ruling
① The usage of the words “Mawlā” and “Mawlānā” for other than Allah is Islamically permissible.
② Authentic ḥadīths prove that the Prophet ﷺ himself addressed Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه with the title “Mawlānā”.
③ There exists no valid Shar‘ī evidence that restricts the usage of Mawlā exclusively to Allah ﷻ.
④ The word Mawlā is used with varied meanings in the Qur’an and Ḥadīth, and Ahl al-Sunnah scholars do not consider its usage for humans as objectionable.
⑤ However, in specific contexts where the meaning opposes Islamic principles (e.g., implying divinity), its usage can be discouraged.
هَذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
