Salaam Alaikum Shaikh, I have 3 questions, Is it permissible to call righteous people who have passed away as Marhoom? And my second question is, when praying funeral for woman should one make dua saying "And give her spouse better than of this world"? And Shaikh, If one sneezes in Salah (prayer), can he say "Alhamdulillah"? Jazaak ALLAHU Khair.

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 is His slave and Messenger.

As regards the first question, the word Al-Marhoom (the one on whom Allaah had mercy) is among the common words that are spread among the people, so if what is meant by it is giving news, in the sense that the deceased has – definitely – gained Allaah’s mercy, then this is informing about the unseen, which is not permissible unless there is evidence, and there is no evidence for this, and, therefore, this is not permissible. However, if what is intended by this word is to ask Allaah to have mercy upon the deceased, then this is permissible. In any case, it is better to use of the expression “” or “may Allaah forgive him” and the like.

With regard to the second question, the answer is that the established opinion in the Maaliki and Hanbali Schools of jurisprudence, is not to supplicate while performing the funeral prayer over a woman saying “and give her in exchange a husband better than her husband. That is because a woman could be a wife in the Hereafter for her husband in this worldly life.

Nevertheless, the Shaafi'i School stated that reciting this supplication is permissible for the reason that what is meant by giving (the deceased) a family or a spouse in exchange is regarding the features and not the persons. So, what is meant by “and give her in exchange a husband better than her husband”, is that he [her husband] will be better in terms of qualities and morals. Indeed, this is a strong and probable meaning.

As regards the third question, the answer is that some scholars stated that it is permissible for a person who sneezes while performing the prayer to say “Al-Hamdu Lillaah” (praise be to Allaah). Their evidence is the Hadeeth which was narrated by Raafi’ah Ibn Raafi’, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “I prayed behind the Prophet and I sneezed and I said: ''All Praise is due to Allaah, an abundant beautiful blessed praise, as our Lord loves and is pleased with….’ Thereupon, the Prophet said: ''I swear by Whose hand my soul is, more than thirty angels took the initiative as to who will ascend with it first.” [At-Tirmithi]

However, some scholars are of the view that it is forbidden for a person who sneezes while performing the prayer to praise Allaah. Nonetheless, the Hadeeth of this chapter is evidence that it is unquestionably permissible for a person who sneezes (while performing the prayer) to praise Allaah as stated by Mubaarak Poori in his book entitled “Tuhfatul Al-Ahwathi”.

Allaah Knows best.