Using the Persian word 'Khoda' to refer to Allaah The Almighty
Fatwa No: 281770

Question

As-salamu ʿalaykum dear Shaykh. Is it permissible to say Khoda for Allah?

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, is His slave and Messenger.

We learned that the word "Khoda" in Persian means King and Master, and that the Persians say Khoda to refer to Allaah The Almighty.

If this is the case, then it seems – and Allaah knows best – that there is nothing wrong in using it. The fact that it is in a foreign language does not prevent someone from using it. The scholars stated that the word "Eel" in Jibreel (Gabriel), Meeka'eel (Michael) and Israa'eel (Israel), and the like, mean Allaah.

Ibn Abbaas narrated that: "Saying Jibreel and Meekaa'eel is like saying ‘Abdullaah and ‘Abd Ar-Rahman." [Al-Bayhaqi]

There is no doubt that Allaah The Almighty is the King and Master.

Allaah Knows best.

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