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Fatwa CenterCalling one’s brother by brother or by younger brother
Question
Assalamualaykom... In my country it is a culture n norm for us to call our siblling not by their name. We normally address them them by brother (but in our language) ,if a brother is older than us n sister if the sister is older than us n by younger brother/younger sister if they are younger than us. This is more to show respect rather than call them just by their name. Is this permissible in islam.? Certain people said it is not permissible because in the hereafter we will be call by the name that people used to call us n thereforre our nice name that have a good meaning will not be know. Furthermore, calling people by adress the brother or sister has no meaning. Is this true?
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.
There is no harm in calling your brothers and sisters by what you mentioned in the question as long as they are not harmed by it. By using such words one shows more respect and veneration for them and this leads to more affection and kindness towards them compared to when calling them by their bare names.
The Permanent Committee of Fatwa stated (in regard to a similar issue): “A person may call someone else who is younger than him by saying (O my son) as a way of being affectionate and kind to him, and making him feel that one is merciful to him, so that such a person feels at ease with the one who said that to him, and so that he would listen to his advice and fulfill his need. He may also call someone else who is older than him by saying (O father) as a way of honoring him and imploring him, so that he would gain his kindness and advice and so that he would get his help. This is so in order that good moral conduct would prevail in the society and so that the relationship between its members would become stronger, and so that all of them would feel true brotherhood in religion.”
As regards the statement of some people which you mentioned in the question, this is not permissible; it is not correct as this is not like calling by name in principle but is just a description by which one tries to show love and respect to others.
Allaah Knows best.
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