A: It is permissible to say "may Allah forgive them" or "may Allah be merciful to them" and the like, if the person was a Muslim. It is impermissible to say "the forgiven" or "the one granted mercy", since we cannot confirm that any person will be in Jannah (Paradise), Hellfire and so on, except for those whom Allah has confirmed in His Glorious Qur'an or His Messenger (peace be upon him). This is the opinion of the people of knowledge of Ahlu lSunnah (those adhering to the Sunnah). Some of those who have been certified by Allah in His Glorious Qur'an to enter Hellfire are Abu Lahab and his wife, or those for whom the Messenger (peace be upon him) testified will enter Jannah such as Abu Bakr AlSiddiq, `Umar ibn AlKhattab, `Uthman ibn `Affan, `Ali and the rest of the honorable ten (may Allah be pleased with them) in addition to others he (peace be upon him) informed us will also enter either Jannah such as Abdullah ibn Salam, `Ukashah ibn Muhssin (may Allah be pleased with them both), or Hellfire such as his paternal uncle Abu Talib, `Amru ibn Luhay AlKhuza`y and others
we seek refuge in Allah from this. We should also affirm the same about them. Regarding those not confirmed by Allah (Glorified be He) or affirmed by His Messenger to enter Jannah or Hellfire, we should not do so for them or for any other person by mentioning that they will be granted mercy or forgiveness except if based on a text from the Qur'an or the Sunnah (Whatever reported from the Prophet) of his Messenger (peace be upon him). However, AhlulSunnah hope for the pious (to be granted mercy) and fear for wrongdoers (to be punished), and bear affirm that the people of Iman (faith) will enter Jannah, as they affirm that the Kuffar (disbelievers) will enter Hellfire, as clarified by Allah in His perspicuous Book: Allâh has promised the believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever (Surah Al Tawbah). He also states in the same Surah: Allâh has promised the hypocrites men and women and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell; therein shall they abide. It will suffice them. Some people of knowledge hold the opinion supporting the permissibility of bearing witness for a person to enter Jannah or Hellfire if two or more people confirm that someone was pious or evil. Their opinion is based on many authentic Hadiths reported in this regard.