Full Lecture Transcript (Cleaned)
The Question — 24:33
This is a nice, funny one. You gave the khutbah yesterday and you said, "I cannot say 'uff' to my parents." What is the equivalent in English? "Oh my God" — what do you guys say?
I don't know if I have a fatwa for this! What is the equivalent of "uff" in English? In Urdu, we say something similar — no problem. But what is the English equivalent? You think "Oh my God" is equivalent, huh?
It's About the Tone, Not the Word — 25:10
I'm asking — I would say this is a bit funny, but I get it. It's the tone in how you say it. It's possible — if your tone is frustration, then yes, it is the equivalent. Because the goal when Allah says "don't say uff" means don't express that you are frustrated. This is the meaning here — don't express it.
You will be frustrated. Keep it in your heart. You will be frustrated — control it. Don't say something to make them feel bad. That's what Allah is saying.
The Fatwa — 25:37
So I would argue — and in this, all of you can give fatwa equally to me, because it's a question of language, not a question of Islamic law per se — but I would argue it's not in what you say, it's in how you say it.
So if you say it in a way that is contempt, anger, putting down — if frustration is the tone — then I would say yes. Because "uff" is not a curse word, just like "Oh my God" is not a curse word. "Uff" is not vulgar. It's just: "I'm frustrated. Come on. All over again." That's what it means.
So yes, I would say it is possible, depending on the tone.