[Q 591] Saying Khudahafiz at Farewell

QUESTION:

Can we say khudahaviz?

ANSWER:

Saying Salam (greeting of peace) at the time of departing after meeting is also Sunnah (prophetic practice), and there is encouragement for this in Hadith. However, along with saying Salam, if one also says “Khudahafiz,” then there is no harm in it, as it is a supplicatory statement, and giving a supplication at the time of departure is ثابت (saabit – established) from the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar رضي الله تعالى عنهما:

“کان النبی صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم اذا ودع رجلا اخذ بیدہ فلا یدعھا حتی یکون الرجل ھو یدع ید النبی صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم ویقول استودع اللہ دینک وامانتک وآخر عملک”

Translation: When the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم would bid farewell to someone, he would hold his hand and would not leave it until the person himself withdrew his hand, and he would say: “I entrust your religion, your trust, and your final deeds to Allah.”

(Mishkat al-Masabih, Volume 1, Page 455, Hadith 2435)

However, one should not suffice on only saying “Khudahafiz” instead of Salam, because the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم encouraged saying Salam at the time of departure as well. Thus, the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:

“اذا انتھی احدکم الی مجلس فلیسلم فان بدا لہ ان یجلس فلیجلس ثم اذا قام فلیسلم فلیست الاولی باحق من الاٰخرۃ”
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Volume 4, Page 324, Hadith 2715)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 25th March 2026.