Using Plural Pronouns When Speaking about Oneself or When Referring to a Singular Person

9-5-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible for a Muslim person to always use they/them pronouns for themselves instead of she/her or he/him?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

In principle, it is permissible to speak about oneself in the plural pronoun, such as a person saying about himself “we” or “our” or talk about a singular person by saying: “they” or “them”.

Ali may Allaah be pleased with him said: “The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) put me in charge of slaughtering his camels (which he wanted to sacrifice); and to give in charity their meat, skins, and saddle cloths; and not to give any of them to the butcher. He said: We give him from ours.” [Muslim]

The evidence from the Hadith is his saying: “We give him from ours”; while it is known that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) was very humble.

Allah knows best.

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