Answer: Unless you receive explicit permission from your friend to share this information, you must remain silent. Very often people are reluctant to have others showing pity to them or are concerned that this knowledge may adversely affect an aged relative who will greet it with unwarranted shock.

As regards mobilizing prayers, if it is possible to just publicize your friend's name and that of his mother for prayer purposes without revealing the family name, you certainly should do so.

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