Islamic Phrases and Their Meanings: Inshallah, Mashallah, Alhamdulillah and More

The most common Islamic phrases are short Arabic sentences that turn ordinary moments, such as meeting someone, starting a task or hearing news, into remembrance of Allah. The table gives each phrase in simple transliteration with its meaning, usual occasion and source; the sections below add context.

These expressions are not magic words: the reports connect them with praise, thanks and reliance on Allah, so their value lies in meaning them. Transliteration only approximates Arabic sounds, so learn pronunciation from a teacher or a reliable recording.

Sources: [1] [2] [10] [11] [3] [4] [5] [6] [14] [7] [16] [15] [17] [18] [21] [22] [23] [8] [26] [24] [25] [27] [28] [9]

The Islamic greeting is As-salamu alaykum, 'peace be upon you', and the reply is Wa alaykumus-salam, 'and upon you be peace'. Quran 4:86 tells believers to answer a greeting with a better one or at least return it, and Quran 24:61 calls it 'a greeting from Allah, blessed and sweet'. In Sahih Muslim 54a the Prophet said that people will not truly believe until they love one another, and pointed to spreading salam as the way to that love.

Each addition to the greeting brings more reward. In Sunan Abi Dawud 5195, graded Sahih (Al-Albani), the Prophet counted ten for As-salamu alaykum, twenty when wa rahmatullah was added and thirty for the full greeting; Jami at-Tirmidhi 2689, graded Hasan (Darussalam), records the same account.

• As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh — Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings (Sunan Abi Dawud 5195).
• Wa alaykumus-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh — And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

Sources: [1] [2] [10] [11] [12]

Bismillah means 'in the name of Allah', and Muslims say it when beginning a meal, a reading or any worthwhile task. It is the short form of Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, 'In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful', which opens Al-Fatihah (Quran 1:1) and heads the letter of Sulayman in Quran 27:30. Our eating duas and home duas guides give the reports for meals and leaving the house.

In sha Allah means 'if Allah wills', and it is said about something you intend to do in the future. Quran 18:23-24 says not to say of anything, 'I shall do that tomorrow', without adding 'if Allah will'. Sahih al-Bukhari 6639 relates that the Prophet Sulayman announced a plan without saying In sha Allah, though his companion reminded him, and it did not come about as he hoped; the Prophet Muhammad said that had he said it, his wish would have been fulfilled. The phrase accompanies a sincere intention rather than replacing it.

Sources: [3] [4] [5] [13]

In sha Allah looks forward and Ma sha Allah looks at what already exists. In sha Allah, 'if Allah wills', is said about future plans; Ma sha Allah, 'what Allah has willed', is said when admiring something good, acknowledging that it came from Allah. Both contain sha'a, 'willed', but in means 'if' and ma means 'what'.

Ma sha Allah comes from the story of the two gardens. In Quran 18:39 the believing companion tells the proud owner that, on entering his garden, he should have said 'That which Allah willeth (will come to pass)! There is no strength save in Allah!', so the fuller phrase is Ma sha Allah, la quwwata illa billah.

Praying for blessing on what you admire is also taught. In Sunan Ibn Majah 3509, graded Sahih (Darussalam), after Sahl ibn Hunaif collapsed when another Companion admired him, the Prophet asked why one of you would kill his brother and said that whoever sees something he likes in his brother should pray for blessing for him. The report gives no fixed formula; common ways are Tabarak Allah, 'blessed is Allah', echoing Quran 23:14, and Barak Allahu fih, 'may Allah bless it'.

Sources: [5] [6] [14]

Alhamdu lillah means 'all praise is for Allah', Subhan Allah means 'glory be to Allah', declaring Him free of every imperfection, and Allahu akbar means 'Allah is the Greatest'. In Sahih Muslim 2137a the Prophet called four phrases the dearest words to Allah: Subhan Allah, Alhamdu lillah, La ilaha illallah and Allahu akbar, adding that it does not matter which you begin with.

Alhamdu lillah opens Al-Fatihah after the Basmalah (Quran 1:2) and is said in thanks and on good news; Sahih Muslim 223 says it fills the scale. Subhan Allah is also said in wonder: in Sahih al-Bukhari 283 the Prophet exclaimed it when Abu Hurairah explained that he had kept away until he had bathed, and told him that a believer never becomes impure. Allahu akbar opens every prayer and fills the adhan, and in Sahih al-Bukhari 3348 the Companions called it out on hearing glad tidings about the people of Paradise.

Sahih al-Bukhari 6682 describes Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi, Subhan Allahil-Azim, 'glory be to Allah and praise be to Him; glory be to Allah, the Most Great', as light on the tongue, heavy in the balance and beloved to the Most Merciful. The popular Alhamdu lillahi 'ala kulli hal, 'praise be to Allah in every circumstance', comes from Sunan Ibn Majah 3803, which Sunnah.com shows graded Da'if (Darussalam).

Sources: [15] [7] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Astaghfirullah, 'I seek Allah's forgiveness', is said after a mistake and regularly through the day as a habit of turning back to Allah. In Sahih al-Bukhari 6307 the Prophet said that he sought Allah's forgiveness and turned to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day. Our morning and evening adhkar guide covers a fuller form, Sayyid al-Istighfar.

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah means 'there is no might nor power except with Allah', an admission that every ability comes from Him, often said when facing a task or difficulty. In Sahih al-Bukhari 6384 the Prophet heard Abu Musa saying it quietly and told him it is one of the treasures of Paradise. Its second half also appears in Quran 18:39.

Sources: [21] [22] [6]

To thank someone, say Jazak Allahu khayran, 'may Allah reward you with good'. Jami at-Tirmidhi 2035, graded Hasan (Darussalam), reports that whoever says this to someone who did him a favour has done the utmost in praising him. A common reply is wa iyyakum, 'and you too', a courtesy rather than a fixed wording.

To congratulate, the Prophet said Barak Allahu lak, 'may Allah bless you', to Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf on his marriage (Sahih al-Bukhari 5155), and Sunan Abi Dawud 2130, graded Sahih (Al-Albani), records his fuller words to a newly married man, given below. Barak Allahu fik is a common everyday variant.

On hearing of a death or any loss, say Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un, 'we belong to Allah and to Him we return'; Quran 2:156-157 promises blessings and mercy to those who say it in misfortune. In Sahih Muslim 918a Umm Salamah reported the Prophet teaching it with a short supplication; she said it when her husband Abu Salamah died, and Allah later gave her the Prophet as her husband.

• Barak Allahu lak, wa baraka 'alayk, wa jama'a baynakuma fi khayr — May Allah bless you, send blessings upon you and bring you both together in goodness (Sunan Abi Dawud 2130).
• Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un. Allahumma'jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha — We belong to Allah and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better (Sahih Muslim 918a).

Sources: [23] [24] [25] [8] [26]

When you sneeze, say Alhamdu lillah; whoever hears it replies Yarhamuk Allah, and the one who sneezed answers Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum. All three steps come from a single report in Sahih al-Bukhari 6224.

Amin means 'O Allah, accept', and it is said after a supplication and after Al-Fatihah in prayer. In Sahih al-Bukhari 780 the Prophet said that whoever's Amin coincides with that of the angels has his past sins forgiven. Schools differ on saying it aloud in prayer, so follow your teacher.

• Yarhamuk Allah — May Allah have mercy on you.
• Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum — May Allah guide you and set your affairs right (Sahih al-Bukhari 6224).

Sources: [27] [28]

Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam means 'may Allah bless him and grant him peace', and Muslims say it after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad. It answers Quran 33:56, which tells believers to ask blessings on the Prophet and to salute him with a worthy salutation. Our guide to Durood Ibrahim and salawat gives the fuller wordings the Prophet taught, their reported virtues and a note on abbreviations such as PBUH and SAW.

Sources: [9]

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