Arabic Pleasantaries for Dummies

Are you sometimes confused by Islamic pleasantaries? What does Mashaa-Allah or Inshaa-Allah mean? This post will help you brush up on your arabic pleasantaries as well as learn new ones 🙂  Most Arabic pleasantaries are also duas.

Assalaamu ‘Alaikum
A greeting made upon meeting a Muslim
Translation: Peace be upon you

Wa’alaikum Assalaam
The response to the greeting above
Translation: And peace be upon you

Assalaamu ‘Alaikum wa rahmatullah
A lengthier formal greeting/supplication to a Muslim
Translation: May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you

Wa’alaikum Assalaam wa rahmatullah
A response to the formal greeting/supplication above
Translation: And may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you

Assalaamu ‘Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh 
A formal greeting to a Muslim with additional supplications
Translation: May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you

Wa’alaikum Assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh 
A response to the formal greeting to a Muslim above
Translation: And may the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you

Bismillah ar Rahman ar Rahim 
Before beginning an action [from the Sunnah]
Translation: In the name of Allah, most Gracious most Merciful

JazakAllah Khairan
An expression of thanks or gratitude
Translation: May Allah reward you with good
(Reply: Wa iyak(i), wa iyakum; Translation: And you)

BarakAllahu feekum or Allah baraka feek(i) 
Responding to someone’s thanks/a way of expressing thanks
Translation: May Allah bless you
(Reply: Wa feek(i), Wa feekum; Translation: And you)

HayakAllah or HayakumAllah
Translation: May Allah prolong you in life/may Allah preserve you
(Reply: Allah ye-hayeek(i); Translation: Allah increase you as well)

Subhanallah 
For expressing surprise (positive or negative) at something
Translation: Glory be to Allah

Inshaa’ Allah 
Upon expressing a desire to do something
Translation: If Allah wills/Through Allah’s will

Bi’ithnillah
Another means of expressing a desire to do something
Translation: By the permission of Allah

Astaghfirullah 
Seeking forgiveness or repentance for sins before Allah
Translation: I ask Allah for forgiveness

Mashaa’ Allah 
For expressing appreciation of something good
Translation: As Allah has willed

Alhamdulillah 
For showing gratitude to Allah after success or even after completing anything
Translation: Praise be to Allah

Ameen 
To be said at the end of a supplication (du’a in singular form, ad’iyah in plural)
Translation: O Allaah, accept our invocation

SallAllahu ‘alayhi wa salaam
A supplication following the name of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
Translation: Peace and blessings be upon him (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)

‘Alayhi salaam
A supplication following the name of a Prophet or Messenger
Translation: Peace and blessings be upon him (‘alayhis salaam)

RadhiAllahu ‘Anhu 
A supplication following the name of male companion [Sahabi] of the Prophet
Translation: May Allah be pleased with him (radhiAllahu ‘anhu)

RadhiAllahu ‘Anha 
A supplication following the name of female companion [Sahabiyah] of the Prophet
Translation: May Allah be pleased with her (radhiAllahu ‘anhu)

RadhiAllahu ‘Anhum
A supplication following the names of the companions [Sahaba] of the Prophet
Translation: May Allah be pleased with them (radhiAllahu ‘anhu)

Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon 
This is uttered as an expression upon hearing the news of some loss or death
Translation: To Allah we belong and to Him is our return

La hawla wala quwata illah billah 
This is said to express reverence at the fact that true power lies with Allah alone
Translation: There is no strength nor power except with Allah

Tawakkal-tu-‘ala-Allah – I have put my trust in Allah
Tawkkalna-‘ala-Allah – We have put our trust in Allah

Rahimahullah – Allah have mercy on him

A’udhu-bi-Allah – I seek refuge in Allah

Fi sabeel illah – For the sake of Allah

Ittaqillah – Fear Allah