Free guide · Arabic, meaning and replies

Islamic phrases, explained

31 phrases Muslims say every day, each with the Arabic, the common spellings, what it means word by word, when to say it, how to reply, and the Qur’an verse or hadith it comes from.

Everyday words 6

إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُInshallahIf Allah willsمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُMashallahWhat Allah has willedبِسْمِ اللَّهِBismillahIn the name of AllahآمِينَAmeenO Allah, answer (our prayer)اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُAllahu A'lamAllah knows bestوَاللَّهِWallahiBy Allah (I swear)

Dhikr and praise 6

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِSubhanAllahGlory be to Allahالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِAlhamdulillahAll praise is for Allahاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُAllahu AkbarAllah is greaterأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَAstaghfirullahI seek forgiveness from Allahسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِSubhanAllahi wa BihamdihiGlory be to Allah, and with His praiseلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُLa Ilaha IllallahThere is no god but Allah

Greetings, thanks and replies 8

جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًاJazakallah KhairMay Allah reward you with goodبَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَBarakallahu FeekMay Allah bless youالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْAssalamu AlaikumPeace be upon youاللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْAllahumma BarikO Allah, bless (him / her / them)اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَاAllahumma Barik LanaO Allah, bless usيَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُYarhamukallahMay Allah have mercy on youفِي أَمَانِ اللَّهِFi AmanillahIn the protection of Allahتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُTabarakallahBlessed is Allah

Hardship and trust 4

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَInna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji'unWe belong to Allah, and to Him we will returnلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِLa Hawla wa La Quwwata Illa BillahThere is no power and no strength except with Allahحَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُHasbunallahu wa Ni'mal WakilAllah is enough for us, and He is the best one to trustأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِA'udhu BillahI seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the accursed

Occasions 4

رَمَضَانُ مُبَارَكٌRamadan MubarakBlessed Ramadanعِيدٌ مُبَارَكٌEid MubarakBlessed Eidتَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْTaqabbal Allahu Minna wa MinkumMay Allah accept from us and from youجُمُعَةٌ مُبَارَكَةٌJumuah MubarakBlessed Friday

Honorifics 3

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَSallallahu Alayhi wa SallamMay Allah send blessings and peace upon himرَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُRadiyallahu AnhuMay Allah be pleased with himسُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰSubhanahu wa Ta'alaGlorified and exalted is He

What to reply

A quick table of the replies people most often look up.

When you hearReply
As-salāmu ‘alaykumWa ‘alaykumus-salām (wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh)
Jazākallāhu khayranWa iyyākum / wa antum fa-jazākumullāhu khayran
Bārakallāhu fīkWa fīk (wa fīki to a woman, wa fīkum to a group)
Al-ḥamdu lillāh (after a sneeze)Yarḥamukallāh, then they reply yahdīkumullāhu wa yuṣliḥu bālakum
Eid MubarakKhayr Mubarak / taqabbalallāhu minnā wa minkum
Taqabbalallāhu minnā wa minkumMinnā wa minkum / the same words back
Ramadan KareemAllāhu akram (Allah is more generous)
Fī amānillāhThe same back, and salam
News of a deathInnā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji‘ūn, then a dua for the deceased
Someone makes dua for youĀmīn, and return the dua

How this guide works and sources

Every phrase page gives the Arabic with full vowel marks, a word-by-word table, and the source. Qur’an text and its English meaning come from the same Uthmani text and translation the Niyat app uses, linked to each ayah. Hadith are cited by collection and number, and weak chains are labelled. Where something is a custom rather than a sunnah wording (such as Eid Mubarak or Jumuah Mubarak), the page says so. The search runs in your browser, and the sound buttons use your device’s own Arabic voice; nothing is sent anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common Islamic phrases?

Bismillah (in the name of Allah), inshallah (if Allah wills), mashallah (what Allah has willed), alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), subhanallah (glory be to Allah), astaghfirullah (I seek Allah’s forgiveness), jazakallah khair (may Allah reward you with good) and assalamu alaikum (peace be upon you).

What is the difference between inshallah and mashallah?

Inshallah (“if Allah wills”) is about the future. Mashallah (“what Allah has willed”) is about something that has happened or that you see now.

How do you reply to jazakallah khair?

Wa iyyākum (“and you too”) or wa antum fa-jazākumullāhu khayran. No single reply is fixed in the sunnah.

Why are these phrases spelled so many ways?

They are Arabic, and English has no single system for writing Arabic sounds. Inshallah, in sha Allah and insha’Allah are all the same phrase. Each page lists the common spellings.

Can non-Muslims use Islamic phrases?

Yes. Many are everyday Arabic and are used by Arab Christians and by non-Muslim friends and colleagues. Saying them with respect is welcome.

Are these phrases from the Quran?

Many are: bismillah (1:1), alhamdulillah (1:2), inshallah (18:23-24), mashallah (18:39), inna lillahi (2:156) and hasbunallah (3:173). Others come from hadith or from Muslim custom; each page gives the source.

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