Islamic phrase · meaning and usage
Radiyallahu Anhu meaning
Also written Radiyallahu anhu, RA, Radi Allahu anhu, Radiallahu anha, Radiyallahu anhum, Razi Allah Anhu
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
raḍiyallāhu ‘anh
“May Allah be pleased with him”
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Radiyallahu anhu (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ, written RA) means “may Allah be pleased with him”. Muslims say it after the name of a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ. The Qur’an itself says of them: “Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him” (9:100).
What Radiyallahu Anhu means
The phrase is a dua and also echoes a statement of the Qur’an about the Companions. The ending changes:
Word by word
| Arabic | Say | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| رَضِيَ | raḍiya | (may He) be pleased |
| اللَّهُ | Allāhu | Allah |
| عَنْهُ | ‘anhu | with him |
When to say it
- After the name of a Companion (sahabi or sahabiyyah): Abu Bakr, Umar, Aishah, Khadijah and others.
- Many also use raḥimahullāh (“may Allah have mercy on him”) for later scholars and Muslims who have died.
How to reply
No reply is needed. Use the right ending:
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
raḍiyallāhu ‘anhu
With him (one man).
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā
With her (one woman).
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا
raḍiyallāhu ‘anhumā
With them both (two people, such as a Companion and his father).
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ
raḍiyallāhu ‘anhum
With them (a group).
Where it comes from
In the Qur’an
وَٱلسَّٰبِقُونَ ٱلْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُهَٰجِرِينَ وَٱلْأَنصَارِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَٰنٍۢ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى تَحْتَهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًۭا ۖ رَّضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَشِىَ رَبَّهُۥ
Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord.
In the hadith
“Do not insult my Companions. If one of you spent gold equal to Uhud, it would not reach a handful of theirs, nor half of it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3673; Sahih Muslim 2541
Common mistakes
- Using “anhu” for a woman. For a female Companion say raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā.
- Writing only RA. Writing the words in full is better, as with salawat.
Frequently asked questions
What does radiyallahu anhu mean?
“May Allah be pleased with him.” It is said after a Companion’s name.
What is the female form?
Raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā, as in “Aishah raḍiyallāhu ‘anhā”.
What does RA mean after a name?
It abbreviates radiyallahu anhu (or anha). It marks a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ.
Can I say radiyallahu anhu for anyone?
It is customary for the Companions. For others, Muslims usually say raḥimahullāh (may Allah have mercy on him) for the deceased.
What is radiyallahu anhuma?
The dual form, for two people, often used for a Companion and his father, as in “Ibn Umar raḍiyallāhu ‘anhumā”.
Related phrases
How this page works and sources
Qur’an text and its English meaning are taken from the same Uthmani text and translation the Niyat app uses, and each ayah links to its place in our Qur’an reader. Hadith are cited by collection and number (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, Jami at-Tirmidhi, Sunan an-Nasa’i, Sunan Ibn Majah); where a narration has a weak chain we say so. Hadith wording is summarised in plain English. Where the schools of law differ, the page says so in one line. The sound button uses your browser’s own Arabic voice; nothing is sent anywhere.
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