Arabic Vocabulary and Sentences

1. The following islamic expressions are freuquently used by muslims all over the world.
Muslims' daily expressions seem to be closely related to religion, from simple greetings
to future planning. The table below contains some of the most used expressions in
Islam, I hope this will help you be familiar with various phrases in Islam. Good luck!
Pronunciation in
English
Expression in Arabic
scrip
Meaning and what is it’s used for.
Alhamdulillah. ‫هلل‬ ‫الحمد‬ Praise to Allah, used usually to express
satisfaction, or after having finished
eating… or if someone asks you how
you were and you want to express that
you’re satisfied.
Ashokrulillah. ‫هلل‬ ‫الشكر‬ Thanks to Allah, used almost the same
way as the one above.
Alhamdulillah w
AShokrulillah.
‫هلل‬ ‫الشكر‬ ‫و‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫الحمد‬ Praise and Thanks to Allah, used to
express a Full satisfaction for
something. Accomplishing something,
or your well-being or simply for having
a very good meal.
Subhanallah. ‫هللا‬ ‫سبحان‬ Glory to Allah, can be used in many
places, for example if you heard
something amazing and you want to
express your amazement.
Mashallah. ‫هللا‬ ‫شاء‬ ‫ما‬ What Allah wishes, used to express
amazement almost like Subhanallah
except that Mashallah is mainly for
positive amazement, like if someone
tells you “I have a daughter and she is
9” you can simply reply “mashallah”
then add something if you want.
La ilaha illa Allah. ‫هللا‬ ‫إال‬ ‫إله‬ ‫ال‬ There is no god but Allah. Can be said
any time.
Mohammadun Rasulu
Allah.
‫هللا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫محمد‬ Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.
Usually comes after La ilaha illa Allah.
Allahu Akbar. ‫أكبر‬ ‫هللا‬ Allah is great (greater), also can be used
in a wide variety of places, often to
show excitement.
La hawla wala quwata
illa billah.
‫باهلل‬ ‫إال‬ ‫قوة‬ ‫وال‬ ‫حول‬ ‫ال‬ There is no change/ transformation nor
power/ strength except through Allah,
used in unfavorable situations beyond
ones control, also to express
dissatisfaction.
Bismillah. ‫هللا‬ ‫بسم‬ In the name of Allah. Used to start
something, whatever a Muslim wants to
start (driving, eating, walking, reading
…)

2. Bismillah Awaluhu wa
Akhiruhu.
‫أخره‬ ‫و‬ ‫أوله‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫بسم‬ “In the name of Allah, at its beginning
and at its end” used mainly when
someone forgets to say Bismillah before
starting a meal and remembers that in
the middle of the meal.
Bismillah Arrahman
Arraheem.
‫الرحيم‬ ‫الرحمان‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫بسم‬ In the name of Allah, the most gracious
the most merciful. A full equivalent to
“bismillah”, many Muslims use it before
reciting the Qur’an.
Inshallah. ‫هللا‬ ‫شاء‬ ‫إن‬ If Allah wills. Usually used to refer to
planning to do a future action, I will do
this … if Allah wills it.
Rahimakallah. ‫هللا‬ ‫رحمك‬ May Allah have mercy on you, or May
Allah bless you, the equivalent of “bless
you” when you sneeze, it is said after
someone sneezes.
Yarhamuka Allah. ‫هللا‬ ‫يرحمك‬ May Allah have mercy on you “bless
you”, same as the one above, and used
in the same situations.
Yahdikumu Allah wa
Yuslihu balakum.
‫بالكم‬ ‫يصلح‬ ‫و‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫يهديكم‬ May Allah guide you and set your
affairs right. This is used usually as an
answer to someone who said
“Rahimakallah” or “Yarhamuka Allah”
to you after you sneezed.
Enna lillah wa enna
elaihe Rajioun.
‫راجعون‬ ‫إليه‬ ‫إنا‬ ‫و‬ ‫هلل‬ ‫إنا‬ To Allah we belong, and to him we will
return. Usually used when you hear
someone died, or if you had a terrible
lost (financial or personal).
Astaghfiru lillah. ‫هللا‬ ‫أستغفر‬ I seek forgiveness from Allah.
Commonly used when you think you
did something wrong (a sin, cursed …).
Allahumma salli ala
Muhammad.
‫محمد‬ ‫على‬ ‫صلي‬ ‫اللهم‬ Oh Allah bestow your mercy on
Mohammed. A way to praise the
prophet (PBUH).
Assalamu Alaikom. ‫عليكم‬ ‫السالم‬ Peace be upon you. A way of greetings
used more widely and can be the
equivalent of “hi, hello, good morning/
afternoon/ evening, good-bye, bye …)
so it’s basically a way to greet and could
be used in farewells.
Assalamu Alaikom
warahmatu Allahi wa
barakatuhu.
‫السالم‬‫بركات‬ ‫و‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫رحمة‬ ‫و‬ ‫عليكم‬‫ه‬ Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy
and blessings. This is a full equivalent
of the above mentioned greeting
“Assalamu Alaikom”. If is considered to
be more polite and more rewarding to
use it.

3. Ash-hadu An laa Elaha
Ella Allah wa Ash-
hadu anna
Muhammadan Rasulu
Allah.
‫أن‬ ‫أشهد‬ ‫و‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫إال‬ ‫إله‬ ‫ال‬ ‫أن‬ ‫أشهد‬
‫هللا‬ ‫رسول‬ ‫محمد‬
I bear witness that there is no other God
but Allah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is the messenger of the
Allah. This one is called “shahadah”,
it’s one of the 5 main pillars of Islam,
and that’s the first step to converting to
Islam. Also used by Muslims to refresh
their belief, it’s recommended to use it
daily.
A-ozu billahi mena
shaitaan Arrajeem
‫الرجيم‬ ‫الشيطان‬ ‫من‬ ‫باهلل‬ ‫أعوذ‬ I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed
Satan “shaitan”. Used mainly when
feeling unsafe or before entering unsafe
places, or when scared by something (a
bad dream …).
Baraka Allahu fika ‫فيك‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫بارك‬ May Allah bestow his blessings on you.
Used to wish someone blessings from
Allah especially in return to a favor
done by that person, the equivalent to
“thank you very much”.
Tawakkalna ala Allah ‫هللا‬ ‫على‬ ‫توكلنا‬ I place my “absolute” trust on Allah.
Used before doing something, just like
“bismillah”, they can even be used
together. Used often when driving.
Ya Allah! ‫أهلل‬ ‫يا‬ Oh Allah! Usually to ask Allah
something. Sometimes used while doing
something, like when lifting something
heavy you say it to ask Allah for power,
or if you’re in pain and you ask Allah to
give you strength to bear that pain.
Ya Rab! ‫رب‬ ‫يا‬ Oh Allah! Used the same way as the one
above “Ya Allah”. No difference at all.
Allahu A’lam ‫أعلم‬ ‫هللا‬ Allah knows best. Said when not sure
about something, or simply don’t know,
could be the equivalent of “I don’t
know.” “is it going to rain tomorrow?” –
Allahu A’lam!
Jazaka Allahu Khairan ‫خيرا‬ ‫هللا‬ ‫جزاك‬ May Allah reward you with all good.
When someone does something good to
you (gives you something, helps you
with something …)