Aug 15 2008
Islamic Expressions Vocabulary
ALAYHIS SALAAM-
‘Peace be upon him’, generally used after the name of a Prophet.
AMEEN-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘Please accept.’ Used at the end of prayers and supplictions.
ASSALAAMU ALAYKUM-
The Islamic greeting which means ‘Peace be upon you’. The reply is ‘Wa alaikumus salaam’ which means ‘and peace be upon you’. The fuller version reads, ‘Assalam u alaikum wa rahmatulahe wa barkaatuhu’ which means ‘Peace be upon you and the blessings and mercy of Allaah’, the reply is ‘Wa alaikumus salaam wa rahmatulahe wa baakatuhu’.
ALLAAHU AKBAR-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘Allaah is greatest.’ Also called the Takbir.
ALLAAHU ALAM-
An Arabic expression meaning ‘Allaah knows best’
AL HAMDU LILAH WA SHUKRU LILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning which means ‘Praise belongs to Allaah and all thanks to Allaah’
AMMA BAAD-
An expression used for separating an introductory from the main topics in a speech; the introductory being usually concerned with praises and glorification of Allaah. Literally it means ‘whatever comes after’.
ASTAGFURALLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘I ask forgiveness of Allaah’.
AUUZU BILLAHI MIN ASH SHAYTAN AR RAJIM-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘I seek protection in Allaah from the accursed satan’.
AZZA WA JAL-
A formula used after the mentioning the name of Allaah meaning ‘Mighty and Majestic is He’.
BARAKALLAAH-
An expression which means ‘May the blessings of Allaah be upon you.’ When a muslims wants to thank another person, he uses different statements to express his thanks, appreciation and gratitude. One of them is BarakAllaah
BISMILLAH AR RAHMAN AR RAHIM-
‘In the Name of Allaah, the All Merciful, the All Compassionate.’ This is also translated as, ‘In the Name of Allaah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
FI AMANALLAH-
Valedictory phrase meaning ‘In Allaah’s protection’.
FI SABILILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘In the way of Allaah’, ‘For the cause of Allaah’, also used to mean ‘For the love of Allaah’.
HAZRAT-
Literally ‘Presence’; a term of address roughly equivalent to ‘Your Honour’.
HASBALA-
The Arabic expression, ‘Hasbunallah wa nimalwakil’ meaning ‘Allaah is enough for us and an excellent Guardian’.
HAWQALA-
The Arabic expression, ‘La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah’ which means ‘There is no power nor strength save (expect) by Allaah’.
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAJIUN-
An expression used when afflicted by a misfortune, the meaning of which is ‘To Allaah we belong and to Him is our return’.
INSHALLAAH-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘If Allaah wills’.
ISTIGHFAR-
To ask the forgiveness of Allaah, especially by saying, Astagfuralah, ‘I seek the forgiveness of Allaah’.
ISTITHNA-
Exception, saying ‘InshAllaah’, ‘If Allah wills’.
ITAQILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning ‘Fear Allaah’ - i.e. To fear to do something (i.e. a bad action), knowing that Allaah is always watching.
JALLA JALALUH-
The formula said after the name of Allaah meaning ‘Great is His Majesty’.
JAZAKALLAHU KHAIRAN-
This is a statement of thanks and appreciation to be said to a person who does a favour. Instead of saying ’shukran’ (thanks), this phrase is used. It means ‘May Allaah reward you with good’.
KARAM ALLAHU WAJHAHU-
‘May Allaah honour him’, a formula used when Ali ibn Abi Talib (RadiAllahu Ta’ala anhu) is mentioned.
LABBAYK-
‘At your service’, the talbiya or call of the pilgrim to his Lord in the Hajj. The full talbiya is ‘LabbaykAllaah huma Labbayk, LabbaykAllaah sharee kalala Labbayk, innal hamda, wa naimata lakawulmulk la shareekala’ which means “Here I am Oh Allaah, here I am, Oh Allaah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partner”.
LA HAWLA WALA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH-
The meaning of this expression is ‘There is no power nor strength save in Allaah’. Usually said when is struck with calamity, or is taken over by a situation beyond his control.
LI WAJHILLAH-
Literally, ‘For the face of Allaah’, meaning in order to obtain the pleasure of Allaah, purely for Allaah himself.
MA SALAMA-
‘Wih peace’, a formula for ending letters.
MASHALLAH-
A phrase literally meaning ‘What Allaah wishes’, and it indicates a good omen.
MALWANA-
‘Our master’, a term of respect.
RABBANA WA LAKAL HAMD-
‘Our Lord, Praise is Yours’, said after rising from ruku after saying ‘Sami Allaahuliman hamidah’ (which means ‘Allaah listens to the one who praises him’).
RADIYALLAHU ANHA-
The formula ‘May Allaah be pleased with her’ used after a female companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It is usually abbreviated as RA or RAA.
RADIYALLAHU ANHU-
This expression means ‘May Allah be pleased with him’ used after a male companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It is usually abbreviated as RA or RAA.
RADIYALLAHU ANHUM-
The formula, ‘May Allah be pleased with them’, used after a group of companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). It is usually abbreviated as RA or RAA.
RAHIMAHULLAH-
The formula, ‘May Allaah have mercy on him’.
SALLAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM-
‘May Allaah bless him and grant him peace’, the formula spoken after the mentioning of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Usually the following two sets of abbreviations are used for this phrase “PBUH” which means ‘Peace Be Upon Him’ and is the technical reply for all Prophets or “SAWS” the correct suffix when referring to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
SAMI ALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDAH-
‘Allaah heard him who send praise to Him’, said by someone praying when he rises from ruku (unless he is following an imam in prayer; if he is following an imam in prayer he says ‘Rabana wala kalhamd’ only).
SAYYIDUNA-
‘Our Master’, a term of respect. Literally means ‘Lord’ or ‘Master, or ‘Leader’, usually used to refer to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
SHUYUKH-
Magestic plural of Shaykh, literally meaning ‘Old man’ - an honorific title widely used to denote scholars, as well as tribal chieftians and notables.
SIDI-
Colloquial for ‘Sayyidi’ or ‘Sayyiduna’ - My ‘Lord/Master/Leader’ - an honorific term - especially popular in North Africa.
SUBHANALLAAH-
‘Glorified is Allaah’ (or ‘Glorified be Allaah’) To honour Allaah and make Him free from all (unsuitable evil things) that are ascribed to Him.
SUBHANAHU WA TA’ALA-
‘Glorified is He and Exalted,’ an expression used when the name of Allaah is pronounced or written and is usually abbreviated as ‘SWT’.
TA’ALA-
‘Exalted is He’, an expression used after the name of Allaah is mentioned.
TAAWWUDH-
Saying, ‘I seek refuge in Allaah…’ (audhu billahi minash shaitan nirajeem).
TABARAKALLAAH-
The formula ‘Blessed is Allaah’ (usually used in the context of when one hears good news).
TAHMID-
Saying the expression ‘Alhamdulillah’, which means ‘Praise belongs to Allaah’.
TALBIYA-
Saying ‘Labbayk’, which means ‘At your service’ during the Hajj.
TAMJID-
Glorifying Allaah.
TARDIYA-
Saying one of the expressions which begin with ‘radiyallahu….’
TASBIH-
Glorification, saying ‘SubhanAllaah’, which means ‘Glory be to Allaah’.
TASHMIT-
Uttering a prayer for the sneezer which is, ‘Yarhamuk Allaah’ which means ‘May Allaah have mercy on you’ [when a person sneezes he says, 'Ahamdulillah' (Praise be to Allah), a person who hears the sneeze says 'Yarhamuk Allaah' and the sneezer replies 'Yahdikumul-lah wa Yuslih balakum' which means 'May Allaah give you guidance and improve your condition.']
ULAMA-
Scholars, or learned men. Especially applied to religious scholars, but often used also for those learned in other branches of knowledge.
WAJHULLAH-
‘The face of Allaah’, meaning for the sake of Allaah, irrespective of any reward in this life, purely for Allaah’.
ZAWIYA-
Lodge of religious order or fraternity.