are a number of different collections of Islamic terms and common expressions.
Here is a collection that I have found to be most useful to explain common
expressions and terminology used by Muslims.
'Peace be upon him', a formula used after the name of a prophet
The Arabic expression meaning 'Please accept.' Used at the end of prayers and
'Peace be upon you' the greeting of the muslim
[the reply is 'wa alaikumus salam' which means 'and peace be upon you. The
fuller version reads, 'assalam u alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa baakatuhu' which
means 'peace be upon you and the blessings and mercy of Alllah' the reply is
'wa alaikumus salam wa rahmatulahi wa baakatuhu']
The Arabic expression meaning 'Allah is greater.' Also called the takbir
An Arabic expression meaning 'Allah knows best'
AL HAMDU LILAH WA SHUKRU LILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning which means 'Praise belongs to Allah and all
thanks to Allah'
An expression used for separating an introductory from the main topics in a
speech; the introductory being usually concerned with Allahs praises and
glorification. Literally it means 'whatever comes after'
The Arabic expression meaning 'I ask forgiveness of Allah'
AUDHU BILLAHI MIN ASH SHAYTAN AR RAJIM-
The Arabic expression meaning 'I seek protection in Allah from the accursed
AZZA WA JAL-
A formula used after the mentioning the name of Allah meaning 'Mighty and
Majestic is He'
An expression which means 'May the blessings of Allah 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 BarakAllah
BISMILLAH AR RAHMAN AR RAHIM-
The basmala. 'In the name of Allah, the all Merciful the all Compassionate.'
[this is also translated as in the name of Allah most gracious most merciful]
Valedictory phrase meaning 'In Allahs protection'
The Arabic expression meaning 'In the way of Allah', 'For the cause of Allah'
[also used to mean 'for the love of Allah']
Literally 'Presence'; a term of address roughly equivalent to 'Your Honour'
The Arabic expression, 'Hasbunallah wa nimalwakil' meaning 'Allah is enough for
us and an excellent guardian'. Usually known as 'Hasbi Allah'
The Arabic expression, 'la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' which means 'There
is no power nor strength save (expect) by Allah'
INNA LILLAHI WA INNA ILAYHI RAJIUN-
This is something which a muslim expresses when he is afflicted by a
misfortune, the meaning of which is 'We are from Allah and to Him are we
returning.' It is taken from an ayat (verse) from the Quran (ch 2 vs 156).
[this is usually said upon hearing of the death of an individual]
The Arabic expression meaning 'If Allah wills'
[this is usually said when referring to a situation in the future e.g.
inshAllah I will go to the grocery shop tomorrow etc]
To ask the forgiveness of Allah, especially by saying, Astagfuralah, 'I seek
the forgiveness of Allah'
Exception, saying 'InshAllah', 'If Allah wills'
The Arabic expression meaning 'Fear Allah' - i.e. To fear to do something (i.e.
a bad action), knowing that Allah is always watching.
The formula said after the name of Allah meaning 'Great is His Majesty'
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 Allah reward you with good.
KARAM ALLAHU WAJHAHU-
'May Allah honour him', a formula used when Ali ibn Abi Talib (RadiAllahu
Ta'ala anhu) is mentioned
'At your service', the talbiya or call of the pilgrim to his Lord in the hajj.
[the full talbiya is 'LabbaykAllah huma Labbayk, LabbaykAllah sharee kalala Labbayk,
innal hamda, wa naimata lakawulmulk la shareekala' which means "Here I am
O Lord, here I am, Oh Allah, 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
LA HAWLA WALA QUWWATA ILLA BILLAH-
The meaning of this expression is 'There is no power nor strength save in
Allah'. This is said by a muslim when he is struck with calamity, or is taken
over by a situation beyond his control.
Literally, 'For the face of Allah', meaning in order to obtain the pleasure of
Allah, purely for Allah himself.
'With peace', a formula for ending letters
A phrase literally meaning 'What Allah wishes', and it indicates a good omen
[example of usage, I get an A in a test, my mother would say MashAllah]
'Our master', a term of respect
[usually used in the context of referring to the Prophet ,
also however used in the context of referring to a learned individual e.g.
scholar or imam, a concept I am not too keen on supporting and Allah knows
RABBANA WA LAKAL_HAMD-
'Our Lord, Praise if yours', said after rising from ruku after saying 'sami
[which means 'Allah listens to the one who praises him']
The formula 'May Allah be pleased with her' used after a female companion
[usually abbreviated as RA or RAA]
This is an expression to be used by muslims whenever a name of a companion of
the Prophet Muhammed is mentioned or used in writing. IT means 'May Allah be
pleased with him'
[usually abbreviated as RA or RAA]
The formula, 'May Allah be pleased with them', used after a group of companions
[usually abbreviated as RA or RAA]
The formula, 'May Allah have mercy on him'
SALLAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM-
'May Allah bless him and grant him peace', the formula spoken after the
mentioning of the Prophet Muhammed
[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 ]
SAMI ALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDAH-
'Allah 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]
'Our Master', a term of respect. Literally means 'Lord' or 'Master, or 'Leader'
[usually used to refer to the Prophet Muhammed ,
however many people use it to refer to learned man / scholar, a practise I am
not keen on - and Allah knows best]. It is also frequently used to denote a
descendant of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
Magestic plural of Shaykh, literally meaning 'Old man' - an honorific title
widely used to denote scholars, as well as tribal chieftians and notables.
Colloquial for 'Sayyidi' or 'Sayyiduna' - My 'Lord/Master/Leader' - an honorific
term - especially popular in North Africa.
'Glorified is Allah.' To honour Allah andmake Him free from all (unsuitable
evil things) that are ascribed to Him, (or 'Glorified be Allah')
SUBHANAHU WA TA'ALA-
'Glorified is He and exalted,' an expression that muslims use when the name of
Allah is pronounced or written
[this us usually abbreviated as (swt)]
'Exalted is He', an expression used after the name of Allah is mentioned
[i.e. Allah Ta'ala meaning, Allah, exalted be He]
Saying, 'I seek refuge in Allah...' (audhu billahi minash shaitan nirajeem)
The formula 'Blessed is Allah' [usually used in the context of when one hears
Saying the expression 'alhamdulillah', which means 'Praise belongs to Allah'
Saying 'Allahu akbar', which means 'Allah is Great'
Saying 'Labbayk', which means 'At your service' during the hajj
Saying one of the expressions which begin with 'radiyallahu....'
Glorification, saying 'SubhanAllah', which means 'Glory be to Allah'
Uttering a prayer for the sneezer which thes the form, 'yarhamuk Allah' which
means 'may Allah have mercy on you'
[when a person sneezes he says, Ahamdulillah (Praise be to Allah), a person who
hears the sneeze says 'yarhamuk Allah' and the sneezer replies 'Yahdikumul-lah
wa Yuslih balakum' which means 'May Allah give you guidance and improve your
Scholars, or learned men. Especially applied to religious scholars, but often
used also for those learned in other branches of knowledge.
'The face of Allah', meaning for the sake of Allah, irrespective of any reward
in this life, purely for Allah'
Lodge of religious order or fraternity.