Expressions
From 'Glossary of Islamic Terms'
By Aisha Bewley
There 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.
ALAYHIS
SALAM-
'Peace be upon him', a formula used after the name of a prophet
ALLAHU AKBAR-
The Arabic expression meaning 'Allah is greater.' Also called the
takbir
ALLAHU ALAM-
An Arabic expression meaning 'Allah knows best'
AMMA BAAD-
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'
ASTAGFURALLAH-
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 satan.'
AZZA WA JAL-
A formula used after the mentioning the name of Allah meaning
'Mighty and Majestic is He'
BARAKALLAH FIK-
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]
FI AMANALLAH-
Valedictory phrase meaning 'In Allahs protection'
FI SABILILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning 'In the way of Allah', 'For the
cause of Allah' [also used to mean 'for the love of Allah']
AL HAMDU LILAH WA SHUKRU LILLAH-
The Arabic expression meaning which means 'Praise belongs to
Allah and all thanks to Allah'
HASBALA-
The Arabic expression, 'Hasbunallah wa nimalwakil' meaning 'Allah
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 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]
INSHALLAH-
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]
ISTIGHFAR-
To ask the forgiveness of Allah, especially by saying,
Astagfuralah, 'I seek the forgiveness of Allah'
ISTITHNA-
Exception, saying 'InshAllah', 'If Allah wills'
JALLA JALALUH-
The formula said after the name of Allah 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 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
LABBAYK-
'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 partner."]
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.
LI WAJHILLAH-
Literally, 'For the face of Allah', meaning in order to obtain
the pleasure of Allah, purely for Allah himself.
MA SALAMA-
'With peace', a formula for ending letters
MASHALLAH-
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]
MALWANA
'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 best]
RABBANA WA LAKAL_HAMD-
'Our Lord, Praise if yours', said after rising from ruku after
saying 'sami Allahuliman hamidah'
[which means 'Allah listens to the one who praises him']
RADIYALLAHU ANHA-
The formula 'May Allah be pleased with her' used after a female
companion
[usually abbreviated as RA or RAA]
RADIYALLAHU ANHU-
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]
RADIYALLAHU ANHUM-
The formula, 'May Allah be pleased with them', used after a group
of companions
[usually abbreviated as RA or RAA]
RAHIMAHULLAH-
The formula, 'May Allah have mercy on him'
ASSALAMU ALAYKUM
'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']
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]
SAYYIDUNA-
'Our Master', a term of respect
[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]
SUBHANALLAH-
'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)]
TA'ALA-
'Exalted is He', an expression used after the name of Allah is
mentioned
[i.e. Allah Ta'ala meaning, Allah, exalted be He]
TAAWWUDH-
Saying, 'I seek refuge in Allah...' (audhu billahi minash shaitan
nirajeem)
TABARAKALLAH-
The formula 'Blessed is Allah'
TAHMID-
Saying the expression 'alhamdulillah', which means 'Praise
belongs to Allah'
TAKBIR-
Saying 'Allahu akbar', which means 'Allah is Great'
TALBIYA-
Saying 'Labbayk', which means 'At your service' during the hajj
TAMJID-
Glorifying Allah
TARDIYA-
Saying one of the expressions which begin with 'radiyallahu....'
TASBIH-
Glorification, saying 'SubhanAllah', which means 'Glory be to
Allah'
TASHMIT -
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 condition.']
WAJHULLAH -
'The face of Allah', meaning for the sake of Allah, irrespective
of any reward in this life, purely for Allah'