MashAllah and SubhanAllah

MashAllah
What Allah wishes
It is often used on occasions where there is a surprise in someone’s good deeds or achievements. For example, people say Mashallah when someone does very well in their exams.

SubhanAllah
Perfect Glory is to God or “Glorified is Allah”

AMEEN-
A supplication (dua) means, “O Allah, respond to (or answer) what we have said”.

ASSALAMU ALAYKUM
“Peace be upon you” the greeting of the Muslim [the reply is “Wa Alaikum 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 Allah”

the reply is “wa alaikumus salam wa rahmatulahi wa baakatuhu” ]

ALLAHU AKBAR
The Arabic expression means “Allah is greatest.” Also called the Takbir

ALLAHU ALEM
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”

AMMA BAAD
An expression used for separating an introductory from the main topics in a speech; the introductory is usually concerned with Allah’s praises and glorification. Literally, it means “whatever comes after”

ASTAGHFIRULLAH
The Arabic expression means “I ask forgiveness of Allah”

AUDHU BILLAHI MIN ASH SHAYTAN AR RAJIM
The Arabic expression means “I seek protection in Allah from the accursed satan”.

This phrase is often recited to ward away evil and before saying bismillah Rahman ar-Raheem before reading the Quran or other activities

AZZA WA JAL
A formula used after mentioning the name of Allah means “Mighty and Majestic is He”

BARAKALLAH FIK
An expression that means “May the blessings of Allah be upon you.”

When a Muslim 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 bismillah. “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 Allah’s protection”

It is used like a goodbye as used by English.

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”]

Giving sadaqah (charity) for the sake of Allah is known as sadaqah fee sabilillah as this act of charity is not required by Islam but it is only recommended. There is lots of thawab for this type of charity.

HADHRAT/HAZRAT
Literally “Presence”; a term of address roughly equivalent to “Your Honour”

HASBALA
The Arabic expression, “Hasbunallah wa nimalwakil” meaning “Allah is enough for us and an excellent guardian”. Usually known as “Hasbi Allah”

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 that a Muslim expresses when he is afflicted by 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 means “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”
To seek Allah’s forgiveness. It is something that must be done continuously in a Muslim life

ISTITHNA
Exception, saying “InshAllah”, “If Allah wills”

ITAQILLAH
The Arabic expression means “Fear Allah” – i.e. To fear doing something (i.e. a bad action), knowing that Allah is always watching.

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 favor. Instead of saying “shukran” (thanks), this phrase is used. It means “May Allah reward you with good”.

KARAM ALLAHU WAJHAHU
“May Allah honor him”, a formula used when Ali ibn Abi Talib (RadiAllahu Taala anhu) is mentioned

LABBAYK
“At your service”, the Talbiyah 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.

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 on a test, my mother would say MashAllah]

MALWANA
“Our master”, a term of respect
[usually used in the context of referring to the Prophet (PBUH) also however used in the context of referring to a learned individual e.g. scholar or imam]

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”

SALLAHU ALAYHI WA SALLAM
“May Allah bless him and grant him peace”, the formula was spoken after the mentioning of the Prophet Muhammed (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
“Allah heard him who send praise to Him”, said 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”, is a term of respect. Literally means “Lord” or “Master, or “Leader”
[usually used to refer to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) , however many people use it to refer to learned man/scholar. It is also frequently used to denote a descendant of the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)

SHUYUKH 
Majestic 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.

SUBHANALLAH
“Glorified is Allah.” To honor Allah and make Him free from all (unsuitable evil things) that are ascribed to Him, (or “Glorified be Allah”)

SUBHANAHU WA TAALA
“Glorified is He and exalted,” an expression that Muslims use when the name of Allah is pronounced or written
[This is usually abbreviated as (SWT)]

TAALA
“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” [is usually used in the context of when one hears good news]

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 begins with “radiyallahu….”

TASBIH
Glorification, saying “SubhanAllah”, which means “Glory be to Allah”

TASHMIT
Uttering a prayer for the sneezer which this 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.”]

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 Allah”, meaning for the sake of Allah, irrespective of any reward in this life, purely for Allah”

ZAWIYA 
Lodge of religious order or fraternity.