Supplication and remembrance (dua and dhikr)

As-salamu alaykum

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ

Meaning

Peace be upon you.

When to say it

When you meet a Muslim, arrive at the masjid, enter a home or start a phone call.

The replyWording from the Quran or hadith

Wa alaykum as-salam (and upon you be peace). You can add wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (and the mercy of Allah and His blessings).

The Quran asks you to answer a greeting with a better one or at least the same. A hadith in Abu Dawud gives more reward for each fuller form.

Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Meaning

In the name of Allah.

When to say it

Before eating, before wudu, and before starting a task.

The Prophet told a boy at his table to mention Allah's name before eating.

In sha Allah

إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Meaning

If Allah wills.

When to say it

When you speak about something you plan to do: "See you tomorrow, in sha Allah."

The Quran teaches it for plans. It is recommended, not required, and if you forget you can say it when you remember. Some people use it as a soft "maybe". That is a habit, not its meaning, so say it when you really intend to do the thing.

Ma sha Allah

مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Meaning

This is what Allah has willed.

When to say it

When you see or hear something good: a new baby, a new home, someone's progress.

The words come from Quran 18:39, which goes on: la quwwata illa billah (there is no power except with Allah). For bad news, use inna lillahi instead.

Alhamdulillah

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

Meaning

All praise belongs to Allah.

When to say it

To give thanks, to answer "How are you?", and after you sneeze.

SubhanAllah

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

Meaning

Glory be to Allah.

When to say it

As remembrance at any time, including after prayer. Many people also say it when something amazes them.

Astaghfirullah

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

Meaning

I ask Allah's forgiveness.

When to say it

After a slip, when you realise you did something wrong, or as daily remembrance.

The Prophet asked for forgiveness more than seventy times a day, so saying it is a normal habit, not an admission of something terrible.

Wallahi

وَاللَّهِ

Meaning

By Allah. It is an oath, like saying "I swear by Allah."

When to say it

When someone wants you to know they mean it: "Wallahi, I didn't know."

Because it is an oath, keep it for when you really mean it, and swear only by Allah, never by anyone or anything else. The Quran says Allah does not hold you to account for unintentional oaths, but the schools differ on which casual oaths count as unintentional, so ask a teacher if you are unsure. If you break a real oath to do or not do something, the expiation (kaffarah) is to feed or clothe ten poor people, or to fast three days if you cannot.

Jazak Allahu khayran

جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا

Meaning

May Allah reward you with good.

When to say it

To thank someone who has helped you or done you a favour.

The replyCommon courtesy, not a Sunnah text

Wa iyyak or wa iyyakum (and you too), or wa antum fa jazakumullahu khayran (and may Allah reward you too).

A hadith in at-Tirmidhi calls these words the fullest way to thank someone. It is graded hasan.

Barak Allahu fik

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ

Meaning

May Allah bless you.

When to say it

To thank or encourage someone.

The replyCommon courtesy, not a Sunnah text

Wa fik (and you).

The words are close to the blessing the Prophet gave at weddings (see the wedding card below). The short reply is common courtesy.

Yarhamuk Allah (after a sneeze)

يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ

Meaning

May Allah have mercy on you.

When to say it

When someone near you sneezes and says Alhamdulillah.

The replyWording from the Quran or hadith

The person who sneezed answers: Yahdikumullah wa yuslihu balakum (may Allah guide you and set your affairs right).

All three lines come from one hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari.

Ameen

آمِين

Meaning

O Allah, answer.

When to say it

After someone makes a dua, and in congregational prayer when the imam finishes Al-Fatihah and says Ameen.

Two hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim tell people praying behind the imam to say Ameen when he says it. If you have questions about saying it in your own prayer, ask a teacher.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ

Meaning

Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will return.

When to say it

When you hear of a death or any loss, large or small.

The words are from Quran 2:156. A hadith in Sahih Muslim adds a short dua: Allahumma'jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha (O Allah, reward me for my loss and give me something better).

Inna lillahi ma akhadha (comforting someone who is grieving)

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى

Meaning

What Allah takes is His, and what He gives is His. Everything with Him has its set time.

When to say it

To comfort someone after a death.

The Prophet sent these words to his daughter when her child was dying, with the advice to be patient and hope for reward. He wept himself, and called his tears mercy. Saying "I am so sorry" and sitting with the family is also right.

La ba's, tahurun in sha Allah (visiting someone who is ill)

لَا بَأْسَ طَهُورٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

Meaning

No harm, it is a purification, if Allah wills. This is a literal rendering; Sunnah.com's translation reads "No harm will befall you! May Allah cure you!"

When to say it

When you visit someone who is sick.

Astawdi'ullaha dinaka (saying goodbye to a traveller)

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ

Meaning

I entrust to Allah your religion, what you are trusted with, and the last of your deeds.

When to say it

When someone is setting off on a journey.

The full phrase is Astawdi'ullaha dinaka wa amanataka wa khawatima 'amalik. A hadith in at-Tirmidhi, graded hasan, reports the Prophet saying it.

Barak Allahu laka wa baraka 'alayka (at a wedding)

بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ

Meaning

May Allah bless you, send blessings on you, and bring the two of you together in goodness.

When to say it

To congratulate someone who has just married.

The full phrase ends wa jama'a baynakuma fi khayr. It is the Prophet's own congratulation, in a hadith in Abu Dawud graded sahih.

Eid mubarak, or Taqabbal Allahu minna wa minkum

تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْ

Meaning

Blessed Eid. May Allah accept from us and from you.

When to say it

On the days of Eid.

The replyCommon courtesy, not a Sunnah text

The same words back, or Eid mubarak.

The Companions greeted each other on Eid with "May Allah accept from us and from you", and any good greeting, including Eid mubarak, is fine. People also say taqabbal Allah (may Allah accept) after someone prays, fasts or gives charity, as a kind wish.

Sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

Meaning

May Allah send blessings and peace on him. In English, "peace be upon him".

When to say it

When you say, hear or read the name of the Prophet Muhammad.

The Quran tells believers to send blessings and peace on the Prophet. The questions and answers page explains the short forms such as SAW and PBUH.