The words you'll hear everywhere

As-salāmu ʿalaykum

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ

Peace be upon you, the universal Muslim greeting.

Say it: As-salāmu ʿalaykum

You'll hear it: Any time Muslims meet, part, answer the phone, or walk into a room. It is also how the prayer itself ends.

How to respond: Wa ʿalaykum as-salām, 'and upon you be peace.' Returning it more fully (wa raḥmatu-llāhi wa barakātuh, 'and Allah's mercy and blessings') is even better.

Inshallah

إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ

If Allah wills, said about anything in the future.

Say it: In shāʾ Allāh

You'll hear it: Attached to nearly every future plan: 'See you at jummah, inshallah.' Sometimes it carries a gentle 'hopefully' or even 'we'll see.'

Alhamdulillah

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

All praise is due to Allah, gratitude, in one word.

Say it: Al-ḥamdu li-llāh

You'll hear it: As the answer to 'how are you?', after finishing a meal, after sneezing, and at any good news, or hard news accepted with patience.

How to respond: If someone sneezes and says it, reply Yarḥamuka-llāh, 'may Allah have mercy on you.'

Mashallah

مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ

What Allah has willed, appreciation that credits Allah for something good.

Say it: Mā shāʾ Allāh

You'll hear it: Said over children, achievements, good health, a new home, appreciation with a wish of protection for it, not envy.

Subhanallah

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ

Glory be to Allah, wonder or amazement.

Say it: Subḥāna-llāh

You'll hear it: At anything striking, a sunset, a coincidence, surprising news. Also repeated in the remembrances after prayer.

Allahu akbar

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allah is the Greatest.

Say it: Allāhu akbar

You'll hear it: In the call to prayer, at every change of position in the prayer, and in everyday moments of joy or awe, for the vast majority of Muslims it is a phrase of worship and delight, nothing else.

Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

In the name of Allah, said before beginning something.

Say it: Bismi-llāh

You'll hear it: Before eating, driving, starting work, or any undertaking, a one-word way of doing things consciously.

Jazakallah khair

جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا

May Allah reward you with good, the fuller Muslim thank-you.

Say it: Jazāka-llāhu khayran

You'll hear it: Anywhere 'thank you' fits, especially for favors and help. To a woman: jazāki-llāhu khayran; to a group: jazākumu-llāhu khayran.

How to respond: Wa iyyāk, 'and you too' (wa iyyākum to a group).

Astaghfirullah

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

I seek Allah's forgiveness.

Say it: Astaghfiru-llāh

You'll hear it: After a slip or a sharp word, on hearing something wrong, or simply as a habit of the tongue, Muslims say it dozens of times a day without any drama attached.

Wallahi

وَاللَّهِ

By Allah, a genuine oath, not a casual emphasis.

Say it: Wa-llāhi

You'll hear it: In conversation to swear something is true. Islam takes oaths by Allah seriously, so it is better heard than imitated until it would be meant fully.

Akhi / Ukhti

أَخِي / أُخْتِي

My brother / my sister, how Muslims address each other.

Say it: Akhī / Ukhtī

You'll hear it: Everywhere: 'akhi, over here.' Being called brother or sister from day one is not a formality, the community means it.

Deen

دِين

Religion, but wider: the whole way of life Islam describes.

Say it: Dīn

You'll hear it: 'Good for your deen,' 'balancing deen and dunya', practicing Islam as a lived path, not just beliefs.

Dunya

دُنْيَا

This world and its life, as opposed to the hereafter.

Say it: Dunyā

You'll hear it: Usually paired against the akhirah (hereafter): 'don't let the dunya consume you.' Not a condemnation of the world, a matter of proportion.

Ummah

أُمَّة

The worldwide community of Muslims.

Say it: Ummah

You'll hear it: 'The ummah' in khutbahs and conversations about Muslims globally, the family you joined, nearly two billion strong.

Halal

حَلَال

Permissible under Islamic law.

Say it: Ḥalāl

You'll hear it: Most often about food, halal meat, halal restaurants, but it applies to income, dealings, anything: 'is it halal?' just means 'is it allowed?'

Haram

حَرَام

Forbidden under Islamic law.

Say it: Ḥarām

You'll hear it: The opposite of halal, pork, alcohol, interest are the classic examples. Also colloquially: 'haram!' as a wince at something clearly wrong.

Makruh

مَكْرُوه

Disliked, discouraged but not sinful.

Say it: Makrūh

You'll hear it: In fiqh discussions: between halal and haram sit shades like makruh. Knowing the word saves confusion when an answer isn't a flat yes or no.

Fard

فَرْض

Obligatory, a required act of worship.

Say it: Farḍ

You'll hear it: 'The five daily prayers are fard.' You may also hear wājib, which most scholars use nearly interchangeably.

Sunnah

سُنَّة

The Prophet's ﷺ example, and acts that are recommended, not required.

Say it: Sunnah

You'll hear it: Two related uses: 'the Sunnah' (his teachings and practice as a whole) and 'it's sunnah' (rewarded if done, no sin if left, like the extra rakʿahs around the fard prayers).

Bid'ah

بِدْعَة

Innovation in religion, introducing into worship what wasn't taught.

Say it: Bidʿah

You'll hear it: In debates about practices, sometimes heatedly. Scholars agree innovation in worship is to be avoided and differ on where the line sits, treat it as a term to understand, not a label to deploy.

Jummah

جُمُعَة

Friday, and the Friday congregational prayer.

Say it: Jumuʿah

You'll hear it: 'Jummah mubarak' on Fridays, and 'are you going to jummah?', the weekly congregational prayer that replaces Dhuhr, with a sermon (khutbah) before it.

Iftar

إِفْطَار

The sunset meal that breaks the day's fast.

Say it: Ifṭār

You'll hear it: All through Ramadan: 'come for iftar' is one of the warmest invitations in Muslim life, mosques host open iftars most nights.

Suhoor

سُحُور

The pre-dawn meal before a day of fasting.

Say it: Suḥūr

You'll hear it: In Ramadan: 'don't skip suhoor.' Eaten before Fajr comes in, even a few dates and water carry the sunnah's blessing.

Eid Mubarak

عِيد مُبَارَك

Blessed Eid, the greeting of the two Eid festivals.

Say it: ʿĪd mubārak

You'll hear it: On Eid al-Fitr (after Ramadan) and Eid al-Adha (during the pilgrimage season), with hugs, sweets, and phone calls home.

How to respond: Return it: 'Eid Mubarak!' Many add taqabbala-llāhu minnā wa minkum, 'may Allah accept from us and from you.'

Rahimahullah

رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ

May Allah have mercy on him, said of someone who has died.

Say it: Raḥimahu-llāh

You'll hear it: After mentioning a deceased scholar, relative, or friend. For a woman: raḥimahā-llāh. It keeps the dead present in kindness rather than silence.

ﷺ, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, said after the Prophet Muhammad's name.

Say it: Ṣalla-llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam

You'll hear it: Every time the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned; the ﷺ symbol you see in writing (including on this site) is this phrase in Arabic calligraphy. In English you'll also see 'peace be upon him' (PBUH).