6 supplications
Everyday Islamic Phrases
Islam fills the smallest moments of daily life with words of remembrance. These short phrases are among the most used by Muslims everywhere.
The greeting of peace
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. The full greeting earns thirty good deeds; the reply is “wa ‘alaykumus-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh”.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
When sneezing
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ — فَيَقُولُ لَهُ أَخُوهُ: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ — فَيَقُولُ: يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
Al-hamdu lillah — Yarhamukallah — Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum.
The one who sneezes says: Praise be to Allah. The one who hears says: May Allah have mercy on you. And he replies: May Allah guide you and set your affairs right.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
When angry
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim.
I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the accursed. “I know a word which, if he said it, what he feels would go away.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Thanking someone
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Jazakallahu khayra.
May Allah reward you with good. “Whoever says it to the one who did him a favour has praised him perfectly.”
Source: Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Good news and bad news
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ — وَفِيمَا يَكْرَهُ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi bi-ni‘matihi tatimmus-salihat — Al-hamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal.
Praise be to Allah, by whose grace good things are completed. For what one dislikes: Praise be to Allah in every circumstance.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
At the end of a gathering
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bi-hamdik, ashhadu an la ilaha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise; I bear witness that there is no god but You; I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You. It expiates what was said in the gathering.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Small words with great reward
When someone sneezes and says “Alhamdulillah”, the listener replies “Yarhamukallah” and he answers “Yahdikumullahu wa yuslihu balakum” (al-Bukhari). When yawning, one covers the mouth (Muslim). Greeting with salam spreads love: “Shall I tell you something which, if you do it, you will love one another? Spread the salam among you” (Muslim).
Everyday manners as worship
These small manners turn daily relations into worship: the greeting is a prayer for safety, the reply to a sneeze is a prayer for mercy, and thanking with “Jazakallahu khayran” is a prayer for good; whoever says it to his brother has praised him fully (at-Tirmidhi).
Among the manners of gatherings: greeting on arriving and leaving, sitting where the circle ends, not making someone leave his place, not whispering between two while a third is left out, and remembering Allah, for no people sit in a gathering without remembering Allah and sending blessings on their Prophet but it becomes a regret for them (at-Tirmidhi). Then the gathering is closed with its expiation.
Practical tips
- Reply to every sneeze that is followed by Alhamdulillah.
- Be the first to greet, even people you do not know.
- Say “Jazakallahu khayran” to thank people.
- Close every meeting with the expiation of the gathering.
- Cover your mouth when yawning and avoid loud yawns.
Everyday Islamic Phrases: questions and answers
What is the expiation of a gathering?
Before leaving a gathering, say: “Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise; I bear witness that there is no god but You; I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.” What was said in it is forgiven (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi).