14 supplications
Islamic Words for Social Moments
Islam colours ordinary social moments with remembrance. A smile, a compliment, a rumour, a sneeze, a friend’s new clothes or a bride’s arrival each has words from the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions that turn courtesy into worship.
On being amazed
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ! — اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ!
Subhanallah! — Allahu akbar!
Glory be to Allah! Allah is the greatest! The Prophet ﷺ said subhanallah or Allahu akbar at what amazed him.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
When praising someone
أَحْسِبُ فُلَانًا وَاللَّهُ حَسِيبُهُ، وَلَا أُزَكِّي عَلَى اللَّهِ أَحَدًا
Ahsibu fulanan wallahu hasibuh, wa la uzakki ‘alallahi ahada.
I consider him so, and Allah is his reckoner, and I do not declare anyone pure before Allah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
When you are praised
اللَّهُمَّ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا يَقُولُونَ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي مَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي خَيْرًا مِمَّا يَظُنُّونَ
Allahumma la tu’akhidhni bima yaqulun, waghfir li ma la ya‘lamun, waj‘alni khayran mimma yadhunnun.
O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what they say, forgive me what they do not know and make me better than they think.
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad of al-Bukhari
Against bad omens
اللَّهُمَّ لَا طَيْرَ إِلَّا طَيْرُكَ، وَلَا خَيْرَ إِلَّا خَيْرُكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Allahumma la tayra illa tayruk, wa la khayra illa khayruk, wa la ilaha ghayruk.
O Allah, there is no omen except Your decree, no good except Your good, and no god but You.
Source: Musnad Ahmad
On hearing slander
سُبْحَانَكَ هَٰذَا بُهْتَانٌ عَظِيمٌ
Subhanaka hadha buhtanun ‘adhim.
Glory be to You! This is a great slander. What believers should have said on hearing the false accusation.
Source: Qur’an 24:16
Telling someone you love them for Allah
إِنِّي أُحِبُّكَ فِي اللَّهِ
Inni uhibbuka fillah.
I love you for the sake of Allah. “If one of you loves his brother, let him tell him.”
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud
When someone prays for you in your absence
آمِينَ، وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ
Amin, wa laka bi-mithl.
Amin, and the same for you. The angel says it over a du‘a made for an absent brother.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Answering a non-Muslim’s greeting
وَعَلَيْكُمْ
Wa ‘alaykum.
And upon you. The reply the Prophet ﷺ taught to the greeting of the People of the Book.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Ibn ‘Umar’s reply after sneezing
يَرْحَمُنَا اللَّهُ وَإِيَّاكُمْ، وَيَغْفِرُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ
Yarhamunallahu wa iyyakum, wa yaghfiru lana wa lakum.
May Allah have mercy on us and on you, and forgive us and you.
Source: al-Muwatta’ of Malik
Entering an empty house
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin.
Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. Reported from Ibn ‘Umar.
Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad of al-Bukhari; al-Muwatta’ of Malik
To someone in new clothes
الْبَسْ جَدِيدًا، وَعِشْ حَمِيدًا، وَمُتْ شَهِيدًا
Ilbas jadidan, wa ‘ish hamidan, wa mut shahida.
Wear new, live praiseworthy and die a martyr. Said by the Prophet ﷺ to ‘Umar.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
The Companions’ wish for new clothes
تُبْلِي وَيُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى
Tubli wa yukhlifullahu ta‘ala.
May you wear it out and may Allah give you another.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud
Welcoming the bride
عَلَى الْخَيْرِ وَالْبَرَكَةِ، وَعَلَى خَيْرِ طَائِرٍ
‘Alal-khayri wal-barakah, wa ‘ala khayri ta’ir.
With good and blessing, and with the best of fortune. Said by the women of the Ansar to ‘A’ishah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari
Speech that builds
The Prophet ﷺ disliked exaggerated praise to someone’s face and taught to say “I consider him so, and Allah is his reckoner” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). When praised, Abu Bakr asked Allah to make him better than people thought. Superstition was replaced with “Allahumma la tayra illa tayruk”, and good news was received with praise of Allah.
Islamic Words for Social Moments: questions and answers
How do I answer “Barakallahu fik”?
“Wa fika barakallah” is commonly said and reported from the Salaf.
Can I say “Jazakallahu khayran” to a non-Muslim?
Many scholars prefer a du‘a for guidance and good, such as “Hadakallah”; general thanks is also fine.
Seeing someone laugh
أَضْحَكَ اللَّهُ سِنَّكَ
Adhakallahu sinnak.
May Allah keep you laughing. ‘Umar said it to the Prophet ﷺ when he saw him smile.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim