اللهم قوني
Allahumma qawwini
The English phrase 'God give me strength' is translated into Arabic as اللهم قوني (Allahumma qawwini).
اللهم قوني is used as a personal prayer or a verbal expression of seeking patience and endurance during hardship.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 'Allahumma' (O Allah) and 'qawwini' (strengthen me).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb 'qawwini' is in the imperative mood, used here as a supplication to God.
How do you pronounce it?
Allahumma qawwini
Did you know?
- While قوني means 'strengthen me', Arabic speakers often use the related phrase صبرني to ask for 'patience' when they are actually seeking the strength to endure a trial.
- The structure of the address in اللهم connects Arabic to much older, extinct languages like Ugaritic. In those ancient cultures, similar suffixes were used to call out to deities, making this phrase a living link to antiquity.
- Medieval scholars like the famous linguist Sibawayh were actually puzzled by the word اللهم. They could not agree on its origin and even theorized it was a shortened version of a much longer sentence meaning 'O God, lead us in goodness'.
Examples in context
- اللهم قوني على هذا العمل.Allahumma qawwini 'ala hadha al-'amal.God give me strength for this work.
- اللهم قوني في هذا الاختبار.Allahumma qawwini fi hadha al-ikhtibar.God give me strength during this exam.
- اللهم قوني على تجاوز هذه الأزمة.Allahumma qawwini 'ala tajawuz hadhihi al-azma.God give me strength to overcome this crisis.
Example conversation
Yousef is feeling overwhelmed by his work tasks.
- يوسف Youssefلدي الكثير من العمل اليوم، اللهم قوني.Ladayya al-kathir min al-amal al-yawm, Allahumma qawwini.I have so much work today, God give me strength.
- ليلى Laylaهل يمكنني مساعدتك في شيء يا يوسف؟Hal yumkinuni musa'adatuka fi shay' ya Yousef?Can I help you with something, Yousef?
- يوسف Youssefشكراً يا ليلى، أحتاج فقط لبعض الصبر.Shukran ya Layla, ahtaju faqat li-ba'd al-sabr.Thank you Layla, I just need some patience.
- ليلى Laylaستنتهي من كل شيء قريباً، بالتوفيق.Satantahi min kull shay' qariban, bil-tawfiq.You will finish everything soon, good luck.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries اللهم, CC BY-SA 4.0.
