Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| بِالتَّوْفِيق | bi-t-tawfīq |
| فِي مَعِيَّة اللّٰه |
This phrase is used to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them. You will frequently hear بِالتَّوْفِيق when someone is starting a new job, an exam or a significant project.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression بِالتَّوْفِيق consists of the preposition bi- meaning 'with' and al-tawfīq meaning 'success', 'divine guidance' or 'prosperity'.
Which one should you use?
بِالتَّوْفِيق is a common, standard way to wish someone success in a specific endeavor. In contrast, فِي مَعِيَّة اللّٰه is more poetic and carries a sense of divine protection or presence, literally meaning 'in the company of God'.
How does it change in a sentence?
بِالتَّوْفِيق is a fixed expression and does not change based on the gender or number of the person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
bi-t-tawfīq
Did you know?
- While English uses 'godspeed' to imply a fast journey, the Arabic بِالتَّوْفِيق focuses entirely on the quality of the result rather than the speed of the process.
- A simple well-wish like بِالتَّوْفِيق is often treated as a formal prayer. It is common practice for the recipient to reply with أمين, effectively turning a social pleasantry into a religious invocation.
- The word 'tawfīq' shares a linguistic root with the concept of 'matching' or 'conforming', meaning that true success is when your actions 'match' the right path.
Examples in context
- بِالتَّوْفِيقِ فِي اِلمُسْتَقْبَلِ.bi-t-tawfīqi fī-l-mustaqbal.Godspeed in the future.
Example conversation
Ziad is leaving for a job interview and Laila wishes him well.
- ليلى Laylaهَلْ أَنْتَ مُسْتَعِدٌّ لِلْمُقَابَلَةِ؟hal anta musta'iddun lil-muqābalah?Are you ready for the interview?
- زياد Ziadنَعَمْ، أَنَا قَلِقٌ قَلِيلًا.na'am, ana qaliqun qalīlan.Yes, I am a little nervous.
- ليلى Laylaلَا تَقْلَقْ، بِالتَّوْفِيقِ يَا زِيَادُ.lā taqlaq, bi-t-tawfīqi yā Ziyād.Don't worry, godspeed Ziad.
- زياد Ziadشُكْرًا لَكِ يَا لَيْلَى.shukran laki yā Laylā.Thank you, Laila.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “godspeed” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
