بسم الله
bismillah
The English phrase "in the name of allah" is translated into Arabic as بسم الله (bismillah).
Muslims use بسم الله at the start of many daily activities, such as eating, drinking or beginning a task, to seek God's blessing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the prefix بِـ (bi-), which means "with" or "in" and the word اسم (ism), which means "name".
How do you pronounce it?
bismillah
When do people say it?
This phrase is a way for Muslims to invoke God's blessing before starting an action.
Did you know?
- If an Arabic speaker is startled or surprised, they might exclaim بسم الله as a way to ward off bad luck or negative energy in a sudden situation.
- While بسم الله is primarily used by Muslims, Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use the word الله to refer to God.
- The word الله is a cognate of the Hebrew word 'Eloah' and the Aramaic 'alahā'.
Examples in context
- أبدأ عملي بسم الله.Abda'u 'amali bismillahi.I start my work in the name of Allah.
- بسم الله، سأبدأ الآن.Bismillahi, sa'abda'u al-aan.In the name of Allah, I will start now.
Example conversation
Youssef is about to begin cooking a meal for Layla.
- يوسف Youssefبسم الله، سأبدأ الطبخ الآن.Bismillahi, sa'abda'u al-tabkh al-aan.In the name of Allah, I will start cooking now.
- ليلى Laylaبالتوفيق يا يوسف.Bil-tawfeeq ya Youssef.Good luck, Youssef.
- يوسف Youssefهل تريدين مساعدتي؟Hal tureedeena musa'adati?Do you want to help me?
- ليلى Laylaلا، شكراً لك.La, shukran lak.No, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries الله, CC BY-SA 4.0.
