بارك الله فيه
Barak Allahu fih
The English phrase "may allah bless it" is translated into Arabic as بارك الله فيه (Barak Allahu fih).
This phrase is a prayer used to ask for God's blessing upon a person or a thing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb baraka (bless), Allah (God) and the prepositional phrase fih (in it/him).
Which one should you use?
The form بارك الله فيه is used when referring to a masculine noun or object, while the form بارك الله فيها is used for a feminine noun or object.
How do you pronounce it?
Barak Allahu fih
Did you know?
- The root of the word for 'bless' in بارك الله فيه shares a common ancestry with the Hebrew word 'berekh', meaning 'knee', which relates to the physical act of kneeling to pray or show respect.
- In some Arabic-speaking cultures, saying this phrase while looking at a newborn baby is a way to protect the child from the 'evil eye' or envy.
- While English speakers usually say 'God bless you' after a sneeze, this specific phrase بارك الله فيه is generally not used for sneezing, as there is a dedicated different phrase for that occasion.
Examples in context
- بارك الله فيه.bāraka Allahu fīhi.May Allah bless it.
- هذا المشروع الجديد رائع، بارك الله فيه.hādhā al-mashrū' al-jadīd rā'i', bāraka Allahu fīhi.This new project is wonderful, may Allah bless it.
- اشتريتُ منزلاً صغيراً، بارك الله فيه.ishtaraytu manzilan saghīran, bāraka Allahu fīhi.I bought a small house, may Allah bless it.
Example conversation
Omar shows Maryam his new laptop.
- عمر Omarانظري يا مريم، هذا حاسوبي الجديد.unzhuri ya Maryam, hadha hasubi al-jadid.Look Maryam, this is my new computer.
- مريم Maryamإنه رائع جداً، بارك الله فيه.innahu ra'i' jiddan, baraka Allahu fih.It is very wonderful, may Allah bless it.
- عمر Omarآمين، شكراً لكِ.amin, shukran laki.Amen, thank you.
- مريم Maryamالعفو يا عمر.al-afwu ya Omar.You are welcome, Omar.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries الله, بارك, CC BY-SA 4.0.
