Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| اُرْقُد فِي سَلَام | urqud fī salām |
| اُرْقُد بِسَلَام | urqud bisalām |
اُرْقُد فِي سَلَام is a direct translation of the English expression and is primarily used within Christian contexts in the Arabic-speaking world.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb urqud (rest/sleep), the preposition fī (in) and the noun salām (peace).
Which one should you use?
The forms اُرْقُد فِي سَلَام and اُرْقُد بِسَلَام are interchangeable, differing only by the use of the preposition fī (in) versus bi (with/in).
How do you pronounce it?
urqud fī salām
When do people say it?
While urqud fī salām is a literal translation, a more culturally common way to express condolences or wish peace for the deceased in Arabic is Allah yarhamhu (May God have mercy on him). In formal settings, you may also use غفر الله له (May Allah forgive him) or أسكنه الله فسيح جناته (May Allah grant him a place in his spacious gardens).
Did you know?
- The word salām in اُرْقُد فِي سَلَام shares the same root as 'Islam', both stemming from the concept of 'peace' and 'submission'.
- The phrase أسكنه الله فسيح جناته translates to 'May God settle him in His spacious gardens', which paints a much more vivid visual picture of the afterlife than the English 'rest in peace'.
- Arabic has no single word for 'RIP' because the culture prioritizes the 'dua' or prayer, making the expression a full sentence asking God to act rather than a simple wish.
Example sentences for Arabic are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Layla and Ahmed are visiting a cemetery to pay their respects.
- ليلى Laylaأشعر بالحزن الشديد اليوم يا أحمد.Ash'ur bil-huzn ash-shadid al-yawm ya Ahmed.I feel very sad today, Ahmed.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا أيضاً، لقد كان رجلاً طيباً.Ana aydan, laqad kana rajulan tayyiban.Me too, he was a good man.
- ليلى Laylaاُرْقُد فِي سَلَام يا صديقي.Urqud fi salam ya sadiqi.Rest in peace, my friend.
- أحمد Ahmedآمين، رحمه الله.Amin, rahima hullah.Amen, may God have mercy on him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rest in peace” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
