As Muslims all over the world celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, you may hear some words and phrases said that you won't understand. Arabic is the most commonly used language in Islam and is the original language of the Qur'an so it is common for Muslims to use Arabic words and phrases when discussing Islamic topics or at Islamic events.
But to someone who is unfamiliar with Islam, these words and phrases can be very confusing and often sound similar to other phrases, making it hard to distinguish what they actually mean. For example, when wishing someone a good Ramadan, you would not traditionally say "happy Ramadan" like you would if someone was celebrating Christmas.
But fear not, we have compiled the most common words and phrases you may hear during Ramadan as well as a rundown of how they should be pronounced so you can engage better with your Muslim friends and family.
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Ramadan Mubarak
How to pronounce: Ram-a-dan Moo-ba-rak
Ramadan Mubarak is Arabic for "blessed Ramadan" and is how you would traditionally wish someone a happy Ramadan. Similarly, you would say "Eid Mubarak" when wishing someone a happy Eid.
As-salamu Alaykum
How to pronounce: A-salaam-oo a-lay-koom
As-salamu Alaykum is a traditional Arabic greeting and means "peace be upon you". It can be said when either saying hello to someone or saying goodbye. Depending on which region an individual is from they may simply say "Salaam Alaykum" or if they're being a tad informal, a simple "Salaam" will suffice - Salaam means "peace" and is in fact the root word for 'Islam'.
When responding to this greeting, you would say 'Wa alaykumu as-salam" (Wa-a-lay-koom a-salaam) which essentially means "peace be upon you as well".
Alhamdulillah
How to pronounce: Alham-doo-lee-la
Alhamdulillah is a very popular Arabic phrase meaning "praise be to God". It is most commonly heard at the beginning of most Qur'an recitations but can also be used by Muslims when accepting praise or commenting on how good something is.
Subhanallah
How to pronounce: Soob-han-a-la
The term "Subhanallah" is perhaps one of the more difficult Arabic phrases to translate as it is one of those where there is no exact English translation. Generally, the word is understood to mean "God is perfect", "Glory be to God", or "May he [God] be exalted".
The term appears frequently in the Qur'an and is often recited by Muslims during worship. It is commonly recited by Muslims to express their gratefulness and appreciation of God and his blessings.
Mashallah
How to pronounce: Mash-a-la
Mashallah is roughly translated to "what God has willed" a very friendly phrase used by Muslims when either expressing appreciation or in response to when something good has happened. For example, if your friend just told you they passed an exam you would reply "Mashallah".
Inshallah
How to pronounce : In-sha-la
Inshallah is an extremely common phrase and you have likely heard your Muslim friends say it when making plans or talking about the future. It is roughly translated to "if God will is" or "God willing".
While it can be tricky to learn all these words off by heart if you are either a non-Muslim or new to Islam, putting in the effort is a great way to connect with your Muslim friends and family. Learning some of these terms is also a brilliant way of telling your Muslim friends that they should feel welcome and comfortable when celebrating Ramadan.
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