Ma sha Allah, blessings, and the greeting of peace

When Muslims admire something good, like a new baby, a friend's success, or a beautiful garden, they often say Ma sha Allah. In this lesson you will learn that phrase, the short supplication (dua) for blessing that goes well with it, and the greeting Muslims share every day: As-salamu alaykum.

Ma sha Allah: this is what Allah willed

Ma means what. Sha Allah means Allah willed. So Ma sha Allah means: this is what Allah willed. You are recognizing that the good thing in front of you is a gift from Allah.

The phrase comes from a story in Surah Al-Kahf. Allah gave a man two gardens of grapevines bordered with palm trees. He grew proud, told his companion that he was greater than him in wealth, and said he did not think his garden would ever perish. His believing companion answered him:

And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '?

Quran 18:39 (Saheeh International translation)

Scholars explain that when the garden pleased him, he should have praised Allah and said: this is what Allah willed for me, and I had no power to gain it except through Allah. So Ma sha Allah keeps your heart humble when you enjoy your own blessings, and warm when you see someone else's.

Praying for blessing

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that when you see something you admire in someone, you should pray for blessing for them:

If he sees something that he likes, then let him pray for blessing for him.

Sunan Ibn Majah 3509 (graded sahih by al-Albani)

He also showed how. When the companion Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) told him he had married, the Prophet said Barak Allahu lak, "May Allah bless you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5155 and Sahih Muslim 1427).

Speaking to a woman, say Barak Allahu laki. Speaking to more than one person, say Barak Allahu lakum. A kind habit is to pair the dua with Ma sha Allah: Ma sha Allah, barak Allahu lak. You recognize the blessing as Allah's gift, then ask Him to increase it for your friend.

As-salamu alaykum: the greeting of peace

Salam means peace. Muslims greet each other with As-salamu alaykum, "Peace be upon you". The Prophet taught that this greeting goes back to the first human being. Allah told Adam, peace be upon him, to greet a group of angels and listen to their reply, "as that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3326 and Sahih Muslim 2841).

The usual reply is:

This wording is found in Sahih Muslim (2380). When one man greeted the Prophet, he replied with the singular form, wa alayka as-salam (Sahih al-Bukhari 6251).

Allah asks us to answer a greeting generously:

And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

Quran 4:86 (Saheeh International translation)

You can make your greeting, or your reply, fuller. A man greeted the Prophet with As-salamu alaykum, and the Prophet said, "Ten." A second man added wa rahmatullah, and he said, "Twenty." A third added wa barakatuh, and he said, "Thirty" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2689, sahih). Scholars explain that these are good deeds: ten for each part of the greeting.

Returning the greeting is one of the rights Muslims have over one another, along with answering someone who sneezes, which you learned in the Alhamdulillah lesson (Sahih al-Bukhari 1240 and Sahih Muslim 2162). And spreading it builds love. The Prophet said:

Shall I guide you to something which, if you do, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among yourselves.

Sahih Muslim 54

Next, in the last lesson of this step, you will learn tawakkul: trusting Allah while you do your part.