Some Arabic phrases are so meaningful and so beautiful that they've become art forms in their own right. They appear on walls, jewelry, greeting cards, and digital designs around the world. Here are ten of the most beloved Islamic phrases, with their Arabic script, transliteration, and meaning — plus tips for turning them into calligraphy.
1. Bismillah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ — Bismillāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." The opening of nearly every chapter of the Qur'an and the phrase Muslims say before beginning any task. It's the single most popular phrase in Islamic calligraphy.
2. MashaAllah
مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ — Mā shāʾ Allāh "What God has willed." Said to express joy, appreciation, and gratitude — often when admiring something beautiful, while warding off envy.
3. Alhamdulillah
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ — Al-ḥamdu lillāh "All praise is due to God." An expression of thankfulness used countless times a day for blessings large and small.
4. SubhanAllah
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ — Subḥān Allāh "Glory be to God." Said in awe and wonder, especially at the beauty of creation.
5. Allahu Akbar
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ — Allāhu akbar "God is the greatest." A declaration of God's supremacy, central to the call to prayer and the prayer itself.
6. La ilaha illa Allah
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ — Lā ilāha illā Allāh "There is no god but God." The first half of the shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith.
7. InshaAllah
إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ — In shāʾ Allāh "If God wills." Said when speaking of future plans, acknowledging that outcomes rest with God.
8. Barakallah
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ — Bāraka Allāh "May God bless." Often extended to Barakallahu feek ("may God bless you"), used to thank or congratulate someone.
9. Eid Mubarak
عِيدٌ مُبَارَكٌ — ʿĪd Mubārak "Blessed celebration." The festive greeting exchanged during Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Perfect for cards and seasonal designs — see our Eid and wedding ideas.
10. Ramadan Kareem
رَمَضَانُ كَرِيمٌ — Ramaḍān Karīm "Generous Ramadan." A warm greeting for the holy month, popular on banners, social posts, and gifts.
How to turn these phrases into art
Each of these phrases looks stunning in calligraphy, and the right style changes the whole mood:
- Thuluth or Diwani for ornate, traditional wall art.
- Kufic for a bold, modern, geometric statement.
- Naskh for clear, classic legibility — ideal for sacred text.
Because these are religious phrases, accuracy matters. Use full harakat so the vocalization is correct (here's our guide to harakat), and choose a font with strong diacritic support like Amiri or Scheherazade — see our best Arabic fonts guide.
Create your own in seconds
Open the Arabic calligraphy generator, paste any phrase above, pick a style, and export it as wall art, a card, or a social post. You can also animate a phrase like Bismillah into a calligraphy video that writes itself on screen.