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Hajj Guide UK / On the ground

Hajj 2027

Useful Arabic phrases for Hajj

A few Arabic phrases help a lot on Hajj: As-salamu alaykum (hello), Jazak Allahu khayran (thank you), Ayna...? (where is...?), and to congratulate a pilgrim, Hajjun mabrur wa dhanbun maghfur (an accepted Hajj and sins forgiven).

Last checked: November 2026. Written for pilgrims travelling from the UK.

You don't need Arabic to perform Hajj, but a few words go a long way with officials, volunteers, shopkeepers and fellow pilgrims. Saudi Arabia uses Arabic everywhere, and many staff in Makkah and Madinah also speak English, Urdu or other languages. Tap and hold a phrase to copy it, or show this page.

Celebrating and congratulating

ArabicSay itMeaning
حَجٌّ مَبْرُورٌ وَذَنْبٌ مَغْفُورٌḤajjun mabrūrun wa dhanbun maghfūrAn accepted Hajj and sins forgiven
A customary greeting to pilgrims. Hajj mabrur means an accepted Hajj, whose reward is Paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari 1773).
حَجًّا مَبْرُورًاḤajjan mabrūran(May it be) an accepted Hajj
Said to someone setting off for, or returning from, Hajj.
تَقَبَّلَ اللَّهُ مِنَّا وَمِنْكُمْTaqabbal Allāhu minnā wa minkumMay Allah accept from us and from you
The greeting the Companions exchanged at Eid, reported from Jubayr ibn Nufayr (Ibn Hajar graded its chain hasan, in Fath al-Bari).
عِيدٌ مُبَارَكٌʿĪd mubārakBlessed Eid
A customary Eid greeting.
مَبْرُوكMabrūkCongratulations
يَا حَاجّ / يَا حَاجَّةYā ḥājj / Yā ḥājjahO pilgrim (a respectful way people address pilgrims)

Greetings and thanks

ArabicSay itMeaning
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْAs-salāmu ʿalaykumPeace be upon you
وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُWa ʿalaykumu s-salāmAnd upon you be peace (the reply)
شُكْرًاShukranThank you
جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًاJazāk Allāhu khayranMay Allah reward you with good
The Prophet ﷺ said this is the fullest way to thank someone: Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2035 (graded hasan to sahih by most scholars). Reply: wa iyyākum (and you).
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَBārak Allāhu fīkMay Allah bless you
مِنْ فَضْلِكَMin faḍlakPlease (to a man; to a woman: min faḍliki)
عَفْوًاʿAfwanExcuse me / You're welcome
نَعَمْ / لَاNaʿam / LāYes / No
أَنَا مِنْ بِرِيطَانِيَاAnā min BrīṭāniyāI'm from Britain
لَا أَتَكَلَّمُ الْعَرَبِيَّةَLā atakallamu l-ʿarabiyyahI don't speak Arabic
هَلْ تَتَكَلَّمُ الْإِنْجِلِيزِيَّةَ؟Hal tatakallamu l-injilīziyyah?Do you speak English?

Finding your way

ArabicSay itMeaning
أَيْنَ ...؟Ayna ...?Where is ...?
In Saudi everyday speech you'll also hear wēn (وين).
أَيْنَ الْحَمَّامُ؟Ayna l-ḥammām?Where is the toilet?
أَيْنَ مَكَانُ الْوُضُوءِ؟Ayna makānu l-wuḍūʾ?Where is the place for wudu?
أَنَا تَائِهٌAnā tāʾihI am lost (a woman says: anā tāʾihah)
أُرِيدُ الذَّهَابَ إِلَى الْفُنْدُقِUrīdu dh-dhahāba ilā l-funduqI want to go to the hotel
مُخَيَّمُ رَقْم ...Mukhayyam raqm ...Camp number ... (show your camp card too)
يَمِين / يَسَارYamīn / YasārRight / Left
عَلَى طُولʿAla ṭūlStraight on (everyday Saudi)
بَابBābGate (the Haram's gates are numbered and named)

Help and health

ArabicSay itMeaning
سَاعِدْنِي مِنْ فَضْلِكَSāʿidnī min faḍlakHelp me, please
أَحْتَاجُ طَبِيبًاAḥtāju ṭabībanI need a doctor
أَيْنَ الْمُسْتَشْفَى؟Ayna l-mustashfā?Where is the hospital?
أَنَا مَرِيضٌAnā marīḍI am ill (a woman says: anā marīḍah)
عِنْدِي مَرَضُ السُّكَّرِيʿIndī maraḍu s-sukkarīI have diabetes
مَاءMāʾWater
صَيْدَلِيَّةṢaydaliyyahPharmacy

Shopping

ArabicSay itMeaning
بِكَمْ هَذَا؟Bikam hādhā?How much is this?
غَالِيGhālīExpensive
رِيَالRiyālRiyal (Saudi currency)
حَلَالḤalālPermitted, halal
Good to knowMen and women are addressed slightly differently in Arabic; where it matters, both forms are shown. Your group leader can help with anything important, such as medical needs.

Evidence and references

Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering (Sahih Muslim: Muhammad Fu'ad Abd al-Baqi). Each reference was checked against the source text on November 2026.