اللهم

Arabic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔaɫ.ɫaː.hum.ma/

Etymology

Extended form of اَللَّٰه (allāh). The origin of the مّ (mm) is unknown. Theories include a connection with مَا (mā), or a borrowing from Hebrew אלהים (“elohim”), where the final -m is a majestic plural ending. The form is first attested in the Quran (3:26, 5:114, 8:32, 10:10, 39:46).

Interjection

اَللَّٰهُمَّ • (allāhumma)

1. O God; vocative form of اَللَّٰه (allāh) used in invocations, oaths, etc.
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 3:26:

     قُلِ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ مَالِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي ٱلْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

     quli llāhumma mālika l-mulki tuʔtī l-mulka man tašāʔu watanziʕu l-mulka mimman tašāʔu watuʕizzu man tašāʔu watuḏillu man tašāʔu biyadika l-ḵayru ʔinnaka ʕalā kulli šayʔin qadīrun

     O God, Lord of all dominion! Thou grantest dominion unto whom Thou willest, and takest away dominion from whom Thou willest and abasest whom Thou willest. In Thy hand is all good. Verily, Thou hast the power to will anything.

   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 8:32:

     وَإِذْ قَالُوا۟ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ هَٰذَا هُوَ ٱلْحَقَّ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاءِ أَوِ ٱئْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

     waʔiḏ qālū llāhumma ʔin kāna hāḏā huwa l-ḥaqqa min ʕindika faʔamṭir ʕalaynā ḥijāratan mina s-samāʔi ʔawi ʔtinā biʕaḏābin ʔalīmin

     And, lo, they would say, "O God! If this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down upon us stones from the skies, or inflict grievous suffering on us!"

Related terms

• يَا أَللَّٰهُ (yā ʾallāhu, “O God”)