For a man
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhu
May Allah be pleased with him.
After a male Companion, such as Abu Bakr
Radiallahu anhu, and anha, anhum, anhuma
Radiallahu anhu means "may Allah be pleased with him". Muslims say it after the name of a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ, such as Abu Bakr or Umar. The words come from the Quran, where Allah says He is pleased with the Companions and they with Him.
For a woman
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا
Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhā
May Allah be pleased with her.
After a female Companion, such as Khadijah or Aishah
For two people
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا
Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhumā
May Allah be pleased with them both.
For two, such as Abdullah ibn Umar and his father
For three or more
رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ
Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhum
May Allah be pleased with them.
For a group, or the Companions as a whole
Quran 98:8In the Quran
رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا۟ عَنْهُ
Raḍiyallāhu ʿanhum wa raḍū ʿanh
Allah being pleased with them and they with Him.
Quran 98:8, Sahih International translation
Our teachers will check the Arabic and transliteration on this page before launch.
Guide
Meaning, use and source
Radiallahu anhu (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) means "may Allah be pleased with him". It is said after the name of one of the Sahabah, the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ: "Umar radiallahu anhu". The ending changes with the person: anha for a woman, anhuma for two, and anhum for three or more. In writing it is often shortened to RA or r.a.
Which form to use
- Radiallahu anhu: one man, such as Abu Bakr, Ali or Bilal.
- Radiallahu anha: one woman, such as Khadijah, Aishah or Fatimah.
- Radiallahu anhuma: two people, such as "Ibn Umar radiallahu anhuma", which includes his father Umar.
- Radiallahu anhum: three or more, or the Companions together.
Where it comes from
The phrase is taken from the Quran. Of the first Muslims, the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and those who followed them in goodness, Allah says: "Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him" (9:100). He says the same of the believers in 98:8, and of those who pledged allegiance under the tree: "Certainly was Allah pleased with the believers" (48:18). Saying radiallahu anhu turns that statement into a dua.
Is it only for the Companions?
By long custom it is used for the Companions, rahimahullah ("may Allah have mercy on him") for the scholars and righteous people after them, and alayhis salam for the prophets and angels. But al-Nawawi wrote that the majority of scholars allow saying radiallahu anhu for the righteous after the Companions too, since it is a dua, and some held it was only for the Companions. In South Asia you will hear it after the names of imams such as Abu Hanifa. Where people would take it to mean the person was a Companion, using rahimahullah avoids confusion.
Other phrases of respect
| Said after | Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ | Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) | May Allah send blessings and peace upon him |
| Other prophets and angels | Alayhis salam (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ) | Peace be upon him |
| The Companions | Radiallahu anhu (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) | May Allah be pleased with him |
| Scholars and Muslims who have died | Rahimahullah (رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ) | May Allah have mercy on him |
| Allah | Subhanahu wa ta'ala | Glorified and exalted is He |
Spellings
Radiallahu anhu, radhiallahu anhu, radi Allahu anhu and raziallahu anhu (as it is said in Urdu) are the same phrase. The first letter is the heavy Arabic ḍ, between a d and a z to English ears.
- Quran 9:100, 98:8 and 48:18, translation by Sahih International.
- Al-Nawawi, al-Adhkar, on saying radiallahu anhu and rahimahullah.
Questions
Good to know
What does radiallahu anhu mean?
May Allah be pleased with him. It is said after the name of a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ.
What is the difference between anhu, anha, anhuma and anhum?
Anhu is for one man, anha for one woman, anhuma for two people, and anhum for three or more.
Can you say radiallahu anhu for someone who is not a Companion?
Al-Nawawi said most scholars allow it, as it is a dua. By custom, rahimahullah is used for later scholars, which avoids confusion.
What does RA mean after a name?
It is short for radiallahu anhu (or anha), may Allah be pleased with him (or her).
What do you say after the name of a prophet?
For the Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ). For other prophets, alayhis salam.