Apart from Sbah el kheir, there are not many expressions that stand out for wishing someone good morning in Arab-Muslim culture. In Islam, there are above all teachings about the blessings of Allah in the morning as well as the conditions to benefit from them, which the believer should take an interest in. In this article, we are going to explore the different explanations of this way of saying good morning in Islam, but also the meaning of the word "sabah" in Arabic and how this word appears in the Holy Quran.
Sbah el kheir: how to say good morning in Islam?
The expression sbah el kheir is very common in the Arabic language but is also found in the various Arabic dialects to greet someone in the morning. This expression translates literally as "morning of good » or « morning of kindness". By pronouncing this expression, one wishes the person in front of you a day filled with well-being and goodness.
That said, what should be noted is that this formula is not of Islamic origin but rather cultural.
(As-salamu alaykum): السلام عليكم is the Islamic way of greeting one another. It is the way Allah chose for Muslims since it comes from the Quran, the Word of Allah azza wa jal.
It means "May peace be upon you".
Although it is not specific to the morning, this formula is used throughout the day to greet someone in Islam.
This is why, in the various countries of the Arab-Muslim world, different expressions are found for wishing good morning. Good afternoon being said in an almost similar way since the word afternoon replaces morning:
« Afternoon of good! » : « massa el kheir ! »
We notice that sbah in dialect is the diminutive of sabah.
Other expressions to say good morning in Islam
Here are some other expressions used to say good morning:
- Sabah an-nur: "Morning of light". This greeting is often used as a reply to sbah el kheir.
- Sbah el yasmin wa nouwarr: « (I wish you) a morning full of jasmine and flowers! »
Sbah el kheir: Definition of the word sabah in Arabic
In the Arabic language, the word sabah (صباح) means "morning". It is often associated with light and life. The morning symbolizes a new beginning, a renewal, and it is therefore considered an important moment of the day in Islam.
The word morning (sabah) in the Quran
The word sabah appears several times in the Quran, testifying to the importance given to the morning in Islam. Here are a few examples:
- Surah 11, verse 81: "They said: O Lot! We are the emissaries of your Lord. They will not be able to do you any harm. Set out with your family during the night and let none of you turn back - except your wife: she will be struck by what strikes these people. Their appointed time is the morning (assabaha), and is not the morning (as-sabahu) near?"
- Surah 97, verse 5: "The Angels as well as the Spirit descend, by the permission of their Lord, to carry out every command. Absolute peace until the appearance of dawn."
We notice the importance of the word morning in the Quran. The morning in the Quran is, admittedly, the moment when Allah sends His Punishment upon the perverse peoples, but it is also the moment when great events took place:
- "Then Musa (Moses) said: « Your appointment is the day of the festival. And let the people be gathered in the morning». Surah 20 verse 59
- "When one morning, you (Muhammad) left your family, to assign the believers to their combat posts, and Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing. Surah 3 verse 121
The morning is also a moment of the Hereafter so important that Allah mentions it:
- "Therein they hear no idle talk; only: « Salâm »; and they will have their sustenance there, morning and evening. Surah 19 verse 62 (speaking of Paradise)
It is morning and evening that the pious perform good deeds, and Allah speaks of it in His Holy Word:
- so that you may believe in Allah and in His messenger, that you may honour Him, acknowledge His dignity, and glorify Him morning and evening. Surah 48 verse 9
- "And invoke the name of your Lord, morning and afternoon; Surah 76 verse 25
On the contrary, the morning is revealed by the Quran as the moment favourable for important decisions.
The morning invocation in Islam
In addition to the morning greetings, there are specific invocations to recite each morning to benefit from the graces and protection of Allah. Among these, we find the following invocation:
اللَّهُمَّ بِكَ أَصْبَحْنَا وَبِكَ أَمْسَيْنَا وَبِكَ نَحْيَا وَبِكَ نَمُوتُ وَإِلَيْكَ النُّشُورُ
This invocation translates into English as: "O Allah! It is by Your grace that we reach the morning and it is by Your grace that we enter the evening. It is by Your grace that we live and it is by Your grace that we die. To You is the resurrection."
Conditions of a beneficial morning for the believer
For a morning to be beneficial for a believer, it is recommended to observe certain practices, of which here are a few examples:
- Waking up early to perform the Fajr prayer, the first of the five daily prayers in Islam. It is the one during which the Angels bear witness to the reading of the Quran.
- Not going back to sleep after the salat al fajr
- Remaining in dhikr until the chourouq (sunrise), to remember Allah and recite the appropriate invocations.
- Multiplying the requests for forgiveness to Allah
- Respecting the Islamic principles and religious obligations throughout the day.
Sbah el kheir: The blessings of Allah in the morning
Allah grants numerous blessings to those who begin their day in a pious manner. Here are some of them:
- The forgiveness of sins: by performing the Fajr prayer and asking for forgiveness, the believer is purified of his previous sins.
- Divine protection: by reciting the morning invocations, the Muslim benefits from the protection of Allah against evil and difficulties.
- Success and prosperity: by planning his day in accordance with Islamic principles, Allah supports the believer in his undertakings.
Sbah el kheir: Different moments of the morning in Arabic
In the Arabic language, there are several terms to describe the different moments of the morning:
- Fajr (الفجر): the dawn, which corresponds to the moment when the first light appears on the horizon.
- Shuruq (الشروق): the sunrise, when the sun begins to rise above the horizon.
- Duha (الضحى): the forenoon, which generally extends between sunrise and the zenith. It is recommended to perform there two units of highly meritorious prayer.
Sbah el kheir is therefore a common expression among Arabs for wishing one another a day full of good things. It also holds great importance in Islam, whether through greetings, invocations or recommended actions. By beginning the day with piety and respecting the Islamic prescriptions, the believer can hope to benefit from the numerous blessings of Allah.