You will hear it whenever a deceased scholar, relative, or friend is mentioned: rahimahullah. It is not a title but a dua, and it changes form depending on who is being prayed for. This page covers all its forms, when each is used, the Arabic ready to copy, and how it differs from similar honorifics.
رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ
Raḥimahullāh — may Allah have mercy on him
رَحِمَهَا اللَّهُ
Raḥimahallāh — may Allah have mercy on her
رَحِمَهُمُ اللَّهُ
Raḥimahumullāh — may Allah have mercy on them
What Does Rahimahullah Mean?
It means “may Allah have mercy on him.” It is a short dua attached to the name of a deceased Muslim whenever they are mentioned — in speech or writing — asking Allah’s rahmah for them. Saying it is itself a small act of kindness to the dead, and it keeps the mention of the departed connected to prayer rather than mere memory.
Urdu: اللہ ان پر رحم فرمائے۔
Which Form For Whom?
| Form | Arabic | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Rahimahullah | رحمه الله | One man |
| Rahimahallah | رحمها الله | One woman |
| Rahimahumallah | رحمهما الله | Two people |
| Rahimahumullah | رحمهم الله | Three or more |
Rahimahullah vs Similar Phrases
Radiyallahu anhu (“may Allah be pleased with him”) is customarily reserved for the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ. Alayhis salam (“peace be upon him”) is used for prophets and angels. Rahimahullah is the phrase for the Muslims who came after — scholars, elders, relatives, anyone deceased. In South Asia you will also see marhoom before a name, which carries the same meaning in adjective form, and Arabs colloquially say Allah yerhamo.
When You Hear of a Death
Rahimahullah is said when the deceased is mentioned; at the moment the news of a death arrives, the fuller responses are inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un and the duas for the deceased. To send condolences, our ready messages combine these correctly.
As a general dua for mercy, praying for a living person’s rahmah is good — but the specific customary use of rahimahullah after a name signals the person has passed away, so for the living, other duas (like hafizahullah, ‘may Allah protect him’) are used instead to avoid confusion. In English Islamic writing, RA usually stands for radiyallahu anhu/anha (for Companions) and RH for rahimahullah. Writing the dua in full is better than abbreviating, as the abbreviation removes the actual prayer.Can rahimahullah be said for a living person?
What do the abbreviations RA and RH mean?