Allahumma

Allahumma is an Arabic vocative expression used to address God in prayer or supplication. It translates roughly as "O Allah" or "O God" and is used to begin or frame invocations directed at the divine.

It is formed from the name of God, Allah, with a vocative element that marks direct address. In classical Arabic, this construction functions as a direct call to the divine and is widely recognized as a devotional formula.

Usage: Muslims employ Allahumma in daily du’a, formal supplications, and ritual prayers to ask for mercy, guidance, protection, forgiveness, or relief. The expression is common in hadith literature and in many traditional du’a, and it remains a standard opening in devotional speech. It is not a Qur’anic verse, but it is a familiar tool of prayer in many Islamic traditions.

Examples include phrases such as Allahumma inni as’aluka al-jannah (O Allah, I ask You for Paradise) or Allahumma aghfirli (O Allah, forgive me). The exact content of the supplication varies with context and tradition and may be extended with additional requests.

Context: The term is used across diverse Islamic communities, including Sunni and Shia Muslims, and in languages influenced by Arabic. It serves as a general, respectful method of addressing God in conversations with the divine.