billah

Billah is an Arabic term that literally means “with God” or “by God.” It is formed from the preposition bi- (with/by) and Allah, the Qur’anic name for God. In Islamic usage, billah is used to express divine involvement, protection, or assistance, and it appears most prominently in phrases invoking God’s presence.

The most familiar related form is Bismillah (بِسْمِ اللهِ), meaning “in the name of God,” which opens many prayers, acts of worship, and spoken phrases. Billah by itself appears in devotional language and inscriptions to emphasize reliance on God or to invoke divine aid, and it can be found in religious poetry, supplications, and everyday speech among Arabic-speaking Muslims.

In naming practices, billah may appear as part of honorifics, nisbas, or kunyas in some historical and contemporary Arab and Muslim communities. Its use as a substantive element in a name varies by region and tradition, and it is generally treated with reverence due to its religious significance.

Billah is primarily of linguistic and religious interest rather than denoting a specific contemporary organization or movement. See also Allah, Bismillah, Islam, and Arabic language for related terms and contexts.