Isti'ādhah + Basmalah (English + Explanation)

أَعُوذُ (A'ūdhu)

I seek refuge — Root: ع-و-ذ ('-w-dh), meaning "to seek shelter, to take refuge, to protect oneself." This root conveys actively fleeing toward someone/something for protection from harm.

بِاللَّهِ (billāhi)

in Allah — Preposition "bi-" ("with/in/by") fused with "Allah." The preposition puts "Allah" in the genitive case, marked by the final -i.

مِنَ (mina)

from — A preposition indicating "from/away from." No root — a grammatical particle.

الشَّيْطَانِ (ash-shayṭāni)

Satan — Root: ش-ط-ن (sh-ṭ-n), meaning "to be far, to be distant, to rebel." Shayṭān describes one who is far removed from good and truth — a rebellious, straying being, referring here to Iblis/the devil.

الرَّجِيمِ (ar-rajīmi)

the accursed — Root: ر-ج-م (r-j-m), meaning "to stone, to cast away, to drive off." Rajīm means "the one cast away/expelled" — describing Satan as one driven out and pelted from God's mercy.

بِسْمِ (Bismi)

In the name of — Root: س-م-و (s-m-w), relating to "name" and "being elevated, exalted." Ism (name) comes from it, since a name is what raises/distinguishes a thing so it can be known.

اللَّهِ (Allāhi)

Allah — Root: أ-ل-ه (a-l-h), meaning "to worship, to be worthy of worship." With the definite article "al," it forms "Allah," literally "the God."

الرَّحْمَٰنِ (ar-Raḥmāni)

the Most Gracious — Root: ر-ح-م (r-ḥ-m), meaning "mercy, compassion, womb." Describes God's all-encompassing mercy toward all creation.

الرَّحِيمِ (ar-Raḥīm)

the Most Merciful — Same root ر-ح-م (r-ḥ-m), a related intensive form emphasizing God's mercy specifically toward the believers. Note: no final -i here since this is the last word of the phrase (pausal form).