Muslims believe that "sincere invocation of God", good deeds, repentance, and prayer, may dispose God to dispense Barakah into their lives. This is supposed to make things easier, happier, and more blessed in this life, and by God's mercy, in the Hereafter.

Baraka is used in contemporary French as a synonym of "luck". A person who has "baraka" is said to be able to emerge unscathed from dangerous situations. This use of the term derives from the time of French colonization in Algeria (1830-1962).

Barakah is also the origin of U.S. politician Barack Obama's first name via Swahili which has been heavily influenced by Arabic.

Barakah was the name of Al-Said Barakah a Sultan in Egypt who ruled from 1277 to 1279.

References and further reading

• C. Coulon, et al. Charisma and Brotherhood in African Islam. Oxford Univ. Press, 1988. ISBN 019822723X.
• L. N. Takim. The Heirs of the Prophet: Charisma And Religious Authority in Shi'ite Islam. SUNY Press, 2006. ISBN .
• P. Werbner, et al. Embodying Charisma: Modernity, Locality and Performance of Emotion in Sufi Cults. Routledge, 1998. ISBN .

See also

• List of Islamic terms in Arabic
• Berakhah (Judaism; Hebrew)
• Baruch
• Barak (disambiguation)
• Barack (given name)
• Basirah
• Charisma
• Charism
• Spiritual gifts