Note: if you are looking for love in Arabic please click here.
Today I received the following email from Paige, a reader of this blog:
Hey! I’ve been searching all over the web for a translation. I want to get “faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love” tattooed on my hip. I tried looking for some translations but I can’t find any.
Well, I’m not too well versed in the Bible, but when I read the phrase I knew it was from Corinthians. So, I thought that the best translation and the most authentic would be the one found in the Arabic version of the Bible. Luckily, there is an Arabic translation of the Bible (not surprising given the fact that one of the oldest Christian sects are the Egyptian Copts) and I found the verse in question straight away.
So here is the translation for “Faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love”:
الإيمان والرجاء والمحبة، هذه الثلاثة ولكن أعظمهن المحبة
And as pictures:
Arabic Tattoo Design For "Faith, Hope, Love, But The Greatest Of These Is Love" VERSION 1
Arabic Tattoo Design For "Faith, Hope, Love, But The Greatest Of These Is Love." Version 2
As you can see there are two different versions, each version has the same phrase written in five different fonts. The versions differ insofar as in the first version all the short vowels and other harakaat are indicated. These are the little signs above and underneath the letters that are absent in the second version (the sign that looks like a small “w” for instance indicates that the letter underneath is to be doubly pronounced). In Arabic these short vowels are usually not written. Yet, in the context of religious documents such as the Koran or the Bible, they are written to ensure that everyone can pronounce all the words correctly.
Now, it is your choice if you would like to have the tattoo made from version 1 (with short vowels and harakaat) or from version 2 (without short vowels).
Each version has the same phrase written in five different fonts. The fonts are:
1 Traditional Arabic
2 Simplified Arabic
3 Andalus
4 Lateef
5 Farsi Simple Bold
As far as getting the actual tattoo done, I would suggest to find a tattooist familiar with the Arabic alphabet if at all possible. You don’t want to have the tattoo messed up by someone who doesn’t understand how the Arabic script works.
Good luck with the tattoo and do send me a picture if and when you get it done! 
Related posts:
Salam,
Thanks for this wonderful blog.
Do you reckon the right adjectival form would be أعظمهم instead of أعظمهن since amongst the three compared nouns (الإيمان والرجاء والمحبة ), two are masculine?
@Abd El Ghani AZZI: Welcome to the blog and thanks for bringing this up.
Speaking from the strictly grammatical point of view of Modern Standard Arabic, it should actually be أعظمها, since we are talking about abstract nouns and not about persons. However, the translation I provided is the one I found in the Arabic version of the Bible (e.g. here.)
As far as I can tell the translation on that web page is the Van Dyck translation, which I gather is the most popular translation around (and used by the Copts amongst others). In a more recent (but it seems not as popular) translation entitled “كتاب الحياة” the verse in question is indeed translated as:
الإيمان والرجاء والمحبة. ولكن أعظمها هي المحبة
(see here)
However, a quick google search seems to suggest that the Van Dyck translation of this verse enjoys greater popularity. On balance, then, I would stick with this translation.
Thank you sooo much! I wanted to stop by and tell you I really appreciate it. I went to the tattoo parlor earlier today (as soon as I got your email, actually) and met an artist from Lebanon who said he would be able to do the calligraphy. I am very excited. If all goes well, I will go and get it done Friday. I will let you know how it goes!
@Paige: Glad you like the translation. Do keep me informed!
Paige,
Did you end up getting the tattoo? I have also been wanting to get somewhat the same kind of tattoo and I’ve been searching everywhere for some ideas…yours is a great idea by the way.
Please send me a picture if you did get it done. =)
Hi i was looking to get a tattoo at the bottom of my back “Faith, Hope & Love”… love the arabic translations, i believe the writing is very similar to malaysian writing which is my background. What would the translation be for just those words??
Hi there!
I’m glad you like the translations. Here is just the phrase “Faith, Hope, And Love” in Arabic in different fonts:
Hope that helps!
I just want to know how to write Love in Arabic, but I have so far found about 10 different ways! How do I know which one is right before I get it tattooed on me lol
@M
You’ll find the design for “love” here.
I have not forgotten everyone!!!
I’m going to get the tattoo done Wednesday, while I am out of town
I’ve found a ton of different ways to write faith and or believe. But, I’m not sure which one would be the best for me to use. I’m getting it tattooed on me so I really don’t want to be wrong! Thanks!
hi, i would also like to get a tattoo similar to this but going down my spine what way round would i get it? would it be backwards?
@Chloe:
What tattoo in particular would you want to get?
Arabic is written from right to left, so if you’d want the tattoo to start at the top of your spine and end at the bottom, then you’d need to rotate the Arabic writing 45° counter-clockwise.
@Mary:
“faith” as in relgious faith is الإيمان
Hi i would like to know how to write “faith, hope, love” in Arabic. I wasn’t sure if the translation you provided up the page included the word “and”. I wanted to place this on my foot, so the space is limited…Thank you!
One more: how about Scorpio and Marta, as separate words?
Hey, you seem to know a lot, and id love your help – how would i write Serenity?
there seems to be so much mix up with the word, that i just dont understand anymore how it would be written. your input would be much appreciated Thank youu!
If you have a minute, please reply, because i am waiting for your answer so i can finally get my tattoo
I am mostly intrested in a translation for “faith, hope, love” without the “and” because it has to fit on my foot. And i would also want to know how to write “1Corinthians 13″ . Thank you 
@Marta
Sorry for the late reply. “faith, hope, love”, without the “and” between the words can be found here. As you will notice, it’s not much shorter, since “and” in Arabic consists of just one letter.
I’m so excited I found this blog!!
I am going to get Faith in Arabic on my wrist.
Now I know I will it will be done correctly. Last thing I want is a tattoo with the wrong meaning!
This is such an amazing blog!!
I was wondering if you would be able to show me what Saved (religous) saved was in Arabic.
Thank you so so much in advance.
i want to know how to write my sons name in arab Julius my baby daddy is arab and i want to know how to
i want to get love conquers all and love kills slowly written in arabic? can someone help me?
Hi, would it be possible if you could you tell me what the arabic translation for serenity is? and also Chloe if you can? I have found your website very helpful and one of only a few that seem to be legitimate! Thank you very much.
Hi,can you write Atima in Arabic?It ’s a name,just to know…But i need that as a picture,I want to print that..,’cause i Arabic when I copy that and paste it doesnt look same….Thank you so much.
Hi, you replied saying i should get it written counter clockwise, is there any chance you could show me a picture of the same tattoo but counter clockwise the faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love tattoo. Just as an example thankyou
@Chloe
Yes, sure. When I said that you should rotate the image 45° counter clockwise I meant it quite literally. Here is the picture for “Faith, hope and love – but the greatest of these is love” rotated 45° counter clockwise:
Click Here
I didn’n get my answer.Atima in Arabic….
@Alma
My translation of the name “Atima” into Arabic is:
If you want to have this name in different styles and fonts, then I’d like to refer you to my custom tattoo design service.
wow it took me all day to find this site!! awesome!
ok, so i want a tattoo in arabic. i cannot decide between “live,love,laugh” andd “faith,hope,love” as you’ve shown above.
i was wondering if you could provide the picture of both of these phrases, rotated 45 degrees counter clockwise
thankyou!!
and merry christmas from new zealand!
Hello ArabicGenie
Can you translate this phrases please : ” People always leave and never come back or if they come back, never be the same again” I want this for my tattoo
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year
I didn’n get my answer
@Iona
I try to do my best, but I just don’t have enough time to translate all requests for free. So, if you want to book a slot in my schedule you might want to order a custom design here:
Unique Arabic Tattoo Design Service
(on the page you can only select up to six words in length, but I’ll make an exception for you and translate the whole phrase you requested for the same fee as six words)
Thank you so much. I’ll be waiting’ for your answer. This Phrase it’s mean a lot for me
If you have time could you write out “strength and beauty” i would like to get this tattooed on the back of my neck and also the word, “compassion”, thank you!!
This site is amazing and you have a great talent! I’m so glad i discovered your site:) Could you please write out the words “broken promises” in your unique calligraphy for me? I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you and Happy New Year!!
Randa, I have translated “compassion” for you in a new blog post here. Hope you like it.
Thanks so much your awesome and its beautiful, I will get this tattooed on my ankle this weekend hopefully! Anything on strength and beauty yet?
hey dude i was hoping for a written form in arabic caligraphy to be tattooed on my back. it’s an old arab proverb which goes like “Death is a black camel which kneels at every man’s gate. “
Hi Raul,
I think that proverb is of Turkish origin. However, I can translate it into Arabic for you. Just go to my Custom Tattoo Design section and select 6 words. (I know it’s longer than 6 words, but I’ll translate the rest for free.)
HI,
so please identify for me which is FAITH HOPE LOVE? just so i know which is which
please thank you
Qivi, please see my comment above. The phrase is represented in five different fonts.
الإيمان = (the)faith
الرجاء = (the)hope
المحبة = (the)love*
و = and
*Note that المحبة does not translate as “romantic” love here. In this context it refers more to the kind of “Christian” / “compassion” love.
hi,
i was also thinking about getting faith, hope, and love in arabic as for a tattoo. where i want to get it, is on my upper left arm on the inside of the bicep area, so which way is the correct way to have the words tattooed?
Hi JW,
Remember that Arabic is written from right to left. So in your case of the inside of the upper left arm I would think that the tattoo should be written from the elbow area in the direction of your armpit. This way you would be able to read the tattoo yourself when you lift your left arm. I hope that makes sense. Let me know.
ok thanks! yea it makes sense, and it helped a lot
hello, I want to ask me to translate “Forever in my heart!” my boyfriend is Arab and I want to dedicate this tattoo on it:))) thanks
P.S. if you can get a response quickly please because I have an hour in Friday for the tattoo!! thanks
and whether it can have several options ………………….?
Hi there.. would it be possible to see what my name (Alma) would look like in Arabic? I was thinking of having it tattooed. Also, does it mean anything in Arabic?
Hi, well i had a question. how do you translate “my beauty” in Arabic language?
Is it possible to see what my name (Carolynn) would look like in Arabic? I really would like to get it tattooed.
Thanks for you help.