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Islamic Glossary A-G
Aakhira: The hereafter
'Aalim(pl. 'Ulamaa): Learned religous
scholar
Aameen: Literally means " O Allah accept our
invocations"
'Aashooraa:The tenth day of Muharram( the
first month of the Islaamic calendar)
Aayah:(pl. Aayaat): a Sign of Allah, a verse
of the Qur'aan
Aayaat: See Aayah
'Abd:
worshipper.
Aboo (Abee, Abaa: father of;
used as a means of identification
'Adaalah: Justice, uprightness of
character
Adhaan: call to
prayer
Ahl us-Sunnah
wal-Jamaa'ah:
'Adl:
Justice, upright and just
Ahaadeeth: See Hadeeth
Ahad: Solitary hadeeth, report by a single person or by odd
individual
Ahlul-Kitaab(people of the Book):Term used
collectively to refer to the Jews and Christians, to whom the
Towraat(Tawrah) and the Injeel ( Gospel) were revealed
respectively
Ahlus
Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah: Those who hold fast to that which the
Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon with
regards to 'Aqeedah, Manhaj and all other matters of religion and
who hold onto this way, not abandoning it for the way of the
innovated and misguided sects.
'Alaihis-salaam: "may Allaah protect
and preserve him". It is said after the name of a Prophet of Allaah
or after a name of an angel.
Allaah: The creator of the universe,Allah
(subhana wa ta aala) is singular and is not human nor part of a
trinity, as in christianity
Allahu
Akbar: literally means " Allah is the
Greatest"
Allahul-Musta'aan: literally means "Allah's
assistance is sought "
Al-Humdu-Lillah: Literally means " All
praise be to Allah"
Al-Masjid
Al-Aqsaa: The masjid in Al-Quds(Jerusalem), which is the
third holiest masjid in Islaam
Al-Masjid
An-Nabawee: The Prophet's masjid in Madeenah, which is the
second holiest masjid in Islaam
Al-Masjid
Al-Haraam: The grand masjid in Makkah, which is the holiest
masjid in Islaam.
'Amah
: a female slave/servant
'Amal:
act,practice,precedent
Amr (pl. Awaamir, Umoor) Command,
matter affair
Ansaar: "Helpers"; the Muslims of
Madeenah who supported the Muslims who migrated from
Makkah
'Aqeedah:that which binds or that
which is rooted in the heart; the principles and details of
belief.
'Aqeeqah: The sacrificing of two sheep for a
boy or one sheep for a girl on the occasion of their birth, as a
token of gratitude to Allah for His favours
'Aql:
intellect, rationality, reason
'Arafah(pl Arafaat) The open plains
south-east of Makkah where the pilgrims gather on the 9th day of
Dhul Hijjah as per the rites of Hajj
'Arsh:
Throne
As salaamu
'Alaykum: Literally means " peace be upon you". It is the
_expression used by Muslims to greet each other
Asl (pl. Usool): root, origin, source
'Asr
: Salaat al-: Late afternoon prayer. The third of the
obligatory five daily prayers
Astagfi-rullah: Literally means " I seek
forgiveness from Allah"
Athar (pl. Aathaar): Deeds and precedents of the Companions of
the Prophet( sallallahu alayhe was sallam
A'uthoo
Billaahe min ash-Shataanir-Rajeem: Literally means " I
beseech Allah in seeking refuge from the Shataan the
outcast".
Barzakh: lit. barrier; the life
between the life of this world and the Hereafter (i.e the period in
the grave).
Baatil: Null and void
Baqee': The graveyard of the people of
Madeenah, close to the Prophets masjid. A number of the Prophet's
(sallallahu alayhe was salaam) wives and daughters are buried there,
including many thousands of his companions
Bid'ah: an innovation in the religion of
Islaam. This is to be detested and rejected
Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem: Literally
means" In the name of Allah the most Gracious, The Most
Merciful"
Companions: (ar, Sahabah):
the Muslims who saw the Prophet (salalhu alayhi wa sallam) and died
upon Islam.
Da'eef: weak; unauthentic
(narration).
Da'eef Jiddan: very weak; unauthentic
(narration.
Dajjaal: Great liar or deciever. The one
eyed beast popularly known as the Anti-Christ
Daleel
(pl. Adillah): Proof, indication, evidence
Da'wah: invitation; call to
Allaah.
Deen: way of life prescribed by
Allaah i.e Islam.
Dhuhaa: The forenoon, Also time for the
voluntary prayer
Dhul-Hijjah: Twelfth month of the Islaamic
Hijrah year
Dhul-Qidah: Eleventh month of the Islaamic
Hijrah year
Diyah(pl. Diyaat): Blood money( for wounds,
killing, etc.) , compensation paid by the killer to the relatives of
the victim
Du'aa: invocation;
supplication.
Dunyaa: This
world
'Eed: a day of festival for the
Muslims, there are two 'eeds every year, one marking the
end of Ramadan and the other in the month of
Dhul-Hijjah.
'Eed al Fitr
and "Eed al Adhaa: Two Islaamic festivals. The first occurs
at the end of the fasting month of Ramadhaan, whilst the second
occurs at the end of the Hajj
Eeman: faith; to affirm all that was
revealed to the Messenger (sallahu alahyi wa sallam) , affirming
with the heart, testifying with the tongue and acting with the
limbs. the actions of the limbs are from the completeness of Eemaan. Faith increases with obedience and decreases with
disobedience.
Faqeeh: A scholar, one who is learned
in Fiqh (Islaamic Jurisprudence),a jurist who can give religious
verdicts, one who possesses sound understanding.
Fajr;
Salaatul: Predawn prayer. The first of the Obligatory five daily
prayers
Faraaid: Fixed share prescribed for
distribution of the wealth of the deceased amongs the
relatives
Fard
al-'Ayn: An individual duty obligatory upon every
individual.
Fard Kifaayah: collective
obligation-if fulfilled by a part of the community then the rest are
not obliged to fulfill.
Fataawa: see fatwa
Fatwa (pl. Fataawa;
religious verdict.
Fiqh: the understanding and
application of the Sharee'ah from its
sources.
Fitrah: the natural disposition that
one is born upon.
Ghusl:
" Major ritual purification", the complete ritual washing of the
body. It is required , for example, after sexual intercourse or
after a woman has completed her menses
Haafidh: A preserver of the Qur'aan and
Ahadeeth.
Hadath Akhbar: The major impurity, i.e.
after sexual relations or fluid discharge
Hadath Asghar: The minor impurity , i.e.
passing wind, urine or stools
Hadd (pl. Hudood): Limit, prescribed
penalty
Hadeeth (pl. Ahadeeth): the sayings, actions
and approvals authentically narrated on the Prophet (sallahu alayhi
wa sallam).
Hadeeth Qudsee (Ahaadeeth al-Qudsiyyah): A
narration where the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) is relaying
something from Allaah that is not found in the
Qur'aan.
Hafidhahullah: "may Allaah protect him",
usually said after then name of a scholar who is still
alive.
Hafitha-hallah: Literally means " may Allah
preserve and protect her"
Hafitha-humallaah: Literally
means " May Allah preserve and protect them
both"
Hafitha-humullaah: Literally means " May
Allah preserve and protect them all"
Hajj: Pilgrimage to
Makkah.
Halaal: permitted under the Sharee'ah.
Haraam: prohibited under the Sharee'ah.
Hasan: fine;term used for an authentic hadeeth, which does not reach the higher grade
of saheeh.
Hayaa: Modesty, self respect, bashfullness
honour etc. It is of two kinds: good Hayaa- is to be ashamed to
commit a sin which Allah ( subhana wa ta 'alaa ) and His messenger(
sallallahu alayhe was salaam) have forbidden : Bad Hayaa - is to be
ashamed to do what Allah ( subhana wa ta 'alaa ) and His messenger(
sallallahu alayhe was salaam) have
ordered
Hijaab: A refernce to the proper dress of a
Muslim woman which covers her completely
Hijaamah: Cupping
Hijrah: the migration of the Prophet
(sallahu alayhi wa sallam) from Makkah to al-Madeenah migration of
the Muslims from the land of the disbelievers to the lands of the
Muslims.
Hukm (pl. Ahkaam): Law, value or ruling of
Sharee'ah.
'Ibadah: worship; worship of
Allaah.
Ibn: son of: used as a means of
identification.
'Iddah: The womans waiting period following
dissolution of marriage either by death (of her husband)or
divorce
Ifaadhah, Tawaaf al- : The
circumambulation of the Ka'bah which is performed on the tenth day
of Dhul Hijah. It is one of the pillars or essential acts of the
Hajj.
Iftaar: Breaking the
fast
Ihraam: The inviolable state of either Hajj
or 'Umrah In this state, one who is not allowed to perform certain
acts that on another occasions are
permissable
Ihsaan: Purity in worship, worshipping
Allaah as if you see Him, though you do not see Him, knowing that He
sees you.
Ijimaa': "consensus"' a unified opinion
of scholars regarding a
certain issue.
Ijtihaad: exertion of effort; the process of
arriving at a reasoned decision by a scholar on an
issue.
Ikhlaas: Sincerity of worship for
Allaah.
Ikhtilaaf: Juristic
disagreement
'Ilm: knowledge
Imaam: leader; leader in Salaah, knowledge or fiqh ; leader of a
state.
Inshaa-Allah: Literally means " If Allah
wills"
Iqaamah:The second call to prayerto announce
its commencement immediately thereafter.
Isnaad: the chain of narrators linking the
collector of the saying to the person
quoted.
'Ishaa, Salaat al-: Night prayer. the fifth
of the obligatory five daily prayers
Istiwaa: ascending;the ascending of Allaah
above His throne.
Jannah: Paradise.
Jihad: striving and fighting to make the
Word of Allaah supreme.
Jinn: a creation of Allaah created of
smokeless fire.
Jumu'uah: Friday.
Kaafir: (pl. Kuffaar): a rejector
of Islaam i.e a disbeliever.
Ka'bah:A square stone building in
al-Masjidul-Haram (the great Masjid in Makkah whicjh the Muslims go
to for pilgrimage and which all Muslims direct their face in
prayer). The foundation was built bt Ibraheem (Abraham_ and Ismael
(Ishmael). (alayhi salaam)
Khaleefah: (pl. Khulaafaa')" the
head of the Islamic government (the khilaafah) to whom the
oath of allegience is given.
Khilaafah: the Islamic
state:
Khulafaa': see khaleefah
Khutbah:
sermon.
Islamic Glossary M-S
M - N - O - P - Q - R - S
Madeenah: The holy city located in
Saudia Arabia, which was the first political centre of
Islaam
Madhab: position or opinion of a scholar;
school of thought.
Mahr : Bridal money given by the husband to
the wife at the time of marriage. It is from the rights of the wife.
It strictly becomes the property of the wife to use as she
wishes
Mahram: A reference to a womans husband and
all the men that are within the prohibited degrees of marriage, such
as her father, brothers, father-in-law, and so forth. It is allowed
for women to be alone with such men, travel with them and so
on.
Makkah: The holy city located in Saudia
Arabia, where the Ka'bah is situated
Makrooh: Not approved of, abominable,
reprehensible, however not sinful
Mandoob: Commendable
Manhaj: Methodology
Mansookh: Abrogated, repealed
Maqaam Ibraheem: The stone upon which
Ibraaheem stood whilst he and his son Ismaeel built the
Ka'bah
Marfoo': raised; a narration attributed
to the Prophet.
Marwah: One of the two mounts neighbouring
to the east of Al-Masjid al-Haraam
Masaajid: see
masjid.
Masha-Allah: Literally means "
Whatever Allah wishes" , indicating a good
omen
Mashoor: well known ,
widespread
Masjid: (pl. Masaajid):
mosque.
Mawdoo': fabricated; spurious; invented
(naration).
Mawqoof: stopped; a naration from a
Companion (not going back to the Prophet (sallahu alahyi wa
sallam)).
Minbar: pulpit.
Mu'adhdhin: one who performs the
adhaan
Mufaassir: One who explains the
Qur'aan.
Muhaajir( pl. Muhaajiroon/Muhaajireen):One
who migrates from the lands of the disbelievers to the land of the
Muslims for the sake of Allaah.
Mujtahid: One who is qualified to pass
judgements using ijtihaad.
Mursal: loose; a narration in which a
Successor narrated directly from the Prophet (alayhi wa sallam),
i.e.omitting the Companion from whohe heard
it.
Mushrik: one who worships along with Allaah
or ascribes one or more of Allaah's attributes to other then Him;
one who commits shirk.
Mustahaab: recommended; one who does a
mustahabb action is rewarded, but one who leaves it is not
punished.
Mutawaatir: a hadeeth which
is narrated by a very large number of reporters, suchthatis cannot
be supposed that they all agreed upon a
lie.
Meeqat(pl.
Mawaaqeet): Refers to place specified for pilgrims to assume the
state of Ihraam
Miraaj:
Ascension of the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam to the
heavens
Miswaak: "
Toothbrush" adapted from roots of the Arak tree
Mubaah:
Permissable
Muhammad: The
last Messenger of Allah to all of mankind and jinn. He was the last
of the Prophets in a line which included such Prophets as
Ibrihim(Abraham), Nooh(Noah), Moosa(Moses), 'Eesaa(Jesus)(alayhim
as-salaam). No new Prophets or Messengers will ever be sent after
him. Muhammad(sallallahu alayhe was salaam )was a direct descendent
of Ibraaheem through Ismaaeel ( Ishmael)('alayhimaa
as-salaam)
Muharram: First
month of the Islaamic Hijri year
Mujaahid(pl.
Mujaahidoon): One engaged in Jihaad
Musallaa: A
praying place
Mukallaf: A
competent person who is in full possession of his
faculities
Mumin: A beliver
in Allah, His Angels, His ( revealed) Books, His Messengers, The
last Day, Pre-destination both the good and the bad
Munaafiq: A
hypocrite from amongst the Muslims whose punishment will be worse
than that of a disbeliever in the Hereafter
Muslim: One who
has totally submitted to the will of Allah. the name given to the
followers of Islaam
Musnad(pl.
Masaaneed): A hadeeth with a continuous chain of
transmitters
Mustahaadhah:
refernce to the physical condition of a woman characterized by the
condition of istihaadhah
Mu'takif: One in
a state of I'tikaaf
Naafilah (pl. nawaafil) : Voluntary act of worship
Naasikh: The abrogator
Nahee : Prohibition
Naskh : Abrogation, appeal
Nass (pl. Nusoos) : a clear injunction, an
explicit textual ruling
Nikaah: Marriage contract
Nisaab: Minimum amount of property liable to
the payment of zakaat
Niyyah:
Intention.
People of the Book( Ahlul Kitaab) :Term used
collectively to refer to the Jews and Christians, to whom the
Towraat(Tawrah) and the Injeel ( Gospel) were revealed
respectively
Qaadhee: Judge
Qadar: Divine preordainment
Qiblah: the direction the Muslims
face during prayer (i.e towards Makkah
Qiraan: When a person performs Hajj or Umrah
at one time, with one intention, and entering the state of Ihram
only once
Qiyaam: The standing posture in
salaat
Qiyaamah: The day of ressurection, The day
of judgement
Qur'aan: The final revelation from
Allah(subhana wa ta'alaa)to His final Messenger
Muhammad(sallallahu alayhe was salaam). Refuting any verse of the
Noble Quran renders a Muslim a disbeliever
Qu'ood: the sitting position
in salaat
Rabee al
-Awwal: Third month of the Islaamic Hijri year
Rabee'
ath Thanee/al-Aakhir: Forth month of the Islaamic
Hijri Year
Radiyallaahu 'anhu/'anhaa/'anhum/'anhumaa:
may Allaah be pleased with him/her/them/both of
them.
Rahimahullaah/Rahimahumullaah: may Allaah
bestow His mercy upon him/them.
Rajm: The stoning to death of those
married persons who commit the crime of illegal sexual
intercourse(adultery)
Rak'ah: one cycle of Prayer, consisting of
standin, bowing and prostrating.
Ramadan: the ninth monthof the Islamic
calendar, in which the Muslims fast.
Ramal: Walking fast around the Kab'ah during
tawaaf exaggerating the movement of the limbs to display ones
physical strength . This is specific to men and it to be done for
the first three circuits only
Ramee: Stoning the pillars of Minaa. This is
from the rites of Hajj
Ribaa: Interest, Usury
Riwaayah (pl. Riwaayaat): Narration,
transmission
Rukoo': "bowing." a part of the prayer.
Saa': A measure of food. It is four
times what a person can hold when he cups his hands
together
Sabab (pl. Asbaab): Cause, means of
obtaining something
Sa'ee: Walking seven times between
the mountains of Safaa and Marwa during the Hajj and the
"umrah
Safaa: One of the two mounts
neighbouring to the east of Masjid al
Haraam.
Safar: Second month of the Islaamic
Hijrah year
Sahaabah: The close companions of The
Prophet ( sallallahu alayhe was salaam )
Saheeh: An authentic hadeeth, a
hadeeth of the highest level of
authenticity
Sahoor: The recommended pre-Dawn meal
preceding the fast
Sal-Allaahu alayhe wa sallam: May
Allah send prayers and salutations upon
him
Salaat:prescribed prayer (e.g the five
obligatory prayers); prayers upon the Prophet (alayhi wa
sallam). Salaf: predecessors; the early Muslims of
the first three generations; the Companions, the Successors and
their successors.
Salafee: one who ascribes himself to the
salaf and follows in their way.
Salafus-Saaliheen: pious predecessors; the
Muslims of the first three generations: the Companions; the
Successors and their successors.
Sawm: Obligatory abstentaion from
food, drink, sexual intersourse, and the like from sunrise to sunset
for the entire month of Ramadhaan
Seerah: A biography of the life of
the final Messenger Muhammad( sallallahu alayhe was
salaam)
Shaadh: unusual; a narration whose narrators
are reliable but they contradict which is better established and
more authentic.
Shahaadah: to bear witness (that none
havethe right tobe worshipped except Allaah and Muhammad (sallahu
alahyi wa sallam) is his Messenger:
Martyrdom.
Shaikh: scholar.
Sharee'ah: the Divine code of
Law.
Shart (pl. Shuroot): Condition
Shawaal: the tenth month of the Islamic
calendar. It is after the month of
Ramadan.
Shaytaan (pl. Shayaateen): Satan, the
devil
Shirk: associating partners with Allaah;
compromising any aspect of tawheed.
Shoora: Consultation
Siraat: Literally means path, way , road. It
also refers to the bridge across the Hell Fire over which people
will need to cross to reach paradise
Soorah: a chapter of the
Qur'aan.
Subhaanahu wa ta'alaa: Glory be to
Him the Almighty
Sufism: Originally applied to people who
devoted themselves to solitary devotions remaining aloof fromt he
world to an extreme degree. In time they introdced various innovated
practices and developed into various tareeqahs, very similiar to the
monastic orders, eachfollwing their own innovated and special way,
incorporating many aspects of shirk and kufr. See "The Reality of
Sufism in Light of Qur'aan and Sunnah" by Shaykh Muhammad
ibn Rabee' al-Madkhlaee (Al-Hidaayah Publishing and Distribution,
U.K. 1995)
Sujood: "prostration." a part of
prayer.
Sunnah: in its broadest sense, the entire Deen which the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa sallam) came with
and taught, i.e allmatetrs of belief, rulings, manners and actions
which were conveyed by the Companions. It is also those matters
which the Prophet (alayhi wa sallam) established by his sayings,
actions and tacit approval- as oppsed to bid'ah (innovation).
Sutrah: An object like a pillar, wall, stick,
spear etc. the height of which should not be less than a foot and
must be in front of a praying person to act as a symbloical barrier
between him and those passing in front
Islamic Glossary T-Z
Taabi'ee (pl/ Taabi'een); a Muslim (other
than another Companion) who met a
Companion.
Taabi'een: see
taabi'ee/
Tafseer: explanation of the
Qur'aan.
Tahaajud, Salaat al- : Voluntary late-night
prayers, performed between Salaat al Ishaa and Salaat al Fajr
Tahreem: Prohibition, or rendering something
haraam
Takbeer: The saying of " Allahu Akhbar"
Takleef: Liablity, obligation
Talaaq: Divorce initiated by the Husband
Talbiyyah: The saying of " Labbayk Allaahumma
Labbayk" During the Hajj and 'Umrah
Tamattu': When a person performs the 'Umrah
during one of the months of Hajj. Then he leaves the state of ihraam
and re-enters it to begin his Hajj
Taqleed: Imitation, following the views
and opinions of others
Taqwa: "taqwa is acting in obedience
to Allaah, hoping for His mercy upon light from Him and Taqwa is
leaving acts of disobedience,out of fear of Him, upon light from
Him."
Taraaweeh, Salaat al: Voluntary prayers
offered after the Salaat al-Ishaa on the nights of Ramadhaan
Tashahhud: The recitation of the invocation(
at-tahiyyatud lillaahe) up to ( wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan
Rasoolallah) while in the qu'ood posture in salaah
Tashree': Legislation
Tasleem: Whilst in the qu'ood posture, turning
the face to the right and then to the left reciting assalamu alaykum
wa rahmatuallah
Tawaaf: Circumambulation of the Ka'bah,
circling the Ka'bah seven times as an act of worship.
Tawaatur: Continuous recurrence, continuous
testimony
Tawheed: Allaah is the only Lord of
creation, He alone, is their Provider and sustainer, Allaah has
Names and Attributes that none of the creaton share and Allaah is to
be singled out for worship, alone.
Tawheed
is maintaining
the Oneness of Allaah in all the above mentioned categories. Islam
makes the clear distunction betwen the Creator and the
created.
Umm: mother of; used as a means of
identification.
Ummah: "nation"; the Muslims as a
group.
Umrah: the lesser pilgrimage to
Makkah.
Usool: the
fundamentals.
Waleemah: the wedding
feast.
Waajib: Obligatory, fardh
Wahee: Divine revelation
Walee: Guardian
Waqf (pl. Awqaaf): Charitable endowment
Witr: Odd number of Rak'ahs tp be performed
after Salaat al-Ishaa, and before Salaat al-fajr
Wudhoo: " Minor ritual purification",
ablution with clean pure water. The ablution (ritual washing) that
is performed before the Prayer and certain other acts of
worship
Wujoob: Obligation, rendering something
obligatory
Zakaah: The alms tax deducted from the Muslims
wealth at a rate of 2.5%, and distributed to the poor and
needy
Zakaat al -Fitr: Obligatory charity given by
Muslims before the Eed al-Fitr prayer
Zam Zam: Sacred well located within Masjid
al-Haraam
Zhur, Salaat az-: Mid afternoon prayer. the
second of the obligatory five prayers Zinaa: Adultery, fornication
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