read

Glossary Of Islamic Terms

(‘a): An abbreviation of ‘alaihi as-salam’, that is “Peace on him”.

(‘aj): An abbreviation of ‘ajjial Allahu Ta’ala farajahu shareef’, that is “May Allah hasten his reappearance”.

Aali Muhammad: Progeny of Muhammad.

Aamal: Rituals.

Ababeel: Little birds that destroyed the army of the People of Elephants by dropping on them pebbles of baked clay they had carried in their beaks and claws.

Abjad: Numerical values of Arabic letters.

Ahl al-Sunna wa al-Jamat: Majority Muslims who believe Abu Bakr to be the first caliph.

Ahl al-Bayt: People of the house. They are The Holy Prophet (S), Janabe Fatimah az-Zahra’ (‘a), Ali (‘a) and his eleven successors.

Allamah: Learned scholar.

Amir Al-Mu’minin: Leader of the believers. Title of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a).

Amr al-Takwini: Things beyond the control of man. Natural factors etc.

Amr al-Tashri: Things under the control of man. Voluntary deeds etc.

Arsh: Throne or heavens.

Ashura: 10th of Muharram, day of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (‘a) and the tragedy of Karbala’.

al-’Asr: Afternoon (prayer).

Ayat: Verse of the Holy Qur’an.

Azaan: Call for prayer.

Bada: Change in divine will.

Baseer: All-seeing.

Bismi-Llah: In the Name of Allah.

Dirham: Unit of currency.

Du’a: Invocation.

Daurah: Occasional revision of what one has memorized so far.

Durood: See Salawaat.

I’tikaf: A recommended ritual consisting of a continuous stay of at least three days in the mosque during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan.

Fajr: Morning.

Faqih: Jurisprudent.

Fir’awun: Pharaoh.

Ghusl: Ritual bath.

Ghufaila: A two rakat Prayer between Maghrib and Isha.

Hadith al-Nabawi: A statement of the Holy Prophet (S) or a Masoom (‘a).

Hadith al-Qudsi: A saying of Allah apart from the verses of Qur’an.

Hafiz/Haafiz: One, who knows the Qur’an by heart.

Hafiza/Haafiza: Feminine of Hafiz.

Hajar al-Aswad: The black stone in the Ka’aba.

Hajj: Annual pilgrimage to Makkah during the month of Zilqad.

Halal: Permissible, legal.

Haram: Prohibited, illegal.

Hasanah: Unit of heavenly rewards.

Hawza Ilmiya: Islamic religious school.

Hazrat: His or Her Eminence.

Hifz: Learning the Qur’an by heart.

Hijrat/Hijrah: Flight of the Holy Prophet (S) from Mecca to Medina. Beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Hoor al-‘Ayn: Black eyed Houries of Paradise.

Huffaz/Huffaz: Plural of Hafiz.

Hujjat: Proof.

Huroof: (Singular=Harf) Arabic for letter/alphabet.

Iblees: Satan.

Iddah: Waiting period for women before they could remarry.

Iftar: Breaking of the fast.

Ijma: Consensus.

Illiyyin: Heights of Paradise, a divine matter, from which all good is created.

InshaAllah: If Allah wills.

Iqamah: Shorter call for Prayer.

Isha: Late evening.

Istikhara: Seeking the advice of Allah.

Janabat: A state of ritual impurity that can be removed by performing Ghusl (Bath).

Jannah al-Maawa: Paradise, Lit. Garden of perpetuity.

Junub: Ritually impure through sexual intercourse or discharge of semen.

Juz: Arabic word for part. 30th part of Qur’an.

Ka’aba: The Holy House of Allah, the directions that Muslims face during prayers.

Kaffarah: Fine, penalty.

Khariji: A group, which arose against Ali Ibn Abi Talib (‘a) after the battle of Siffin. A heretic sect.

Khilqat: Creation.

Liaan: Sworn allegation of adultery committed by either husband or wife.

Maghrebain: The two prayers of Maghrib (early evening) and Isha (late evening).

Maghrib: Evening prayer, time of sunset

Mahram (pl. Mahrams): Relatives between whom marriage is prohibited.

Makrooh: Detestable, in the Islamic terminology it denotes an action, performing which does not incur sin, but refraining from which earns divine rewards.

Makruh: variant spelling of above term.

Maliki: Followers of the Sunnite Imam Malik.

Maqaam: Lit. place, usually the Place of Ibrahim, a spot in the Ka’aba complex.

Maraja’ Taqlid: The Mujtahid whom people follow in matters of practical law.

Marwar: Repetition of latest lessons.

Masjid al-Haram: The sacred mosque in Mecca.

Masoomeen: (Singular- Masoom): Infallible.

Maula: Master.

Meeqaat: Specific places from where a Hajj pilgrim wears the Ihram.

Mehr: Dower.

Mithqal: A measure of weight of about 4.6 gms.

Miswak: Brushing of teeth, especially with a twig.

Mu’min: Believer.

Mubah: Permitted. It denotes an action, performing of which, earns no rewards and refraining from it is not punishable.

Mullahs: Muslim scholars/leaders.

Mureed: The Restorer.

Mus’haf: Scroll.

Mustahab: Recommended. It is an action, performing which earns rewards and refraining from it is not punishable.

Mutawatir: A tradition related through so many narrators that it is considered absolutely authentic.

Najis: Unclean.

Nasibi: A person who harbours malice against any one of the members of Holy Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a).

Nafila: Recommended prayers.

Nawafil: Plural of Nafila.

Para: 30th part of Qur’an.

q.s.: An abbreviation of ‘Quddasa Sirrohu’, which literally means: “May his resting place remain pure.”

Qa’im: One would rise. A title of Imam al-Mahdi (‘aj).

Qari: Reciter of Qur’an.

Qibla: Prayer direction.

Qiyam: Standing position in Ritual Prayer.

Qunoot: Supplication recited in ritual prayers, usually in the second unit (rakat).

Quraish: the tribe of the Messenger of Allah (S).

Rajm: Stoning, punishment for adultery.

Rakat: A unit of ritual prayer.

Rizq: Sustenance.

Ruh al-Quds: An angel.

Rukn: Lit. pillar usually a place in the Ka’aba complex.

Ruku: Bowing down or genuflection in the ritual prayers.

(S): An abbreviation of ‘salla Allahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam’, that is “Blessings be on him and his Progeny and peace”.

Sadaqah: Voluntary charity, alms.

Safar: Second month of the Islamic calendar.

Sajdah: Prostration.

Salaam: Salute, Islamic greeting.

Salaat: Ritual prayers.

Salawaat: Allahumma Salli ’alaa Muhaammadin wa Aali Muhammad (O Allah, bless Muhammad and the Progeny of Muhammad).

Samee: All-Hearing.

Saqifah: The place where Abu Bakr took caliphate.

Sayyid: Lit. chief. A term for descendants of Lady Fatimah through Imam Husayn (‘a).

Sayyid ash-Shohada’: Chief of the Martyrs, a title of Imam Husayn (‘a).

Sha’ban: The eighth month of the Muslim (Lunar) calendar.

Shab/Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power or 19th, 21st and 23rd nights of the month of Ramadan.

Shaf: Lit: Middle. It is a Two Rakat prayer and a part of Salaat of Shab (Night) (Midnight Prayer)

Shahadatain: the two testimonies of Islamic faith.

Shaitan: Satan.

Shariat/ Shari’ah: Islamic law.

Shaykh: Lit. elder. A genealogical division among Muslims.

Shab al-Abi Talib: Valley in Mecca where the Messenger of Allah (S) and the early Muslims took refuge for some time.

Shukr: Thankfulness.

Shura: Consultation committee formed by Umar for selecting ‘Uthman as the next caliph.

Sirat: Path.

Sujud: Plural of Sajdah, prostration.

Sunnah: Practice (esp. of the Messenger of Allah).

Surahs: Chapter of Qur’an.

t.s.: Abbreviation of Taaba Saraa. See the meaning of ‘q.s.’.

Taqeebaat: Supplications and devotions recited after the ritual prayers.

Taabe’een: Followers of the companions of the Prophet.

Tahlilaat: Saying: Laa Ilaha illa Allah.

Tajwid: Intonation of Qur’an.

Takbir: Allaho Akbar, God is the Greatest.

Takbirat al-Ehraam: Saying Allaho Akbar at the beginning of the ritual prayer.

Talqin: Prayer recited to the dying person or the dead at the time of burial.

Taqiyyah: Dissimulation.

Taqlid: Emulation of a scholar in Islamic practical law.

Taqwa: Piety.

Tasbihaat: Plural of Tasbih, glorification of Allah (esp. in bowing and prostrations in the ritual prayers).

Tasbih: Rosary.

Tashahhud: Recitation in the sitting position in the second and the last unit of the ritual prayer.

Tawakkul: Reliance.

Tawfiq (pl. Tawfeeqit): Divine inspiration.

Tawhid: Belief in the absolute Oneness of Allah.

Tayammum: Substitute of ablution/ritual bath when use of water is not possible or advisable.

Taziyah: A replica of the tomb of Imam Husayn (‘a).

Thawab: Divine rewards.

Thawr, cave of: The cave where the Messenger of Allah (S) hid on way to Medina.

Tooba: It is a tree of Paradise, which can give whatever one wishes.

Torah: The Old Testament.

Two Shaykhs: Abu Bakr and Umar.

Umrah: Optional pilgrimage to Mecca.

Umrat al-Qaza: Lapsed Umrah.

Wajib: Obligatory.

Wajib al-Kifai: An obligatory duty, but if at least one person fulfils it, all the people are absolved.

Wasilah: Mediation.

Witr: Single Rakat Prayer. A part of Midnight Prayer.

Wilayat: Guardianship, belief in the guardianship of Ahl Al-Bayt (‘a) and love towards them.

Wuzu: Ritual ablution.

Zakat: Obligatory Islamic wealth tax.

Ziarat: Visitation/ or recitation of salutation while facing the tomb of religious personalities.

Zihar: Pre-Islamic form of divorce, consisting in the words of repudiation: You are to me like my mother’s back. (anti a’layyah ka-zahri ummi).

Zuhoor: Reappearance (of Imam al-Mahdi [a.t.f.s.]).

Zuhr: Noon prayers.

Zuhrain: The two ritual prayers of Zuhr (noon) and al-’Asr (afternoon).