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).