Glossary
Ahadith (pl. of Hadith): The sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and error free Imams (‘a)
Ahl al-Bayt: The progeny of the Prophet Muhammad (S)
Ahl al-Sunnah: Sunni Muslims.
‘Aqd al-hibah: Deeds of gift.
‘Aqilah: Paternal male relatives.
Asalat al-lbahah: Principle of Permissibility.
Asl: An original case used in qiyas.
Ayah (pl. ayat): Literally, a sign. In Qur'anic terminology, a technical division of the Qur'an, a verse.
Ayn al-yaqin: See yaqin.
Al-Bahth al-Kharij: The most advanced course of jurisprudence in Islamic theological colleges.
Baligh: Mature, legally, of age.
Bayt al-Mal: Treasury.
Burhan: Deduction, inference from the universal to the particular.
Dhimi: A non-Muslim under the protection of an Islamic state.
Dhul yad: A person who has control (see yad).
Diyah: Blood money. Financial compensation.
Faqih (pl. fuqaha): A jurist.
Far’: New case used in qiyas.
Fatwa (pl.fatiwa): Independent legal opinion/s.
Fiqh: Jurisprudence.
Gharar: Risk, lack of information, uncertainty, hazard.
Ghusl: Bathing of the whole body, also known as the greater ablution.
Hadith (pl. ahadith): A report of sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (S) and error-free Imams (‘a).
Hajj: Annual pilgrimage to Makkah and other holy sites which each Muslim must undertake at least once in a lifetime if he or she has the health and wealth to do so.
Halal: Lawful and permitted under Islamic law.
Hanafi: A follower of Abu Hanifah, after whom one of the Schools of Jurisprudence is named.
Hanbali: A follower of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, after whom one of the Schools of Jurisprudence is named.
Haqq al-yaqin: See yaqin.
Haraj: Unbearable hardship.
Haram: Unlawful and prohibited under Islamic law.
Harbi: At war with the Islamic state.
Hawzah: A traditional Islamic theological college.
Hayd: Menstruation.
Hukm: A statement, verdict.
Husn: Beauty or goodness, appropriateness.
‘Iddah: A celibate period of waiting for divorced or widowed women before remarriage.
Ihram: The condition of observance and purity required for pilgrimage, also describes the clothing worn by male pilgrims.
Ihsan: (lit. virtue) doing good.
Ijazah: Permission granted by an authorizing source.
Ijma: Consensus.
Ijmali: Summary knowledge (see inhilal).
Ijtihad: The deduction of rulings from their sources, primarily the Qur'an and ahadith.
Ijtima wal-amr wal-nahy: The combination of command and prohibition.
‘Illah: Cause, reason.
Ilm al-yaqin: See yaqin.
Imamiyah: Followers of the authentic Qur'anic teaching of the twelve Imams of the Prophet's (S) progeny.
Inhilal al-‘ilm al-ijmali: Dissolution of summary knowledge.
Istihalah: Transformation.
Istihsan: Equity. To deem preferable. Preference for one kind of analogy over another.
Istiqra’: Induction, inference from the particular to the universal.
Ishtishab: Presumption of continuity.
Jallalah: Animal accustomed to eat impure substances.
Jihad: To strive, struggle. To carry a heavy load.
Juhd: To strive. Struggle.
Khabar wahid: Solitary report.
Kubra: A major premise in a syllogism (see Sughra, natijah).
La: An article that expresses negation.
Lam al-‘ahd: Reference to a previously mentioned subject.
Lam al-jins: Reference to universality.
Mafhum al-muwafaqah: A case of higher degree compared to a text (understood without saying).
Mahram: A person with whom marriage is not lawful, e.g. a brother, sister, mother, father, aunt, uncle, etc.
Makruh: Any act or thing that is discouraged/detested under Islamic law.
Malakut: The celestial realm. Spiritual authority.
Maliki: A follower of Malik Ibn Anas after whom one of the Schools of Jurisprudence is named.
Manisik: Rituals of pilgrimage.
Mandub: Recommended.
Mansus al-‘illah: When the reason for a ruling is clearly mentioned in the text.
Ma’ruf: Good behaviour.
Mathhab (pl.mathahib): School/s of Islamic law.
Mubah: Permissible, optional.
Mudarabah: A business contract in which the investor and entrepreneur agree the ratio in which any profits are to be shared.The investor provides the capital and the entrepreneur the expertise, time and effort.
Mufassar: Unequivical.
Muhkam: Perspicuous or lucid.
Mujmal: That which is ambivalent.
Mujtahid: A jurist.
Mukhalafah ihtimaliyah: Probable non-conformity.
Mukhalafah qat’iyah: Definitive non-conformity.
Muqayyad: Qualified. Restricted concept.
Musa bihi: A legacy.
Musa lahu: A legatee.
Musa: A testator.
Mustahab: Recommended.
Mutanajis: Item affected by impurity (transferred via dampness).
Mutashabih: That which is equivocal.
Mutawatir: A Hadith with an uninterrupted chain of narrators.
Mutlaq: Unrestricted and unconditional concept.
Nafy: To negate (a statement).
Nahy: To prohibit.
Najasah: Impurity.
Najis: Unclean, impure.
Najis al-‘ayn: Impure in itself.
Nass: An unequivocal/explicit text.
Natijah: A conclusion drawn from the premises in a syllogism (see Kubra, Sughra).
Qa'idat al-Faragh: The principle of completion: no validity for doubt after an action has been completed.
Qasd al-Qurbah: To draw closer to Allah.
Qat’i: Definitive.
Qimar: Gambling.
Qiyas: Analogy.
Qusamah: Those who have sworn an oath in court.
Rak’ah (pl. rak’at): A cycle for standing, bowing and prostrating during prayer.
Riba (lit. increase): Interest on loans, i.e. usury.
Rukn: An essential element.
Ruku: To bow before the Lord. A position during prayer.
Sa’id: Soil, earth.
Sajdah (sujud): To prostrate. A position during prayer.
Sajdat al-sahw: A prostration made for any mistake during prayer.
Shafi’i: A follower of Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafi’i after whom one of the Schools of Jurisprudence is named.
Shahadatain: Declaration of the two tenets of faith.
Shakk: Scepticism or doubt.
Shar’i: Legal.
Shari’ah: Islamic law.
Shaytan (pl. Shayatin): Satan or devil.
Shi’ah: Followers of the Islamic teaching of ‘Ali (‘a) after the Prophet (S).
Siyam: Fasting.
Sughra: A minor premise in a syllogism (see kubra, natijah).
Sulh: An amicable treaty or agreement.
Sunnah (lit. practice): The Prophet's (S) tradition, sayings and way of life.
Sunni: Those who follow the caliphs after the Prophet (S).
Surah: A division of the Qur'an.
Ta’arud: Texts that conflict and thus cannot both be true.
Tafsili: Detailed (knowledge).
Tanqih al-manat al-qat’i: Verifying the precise reason for a ruling. Definitive effective cause.
Taqiyah: Dissemination.
Tashahud: A declaration of faith.
Tayamum: To perform ablution without water.
Tazahum: Table of Priorities.
Tuhr: The time between two monthly periods of menstruation.
‘Urf custom: Practices within society that are generally accepted.
‘Usr: Unbearable hardship.
Usul al-fiqh: The Principles of Islamic Law.
Wahm: Low probability (less than 50°/o).
Wajib: Obligatory or incumbent.
Wajib mudayyaq: A limited time frame.
Wajib muwassa’: A flexible time frame.
Waqf: Charity or endowment.
Wasiy: The executor of a will.
Wasiyyah: Last will and testament.
Wasiyyah ‘ahdiyah: Administration of a will.
Wasiyyah tamlikiyah: Gifting under a will.
Waswas: Obsessive compulsive disorder.
Wudu': Ablution in preparation for prayer.
Yad: A hand, a handle, power.
Yad mubtilah: Unrightful possession.
Yad muhiqah: Rightful possession.
Yaqin: Certainty, absence of doubt.
‘Ayn al-yaqin: Certainty itself.
Haqq al-yaqin: Absolute certainty.
‘Ilm al-yaqin: To know with certainty.
Zahir: That which is manifest.
Zaidi: A follower of Zaid Ibn ‘Ali Ibn Husayn, who believed that he was eligible for the Imamah rather than his brother Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a).
Zakah/zakat: An Islamic religious annual welfare tax due on specific commodities.
Zann: High probability of accuracy (51-99%).
Zanni: That which is speculative.
Ziarat ‘Ashura: Salutation to Imam Husayn (‘a) on 10th of Muharram.
Zina: Adultery, fornication.