| Allah |
The
One God |
| Abbas |
Abbas
b. Ali b. Abi Talib was the brother of Imam Hussein
(A.S.). His mother was Umm al-Banin. Abbas was
killed at Karbala.
|
| Ablution |
Also
known as wudu, to clean oneself in a specific way
before salat (prayer). |
| The
Adhan |
The
Call to Prayer |
| Ashura |
In
the month of Muharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680
AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as
Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates.. It
appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar
events, this battle would be recorded in history and
forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred
on the 10th day of Muharram in Kerbala were to
become a beacon and an inspiration for future
generations.It appeared at that time that like
hundreds of similar events, this battle would be
recorded in history and forgotten in time. However,
the events that occurred on the 10th day of Muharram
in Kerbala were to become a beacon and an
inspiration for future generations. |
| 'Asr |
'Asr
is the afternoon, and the prayer of the afternoon |
| A'maal |
A'maal
is an act of worship |
| Awra |
The
part of a person's body that must be covered before
everybody but a spouse; for men this is from navel
to knee, for women from upper chest to knee. It may
also be used to refer to what must be concealed of a
woman before non-related men |
| Aqidah/Aqaeed |
In
Arabic, this is a creed or statement of faith or
beliefs. |
| As-Sırat: |
The
imaginary bridge set across the Hell-Fire.
|
| Akhlaq |
the
practice of virtue, morality and manners in Islam |
| Ayah |
Literally
means "sign"; used to refer to a verse of
the Quran, each of which is a sign of God. Plural is
"ayat" |
| Bid'a |
Literally
means "innovation"; it refers to adding an
obligation to the religion that God and the Prophet
Muhammad did not do. Some Muslims feel that adding
anything at all to the religion, even if it's not an
obligation, is a bid'a |
| Baligh |
A
person who has reached maturity or puberty |
| Bilal |
Bilal
was a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.) |
| Bismillah |
Bismillah
means In the Name of Allah or I begin in the Name of
Allah |
| Dalil |
Evidence
that is brought from Quran and Sunna to prove a
point. For instance, to make a claim about the
status of the face veil, one must present dalils |
| Da'wah |
The
"call" to Islam; inviting people to learn
more about Islam to encourage them to convert |
| Deen |
Also
spelled "din". The Arabic word for
"religion". Carries the sense of a debt
that we owe God, and of a code for judging peoples'
actions. Thus it means religion as a whole way of
life not just as worship practices |
| Dajjal |
An
evil figure who will appear some time before the
Last Day. He is a counterpart to the Antichrist
prophesied by Christianity. He will deceive the
faithful, teaching them that Heaven is Hell and vice
versa. He will have the power to work miracles in
order to mislead believers.
|
| Du'a |
Personal
prayer or supplication to God, contrasted with salat
(which see), the fixed-time ritual prayer. The name
means "calling on God" |
| Eid |
Eid
is an Islamic holiday. The four Eids are listed
below.
- Eid ul-Adha falls on the tenth
day of Dhul Hijjah.
- Eid ul-Fitr falls on the 1st
day of Shawwal.
- Eid-e Ghadeer
- Eid-e Mubahala
|
| Ehtiaat-Waajib |
Ehtiaat-Waajib
is an obligatory precaution which must be followed |
| Fajr |
Fajr
is dawn, and denotes Subhe-Sadiq, the prime time for
prayer |
| Foroo-e-Din |
Foroo-e-Din
are the branches of Islam |
| Fard |
Obligatory;
performance will be rewarded and neglect will be
punished (said of an action) |
| Fatima |
Fatima
or Fatema (A.S.), the Chief of the women of the
worlds, is the daughter of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and
the wife of Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.), the mother of
Hasan and Hussein (A.S.) |
| Fatwa |
Contrary
to popular misconception, a fatwa is not a
"death sentence" but is simply an official
answer by a scholar to a legal question. One can ask
for a fatwa on the status of pepperoni. Plural is
"fatawa" |
| Fitrah |
Fitrah
is the charity due on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr,
on the night after Ramadhan fitrah is also referred
to ( innate nature), |
| Fitnah |
trial,
temptation; tribulation, tumult. |
| Fiqh |
The
science of jurisprudence or interpreting the Shari'a |
| Furu
al-din |
In
Shi'a Islam, the eleven Branches of Religion (Furū
al-Dīn) are the ten practices that Shi'a
Muslims must perform:1 Shahadah (Declaration)2 Salāt
(Prayer) 3 Sawm (Fast) 4 Hajj (Pilgrimage) 5 Zakāt
(Poor-rate) 6 Khums (One-fifth) 7 Jihād
(Struggle) 8 Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf (Enjoining what is
good) 9 Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is evil) 10
Tawalla (To love the Ahl al-Bayt and their followers
) 11 Tabarra (To disassociate from the enemies of
the Ahl al-Bayt) |
| Ghadeer |
Ghadeer
is the name of a place near Mecca, and the great
holiday named after the event that occurred at that
place. |
| Ghusl |
Ghusl
is a spiritual bath required after sexual
intercourse, menstruation, seminal discharge, and
other conditions. |
| Hadith |
Hadeeth
is a narration/tradition reported from the Prophet
(S) and the Imams (a) |
| Hadhrat |
| , A courtesy
title used for a revered & righteous
person. |
|
| Hadith
Qudsi |
A
special kind of hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad
reports on what God said to him other than the Quran;
these are considered to be paraphrases while the
Quran is God's literal word |
| Hajarul
Aswad |
Hajarul
Aswad is the Black Stone. |
| Hajj |
The
pilgrimage to Mecca; one of the five pillars. It is
obligatory once in a Muslim's life, if he or she is
able to afford it |
| Halal |
Lawful;
something that is halal may be required,
recommended, neutral, or even detestable. It is just
that it is not forbidden |
| Hanafi |
One
of the four madhhabs (which see). Generally
considered the most liberal |
| Hanbali |
One
of the four madhhabs (which see). Generally
considered the most conservative |
| Haram |
Forbidden;
performance will be punished and neglect will be
rewarded (said of an action) |
| Hawza |
The
word Hawza refers to a traditional Islamic school of
higher learning. |
| Hijab |
The
modest dress of the Muslim woman; the word is
sometimes used to refer only to the headscarf. A
woman who wears hijab is a hijabi |
| Hidayah |
Guidance |
| Hijra |
Hijra
is the day the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) left Mecca for
Medina. In particular, it was the Prophet's (S.A.W.)
abandoning Mecca because of its mounting hostility,
and transferring himself and his followers to
Yathrib (200 miles north) whose peo ple had invited
him. He arrived on the 20th of September 622 AD, and
the city proudly changed its name to Medinatu'l-Nabi
(the Prophet's (S.A.W.) city). On Imam Ali's (A.S.)
advice, Omar, reproached for not dating documents,
took this event as the start o f the Muslim era,
dubbing the year of the Hijrah year as Year 1 and
starting it on the Lunar New Year's Day, the 1st of
Muharram 622 AD. |
| Ihram |
The
sacred state of the pilgrim on hajj; involves
certain restrictions on conduct and certain changes
in dress |
| Ihtiyat |
is
a precautionary action which usually requires
repetition. |
| Iman |
Faith |
| Imam |
Imam
means Leader in Arabic. The term is generally
applied to religious leaders. However, there are 12
infallible and noble Imams, the descendants of
Muhammad (S.A.W.). |
| Inshallah |
God
willing; if God wills (said when discussing the
future) |
| Iftar |
Iftar
is the breaking of the fast |
| Iqamah |
Iqamah
is the announcement of the beginning of prayer. |
| Istikhara |
A
type of salat; it is offered when a Muslim faces a
difficult decision, seeking God's aid |
| Islam |
Islam
was revealed to the Prophet (Sura III: Ali-Imran--The
Family of Imran, verse 19) "The Religion of
Allah is Al-Islam," and again (Sura V: Ma'idah--The
Table Spread, verse 3) "This day I have
approved al-Islam for you as a religion." Islam
is the verbal noun of "asalama"--to submit
oneself to God. |
| Janaabah |
the
major state of impurity, after having had sexual
relations or sexual discharge through whatever
means, i.e. a wet dream. In this state, ghusl is
obligatory, if unable to do so, then tayammum will
temporarily suffice.the major state of impurity,
after having had sexual relations or sexual
discharge through whatever means, i.e. a wet dream.
In this state, ghusl is obligatory, if unable to do
so, then tayammum will temporarily suffice. |
| Jannah |
Paradise;
the abode of the righteous in the Hereafter. The
Arabic word "Jannah" means
"garden" |
| Jahannam |
Jahannam
is hell, |
| Jihad |
Contrary
to popular opinion in the West, this does not mean
"holy war". A literal translation is
"struggle". The struggle to establish
justice and righteousness may or may not involve
military action. Just as Westerners talk about their
"crusade against poverty", so Muslims can
use jihad in the same sense. There is also the
"greater jihad", which is entirely against
the caprices of the soul; the jihad in the world is
the "lesser jihad" |
| Jilbab |
A
long coat or cloak; more generally, any type of
outergarment that covers from the shoulders to the
ankles. Commanded in Quran Surah al-Ahzab ayah 59 |
| Jinn |
One
of the created orders, made of smokeless fire. The
jinn according to the Quran may choose good or evil.
Those who choose evil are referred to as "the
satans". They seem to be similar to the evil
spirits mentioned in the Talmud and the Gospels. The
singular form is properly "jinni" and the
English word "genie" seems to be a
corruption of this |
| Jumua |
this
is prayer performed during the time of the noon
prayer on Friday. The time of the Eid (religious
festive days) prayers is some three quarters after
sunrise on Eid days. Their time continues until
the sun reaches its zenith.
|
| Ka'bah |
Ka'bah
is the cubic house built by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.)
and his son Ismaeel (A.S.) more than 3000 years ago
in Mecca, towards which all Muslims face for their
Salat. It contains the Hajarul Aswad or the Black
Stone. |
| Karbala |
Kerbala:
a city of central Iraq south of Baghdad; a holy city
for Shiite Muslims because it is the site of the
tomb of Mohammed's grandson who was killed there in
680 |
| Kafa |
is
the shroud for the dead |
| Kafir |
Kafir
signifies one who denies or rejects the truth, ie
who disbelieves in the message of the Prophets.
Since the advent of Muhammad (pbuh), anyone who
rejects his Message is a kafir. |
| Mabruk |
An
Arabic term meaning "Congratulations!" or
"May you be blessed" |
| Madrassa |
An
Islamic school |
| Marja |
A
marja, or marja-e-taqleed literally
"source of imitation" or "source of
tradition", is the second highest authority on
religion and law in Shi'a Islam after the
prophet(pbuh) and (Shi'a) Imams. |
| Majalis |
a
room and assembly to commemorate religious events. |
| Makruh |
something
that Islam strongly discourages, but does not
forbid. |
| Madhhab |
A
term referring to a legal school in Islam. Each has
a slightly different way of engaging in fiqh (which
see) |
| Mahram |
Someone
with whom there can never be marriage because of
consanguinity or affinity. For example, a father is
a mahram relative for a woman |
| Maghsoub |
Usurped
or acquired by unlawful means. |
| Maghrib |
is
sun-down and the prayer associated with it |
| Maliki |
One
of the four madhhabs (which see). Generally
considered moderately liberal |
| Mashallah |
What
God has willed (said whenever something good or bad
happens) |
| Masjid |
The
Arabic word from which the English word
"mosque" is derived; it means "place
of prostration" or more broadly "place of
worship". The mosque is just the Muslim place
of worship |
| maulana |
Islamic
religious title for scholar and leader |
| Mecca |
is
a holy city in Arabia |
| Momin |
The
one who believes in Islam |
| Mubah |
Neutral;
performance will not be rewarded and neglect will
not be punished (said of an action) |
| Muharram |
Muharram
is the first month of the Islamic calendar |
| Mu'min |
Mu'min
is a believer, one who has Iman (pl. Mu'mineen) |
| Muqallid |
Muqallid
is a follower of a qualified specialist on religious
matters. |
| Muslim |
Muslim
is one who believes in Allah, his Prophet (S.A.W.),
the day of Resurrection (Qiyamat), recites the
Kalemah, and accepts the commandments of Allah and
His Prophet (S.A.W.) as the Truth. |
| Mustahabb |
Recommended;
performance will be rewarded but neglect is not
punished (said of an action) |
| Naar |
Naar
is the fire of Hell |
| Najess |
Impure |
| Nabi |
Nabi
is a Prophet |
| Nasibi |
is a derogatory Islamic term among Shia and Sunni Muslims for someone who hates
Imam Ali (as) and his followers.
|
| Niqab |
The
face veil; styles of dress that involve veiling the
face. A woman who wears niqab is a niqabi |
| Non-mehram |
Non-mehram
is one with whom marriage is permitted |
| Nikah |
Nikah
is a pronouncement of marriage according to Shari'ah |
| Panjtan
Pak |
Muhammad(SA),
Ali(AS)
, Fatimah(AS), Hassan(AS), Hussain(AS)panj tan paak
panj= five
tan = body/entity
paak=pure/cllean
This is a term used by Persian,
Urdu, Hindi speakers
|
| Pak |
is
something that is clean, not najis |
| Qiyamah, |
The
Day of Resurrection; Judgement Day. The Arabic word
"qiyamah" carries a sense of it being the
day on which everybody is called to stand (before
God) |
| Qiblah |
is
the direction of Salat (towards the Ka'bah). |
| Quran |
The
revealed Scripture of Islam; transmitted
word-for-word from God to the Prophet Muhammad via
the angel Gabriel |
| (rAa) |
An
abbreviation for "radi Allahu anhu"; used
after the names of the first few generations of
Muslims, it means "May God be satisfied with
him/her" |
| Rajab |
is
the seventh month of the Islamic calendar |
| Ramadan |
The
month of fasting; one of the five pillars. The fast
is from dawn to sunset and involves abstaining from
food, drink, and sexual relations (if married) |
| Revert |
A
person who returns to a religion they previously
had; Muslim custom is to apply this term to converts
to Islam as well, on the grounds that Islam is the
religion that every person was born into, but their
parents made them another religion |
| Riba |
The
practice of charging interest on loans; sometimes
translated as "usury". Riba is forbidden
under Islamic law, which makes the modern finance
system challenging for Muslims |
| Ruku' |
is
the act of bowing in the Salat |
| (s.a.w) |
An
abbreviation for "salli Allahu alayhi wa sallam";
used after the name of the Prophet Muhammad, it
means "may the blessings of God and peace be
upon him" |
| Sabr |
An
Arabic word meaning "perseverance" or
"patience". The quality of continuing to
trust in God even when everything seems to be going
wrong. Sabr is one of the qualities that can lead to
Paradise. Quran 33:35 mentions "the men who
persevere and the women who persevere" as among
those who will receive a great reward from God |
| Sahaba |
The
Companions of the Prophet Muhammad; the singular is
"sahabi" and the feminine plural is "sahabiyat" |
| Saheeh |
"correct";
an authentic narration. |
| Salaf |
A
general term for the early generations of Muslims |
| Salam |
is
a salutation. It is also the last recitation at the
end of Salat. |
| Salat |
The
fixed-time ritual prayer of Islam and one of the
five pillars. It is offered five times a day: at
dawn, mid-day, mid-afternoon, sunset, and nightfall |
| Salawat |
are
invocation of blessings, specifically the recitation
of Allahumma Sali 'Ala Muhammadin Wa Aali Muhammad,
meaning O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of
Muhammad. |
| Shafi'i |
One
of the four madhhabs (which see). Generally
considered relatively conservative |
| Shahadah |
The
testimony of faith "Laa ilaha ill'Allah.
Muhammadan rasul Allah" that makes a person a
Muslim under the law |
| Shari'a |
Islamic
law; the two sources are the Quran and the Sunna |
| Shaytan |
The
satan. The English word "satan" is
actually adapted from a Hebrew word which means
"adversary". The Arabic word "shaytan"
is a cognate to this. Satan in Islamic teaching
(where he is also named Iblis) is from the race of
the jinn (which see) rather than being a fallen
angel as in Christian teaching |
| Shirk |
The
associating of partners with God; usually translated
as "polytheism" or "idolatry" |
| Surah |
Refers
to the "chapters" of the Quran; there are
114 surahs |
| Sajdah |
Sajdah
is the act of prostration in the Salat, when seven
portions of the body touch the earth: the forehead
on pure ground, two palms, two knees, and the two
big toes. The two Sajdahs together are called
sajdatain. |
| Sawm |
Sawm
is the act of fasting |
| Sayyid |
Sayyid
is a descendant of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) |
| Shawwal |
Shawwal
is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar |
| Supplication |
invocation:
a prayer asking God's help (also D'ua) |
| Shi'a |
Shi'a
is a follower of the twelve Imams (A.S.). |
| Tabi'un |
The
Successors; this refers to the second generation of
Muslims, who were succcessors to the Sahaba |
| Taqleed |
The
acceptance of a statement of another without
demanding proof or evidence on the belief that the
statement is being made in accordance with fact and
proof, is called Taqleed, or, for the purist,
Taqleed-ush-shakhsi. "And, ask the People of
Knowledge if you do not know." |
| Takbir |
Praise
or glorification of God (as in Q 74:3, etc.). The
declaration of the formula Allahu Akbar (God is Most
Great). |
| Taqiyyah |
Taqiyyah,
or the practice of hiding one's belief under duress,
is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an in three places.
These three verses clearly point to the
permissibility of concealing one's ideology and
opinion whenever in danger. |
| Taqwa |
Awareness
of God |
| Tawassul |
is
an Islamic religious practice in which a prayer is
offered to Allah
through an intermediary.The Intermediary could be a
good deed, a person (dead or alive) or an attribute
of Allah.
A succint definition is "Supplicating Allah by
means of an intermediary, whether it be a living
person, dead person, a good deed, or a name or
Attribute of Allah Most High". A simple prayer
using Tawassul would be something like "Oh
Allah! I ask you for such and such through our
prophet Muhammad |
| Tafsir |
Tafseer
is a term used for a commentary of any book,
specifically the Holy Qur'an. |
| Taharat |
Taharat
is the state of being clean and not impure |
| Tahir |
ritually
pure; not equivalent to hygienic or clean. |
| Tawalla |
Tawalla
- to love the Ahl
al-Bayt (family of the Prophet (saw) ) |
| Tasawwuf |
Islamic
mysticism; the English term is Sufism |
| Tawaf |
Tawaf
is part of the worship of Hajj and Umrah |
| Tawhid |
Islamic
monotheism |
| Tayammum |
Tayammum
means spiritual cleansing which is sometimes a
substitute for wudhu and ghusl |
| Tayyib |
All
that is good as regards things, deeds, beliefs,
persons, foods, etc. |
| Thawab |
Thawab
is a Divine blessing |
| Turbah |
Turbah
is earth, especially from the shrines of the Holy
Imams (A.S.), on which Muslims place their heads
during Sajdah |
| Ulama |
The
religious scholars of Islam. The singular is "alim"
and the term "mullah" is synonymous. The
place of ulama in Islam is similar in many ways to
that of rabbis in Judaism |
| Umma |
An
Arabic word meaning "community" or
"nation"; specifically used to refer to
the worldwide community of Muslims, as united by
faith |
| Ummahat
al-Muminin |
An
Arabic phrase meaning "mothers of the
faithful". It is a title given to the wives of
the Prophet Muhammad, based on Surah al-Ahzab verse
6 which says "The Prophet is nearer to the
faithful than their own souls, and his wives are
their mothers" |
| Usuli |
a
religious movement by Persian Shiite Muslims in 17th
century Iran |
| Wajib |
Wajib
is obligatory (pl. Wajibat). An act which must be
performed. |
| Walî |
Protector,
Guardian, Supporter, Helper, Friend etc |
| Wudhu |
Wudhu
is a spiritual wash of the face and hands before
Salat |
| Wafat |
is
a death |
| Zamzam |
Zamzam
is the name of a well at Makkah |
| Zaynab |
Zaynab
(Umm Kulthum) was the younger daughter of Ali and
Fatima (A.S.). |
| Ziyarat |
Ziyarat is to visit and/or to recite special
salutations for the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.W.) and his
household (A.S.). |
| Zamzam |
is
the name of a well at Makkah |
| Zeenah |
charm |
| Zena
(zina) |
Illegal
sexual intercourse that embraces both fornication
and adultery. |
| Zakat |
One
of the five pillars, it involves giving 2.5% of
surplus wealth to help the needy |
|
|
