Islamic Vocabulary

[هادي كيلاني]

salam olakom my brothers

'adab :
(n) Islamic manners and behavior
'Alim (pl. Ulamah) :
An Islamic religious scholar
'Asr :
'Asr is the late afternoon Prayer, the third compulsory Prayer of the day. It can be prayed between midafternoon and a little before sunset. It is also the name of Surah 103 of the Holy Quran.
A.H.(After Hijrah) :
Hijrah means emigration. The Islamic calendar starts from the year Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) emigrated from the city of Makkah to Madinah, in 622 C.E
Adhan :
Adhan is an Islamic way of calling Muslims to the five obligatory Prayers. The Adhan is announced daily from the Mosques. See Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 583, Vol. 1.
adl :
(n) 1). Justice; 2). righteous conduct
ahad :
(a) singular; a hadith whose narrators do not reach anywhere near the number for the mutawatir(continuous) hadith.
Ahkâm :
"Orders". According to Islamic Law, there are five kinds of orders : 1. Compulsory (Wajib) 2. Order without obligation (Mustahab) 3. Forbidden (Muharram) 4. Disliked but not forbidden (Makruh) 5. Legal and allowed (Halâl)
Ahl al-Bait :
Ahl al-Bait literally means 'the people of the house', a polite form of addressing the members of the family, including husband and wife. The words occur in the Holy Quran when angels came to give glad tidings to Prophet Abraham (S.A.W.) of a son at an old age. See Surah Hud (11:73).
Ahl al-Dimmah (or Dhimmis) :
are the non-Muslim subjects of an Islamic state who have been guaranteed protection of their rights- life, property and practice of their religion, etc.
Ahl al-Hadith :
Refers to the group of scholars in Islam who pay relatively greater importance to 'traditions' than to other sources of Islamic doctrine such as qiyas, and tend to interpret the traditions more literally and rigorously. The term has also come to be used lately for a group of Muslims in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent who are close to the Hanbali school in theology, and claim to follow no single school on legal matters.
Ahl al-Kitab :
Ahl al-Kitab literally 'People of the Book,' refers to the followers of Divine Revelation before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Ahmad :
Ahmad is another name of Muhammad (S.A.W.). See Holy Quran, As-Saff (61:6). See Muhammad for more details.
Al – Quthum :
Allah’s Messenger (saas), the best of creation, one who has all good virtues and characteristics gathered together in him
Al-A`rab :
Al-A`rab signifies the bedouin - whether of the desert or the countryside - in the vicinity of Madina. For a long time they had followed a policy of opportunism with regard to the conflict between Islam and unbelief. However, as Islam established its sway over the greater part of Hijaz and Najd and the power of the tribes hostile to Islam began to weaken, they saw their interests lay in entering the fold of Islam. For details see Surah 9.
Al-Akhirah :
After-Life, Hereafter, Next World). That the real measure of success or failure of a person is not the extent of his prosperity in the present life, but his success in the Next.
Al-Asma al-Husna :
Al-Asma al-Husna, literally meaning the 'most excellent names' used of God, express His greatness and paramountcy, holiness, purity, and the perfection and absoluteness of all His attributes.
Al-Baqi' :
A cemetry in Madinah. Many of the Sahabiyeen (companions) and family members of the Prophet (S.A.W.) are buried here.
Al-Lat :
Al-Lat was the chief idol of the Thaqif tribe in al-Taif, and among the most famous idols in pre-Islamic Arabia. See the Holy Qur'an, An-Najm (53:19).
Al-Lateef :
The Subtle One Who is All-Pervading. The exact meaning of this word is very difficult to fully understand. It includes all of the following meanings: 1. So fine that He is imperceptible to the human sight. 2. So pure that He is unimaginable to the human mind. 3. So kind that He is beyond human comprehension. 4. So gracious that He is beyond human grasp. 5. So near that He is closer to us than our jugular veins. See the Holy Qur'an, Al-Hajj (22:63), Ash-Shura (42:19).
Al-Lateef :
The Subtle One Who is All-Pervading. The exact meaning of this word is very difficult to fully understand. It includes all of the following meanings: 1. So fine that He is imperceptible to the human sight. 2. So pure that He is unimaginable to the human mind. 3. So kind that He is beyond human comprehension. 4. So gracious that He is beyond human grasp. 5. So near that He is closer to us than our jugular veins. See the Holy Qur'an, Al-Hajj (22:63), Ash-Shura (42:19).
Al-Majeed :
"The Most Glorious." One of the ninety-nine Attributes of Allah.
Al-Manat :
Al-Manat was the chief idol worshipped by the Khuza'ah and Hudhayl tribes.
Allah :
Allah - the greatest and most inclusive of the names of God. It is an Arabic word of rich and varied meaning, denoting the one who is adored in worship, who creates all that exists, who has priority over all creation, who is lofty and hidden, who confounds all human understanding.
Allahu Akbar :
Allah is the Greatest
Amirul Mumineen :
Commander of the faithful. Title of the leader of the Islamic dominion after the death of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Ansar :
Ansar means the 'Helpers.' (singular: Ansari). In Islamic parlance the word refers to the Muslims of Madina who helped the Muhajirin (immigrants) of Makka in the process of the latter's settling down in the new environment.
Aqeeda :
Literally means belief. In Islamic terms, it means the following six articles of faith:

1. Belief in Allah, the One God.

2. Belief in Allah's angels.

3. Belief in His revealed Books.

4. Belief in His messengers.

5. Belief in the Day of Judgement.

6. Belief in Fate and the Divine Decree.


Arafat :
Arafat is a pilgrimage site, about 25 kilometers east of Makkah al-Mukaramah. Standing on 'Arafat on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah and staying there from mid-day to sunset is the essence of the Hajj (the Pilgrimage).
Ashab al-A`raf :
Ashab al-A`raf (Heights) will be the people who are neither righteous enough to enter Paradise nor wicked enough to be cast into Hell. They will, therefore, dwell at a place situated between the two.
Ashab al-Suffah :
Ashab al-Suffah consisted of about three or four hundred Companions who spent most of their time in the company of the Prophet (S.A.W.). They acquired knowledge and had dedicated themselves wholly to serving Islam.
Assalamu 'Alaikum :
Assalamu 'Alaikum means 'Peace be on you.' Greeting of the Muslims. The response to this greeting is 'Wa 'Alaikum Assalam,' and on you be the Peace.
Athar :
Sayings of the Sahabah, the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.).
Ayah (pl. ayat) :
Ayah means a sign (or 'token') which directs one to something important. In the Quran the word has been used in four different senses: (1) sign or indication; (2) the phenomena of the universe (called ayat of God for the reality to which the phenomena point is hidden behind the veil of appearances); (3) miracles performed by the Prophets; and (4) individual units (i.e. verses) of the Book of God.
Ayyam al-Jahiliyah, :
Ayyam al-Jahiliyah, or 'The Days of Ignorance' in the books of history, indicate the period before the Prophethood of Muhammad when the people in Arabia forgot the teachings of their Prophets and indulged in stupid practices.
Bab Al-Raiyan :
The name of one of the gates of Heavens (Jannah) through which the people who often observe fasting will enter on the Day of Judgement.
Badr :
Site of the first great battle between Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the pagans of the Quraish in 2 A.H. Badr is located about 150 kilometers south of Madinah (Saudi Arabia). The Muslim army consisted of 313 men and the Quraish had a total of about 1,000 soldiers, archers and horsemen. See Holy Quran, Al-Anfal (8:5-19, 42-48), Ale Imran (3:13).
Bahimah :
Bahimah (plural baha'im) signifies every quadruped animal (of which the beasts of prey are excluded). Bahimah thus refers to goats, sheep, and cows.
Baitul Mal :
An Islamic treasury intended for the benefit of the Muslims and the Islamic state and not for the leaders or the wealthy.
Baitul Maqdis :
Al-Aqsa Mosque, the famous Masjid in Al-Quds (Jerusalem). It was the first Qiblah of Islam. Then Allah Ta'ala ordered Muslims to face the first House of Allah, the Ka'aba, at Makkah (Saudi Arabia). Baitul Maqdis is the third greatest Masjid in the Islamic world. It is from the surroundings of Baitul Maqdis that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) ascended to heaven. See Holy Quran, Al-Isra (17:1).
Bakka :
Another name for Makkah. See Holy Quran, Ale Imran (3:96).
Barzakh :
Literally means partition or barrier. In Islamic terminology it usually means the life in the grave, because the life in the grave is the interspace between the life on earth and the life in the Hereafter. It is during our life in the Barzakh that we will be asked about Allah, our faith and the Holy Prophet(S.A.W.). We will also be shown the Jannah (the Heavens) and the Nar (the Hell) and which of these two places we will occupy after we are judged.
Bid'a :
Any innovated practice introduced in the religion of Allah. the Prophet (S.A.W.) said that every Bid'a is a deviation from the true path and every deviation leads to Hellfire.
birr :
refers to doing those actions which have been commanded
Bismillah Hir Rehman Nir Rahim :
"In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Mericful." This utterance is usually made by every Muslim who is about to embark on something lawful (Halal), regardless of the magnitude of the task. This is also the first verse of Surah Al-Fatehah (Chapter 1) of the Holy Quran.
Buhtan :
A false accusation, calumny, slander.
Da’if :
(a) weak; a characterization of hadith in which there is some defect either in the chain of transmission or in perfect agreement with beliefs and practices
Dajjal :
Anti-Christ. Also known as Maseeh ad-Dajjal. See Ahadeeth regarding "the Final Hour" in both Sahih books. Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 649, 650, Vol. IV. Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fitan wa Isharat as-Say'ah.
Dar al-Harb :
Dar al-Harb (Domain of War) refers to the territory under the hegemony of unbelievers, which is on terms of active or potential belligerency with the Domain of Islam, and presumably hostile to the Muslims living in its domain.
Dar al-Kufr :
Dar al-Kufr (Domain of Unbelief) refers to the territory under the hegemony of the unbelievers.
Dawah :
Propagation of Islam through word and action, calling the people to follow the commandments of Allah and His Messenger Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Dhihar :
Dhihar is a type of divorce which was common in pre-Islamic Arabia, but was made unlawful by Islam. It was a way when the husband wanted to divorce his wife he would selfishly say to her, "You are like my mother." This way she would not have conjugal rights, but at the same time she would still be bound to him like a slave. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Ahzab (33:4), Mujadilah (58:1-5).
Dhu'l Qa'da :
The 11th month of the Islamic calendar.
Dhu'l-Hijjah :
The 12th month of the Islamic calendar. The month in which the great pilgrimage to Makkah takes place.
Din :
The core meaning of din is obedience. As a Quranic technical term, din refers to the way of life and the system of conduct based on recognizing God as one's sovereign and committing oneself to obey Him. According to Islam, true din consists of living in total submission to God, and the way to do so is to accept as binding the guidance communicated through the Prophets. See the following verses of the Qur'an for reference: 3:83, 12:76, 16:52, and 51:6.
Diyah :
Blood money, paid by the guilty as a compensation for killing, wounding, etc. (pl. Diyaat).
Du'a :
Supplication: invoking Allah for whatever one desires.
Duhr :
Noon. The second obligatory prayer (Salah) of the day. It can be prayed at any time between noon and mid-afternoon.
Eid Al-Adha :
A four-day festival that completes the rites of pilgrimage and takes place on the 10th-13th of Dhul Hijjah (the 10th is the day of Nahr and 11th-13th are the days of Tashriq.) Literally means "the feast of the sacrifice." This feast commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's obedience to Allah by being prepared to sacrifice his only son Ismel, peace be on both of them. See Holy Quran, as-Saffaat (37:100-103).
Eid Al-Fitr :
Three day festival marking the end of Ramadan. It takes place on the 1st of Shawal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
Fadal (Riba) :
A type of interest. Taking something of superior quality in exchange for giving less of the same kind of thing of poorer quality. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Baqarah (2:275-280), Ale-Imran (3:130).
Fai :
War booty gained without fighting.
Fajr :
"The Dawn". The time of the first obligatory prayer (Salah). It can be prayed at any time between the first light of dawn and just before sunrise. Also called Subh (morning). See Surah 89 of the Holy Qur'an.
Faqeeh :
An Islamic scholar who can give a legal opinion or judgement.
Fard 'Ain :
An action which is obligatory on every Muslim.
Fard bi al-Kifayah :
It signifies a collective duty of the Muslim community so that if some people carry it out no Muslim is considered blameworthy; but if no one carries it out all incur a collective guilt.
Fasad :
Fasad, literally 'corruption', in Qur'anic terminology, means creating disorder and corruption on earth by following a path other than God's. Fasad occurs when man violates God's laws and disobeys Him. Fasad may therefore be partial as well as total; partial when one disregards God's law in one aspect of life while acknowledging His sovereignty in other spheres. If a society is based on the denial of God, that society is bound to be a corrupt and exploitative society.
Fasiq :
transgressor, evil doer, disobedient. The one who commits fisq.
Fatwa :
A legal verdict given on a religious basis. The sources on which a fatwa is based are the Holy Qur'an, and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Fawahish :
Fawahish applies to all those acts whose abominable character is self-evident. In the Qur'an all extra-marital sexual relationships, sodomy, nudity, false accusation of unchastity, and taking as one's wife a woman who had been married to one's father, are specifically reckoned as shameful deeds. In Hadith, theft, taking intoxicating drinks and begging have been characterized as fawahish as have many other brazenly evil and indecent acts.
Fi sabil Allah :
Fi sabil Allah (in the way of Allah) is a frequently used expression in the Qur'an which emphasizes that good acts should be done exclusively to please God. Generally the expression has been used in the Qur'an in connection with striving or spending for charitable purposes.
Fidya :
Compensation for missing or wrongly practicing necessary acts of worship. Fidya usually takes the form of donating money, foodstuffs, or sacrificing an animal. Contrast with Kaffara (making amends).
Fiqh :
Islamic jurisprudence or law.

Anything or action in Islam falls within the following five categories of Fiqh:

Fardh (Must)

Mandub (Recommended)

Mubah (Allowed):

Makruh (Hated)

Haram (Prohibited)
Fisq :
Fisq is transgression. It consists of disobedience to the command of God.
Fitnah :
Fitnah has been used in the Quran in two meanings. It refers, firstly, to persecution, to a situation in which the believers are harassed and intimidated because of their religious convictions. Secondly, it refers to the state of affairs wherein the object of obedience is other than the One True God.
Fitra :
nature of humans as created by Allah(swt)
Furqan :
Furqan signifies that which enables one to distinguish between true and false; between real and fake
Ghair Muakkada :
(Salah) Unascertained prayers. These types of optional Salah (prayers) were much, but not always, practiced by the Prophet (S.A.W.).
Gharar :
The uncertainty in transactions. Selling something which has not yet been obtained. For example, selling eggs which have not yet been hatched.
Ghayy :
Deception. Name of a pit in Hellfire.
Ghazawat :
Plural of Ghazwa. Also called al-Maghazi. See Ghazwa
Ghazi :
A person who has taken part in a Ghazwa.
Ghazwah :
A battle for the cause of Allah in which Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) himself took part
Gheebah :
Talking evil about someone in his or her absence. Backbiting. See Holy Qur'an, Al-Hujurat (49:12).
Ghulool :
Stealing from the war booty before its distribution.
Ghusl :
The full ritual washing of the body with water alone to be pure for the prayer. to do Ghusl: 1. Wash your private parts, 2. do Wudu (ablution), 3. wash your entire body without touching your private parts again.
Gog and Magog :
Two evil empires. They are mentioned in the Qur'an and Ahadeeth (Bukhari and Muslim) when mentioning some of the scenes just before the final hour. See Quran, Al-Anbiyaa (21:96), Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Fitan wa Isharat as-Say'ah.
Hadi :
A cow, sheep or a goat that is offered as a sacrifice by a pilgrim during the Hajj.
Hadith :
The word hadith literally means communication or narration. In the Islamic con**** it has come to denote the record of what the Prophet (S.A.W.) said, did, or tacitly approved. According to some scholars, the word hadith also covers reports about the sayings and deeds, etc. of the Companions of the Prophet in addition to the Prophet himself. The whole body of Traditions is termed Hadith and its science 'Ilm al-Hadith.
Hadith :
(pl: ahadith): the recorded teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad (saas) which explain and interpret the Qur’anic verses and Message of Islam
Hadith Qudsi :
A saying of Allah Ta'ala narrated by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), that is not part of the Qur'an.
Hadiyyah: :
(n) gift
Hajar Al-Aswad :
The 'Black Stone', a stone which some say fell from heaven, set into one corner of the Ka'bah in Makkah by Prophet Ibrahim(S.A.W.), which the pilgrims, in imitation of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) kiss, so unifying all the Muslims throughout the ages in one place.
Hajj (Major Pilgrimage) :
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, a duty one must perform during one's life-time if one has the financial resources for it. It must be performed during certain specified dates of Dhu al-Hijjah. In addition to tawaf and sa'y, there are a few other requirements but especially one's standing (i.e. stay) in 'Arafat during the day-time on 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah.
Halal :
Lawful as defined by Allah the Almighty.