ÝSLAMIC
DICTIONARY
Terms Beginning With
A
Abna: means sons or children. It is used for children
who had Persian fathers and Arab mothers.
Adhan: the Muslim call to prayer. It is used to signify
the time of prayer for the five obligatory prayers.
A.H. means After {Hijrah::diHijrah}. It is the
reference used in the Islamic calender, instead of A.D. which is used in the
Christian calender.
Ahl ar-Ra'y: means people of opinion. It is refers to people
that are consulted on Islamic matters. These people are highly learned in
Islam.
Ahzab: means parties. Ahzab is used to describe the
different tribes that fought the Muslims in the Battle of the Ditch in
{627::date627} {C.E::diCe}, 5 {AH::diAh}.
Al-asharatu Mubashshirun: the ten people that were given the glad tiddings
of assurance of entering Paradise. They were {Abu Bakr::biBakr},
{Umar::biUmar}, {Uthman::biUthman}, {Ali::biAli}, {Abdur Rahman ibn
Awf::biAwf}, {Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah::biUbaydah}, {Talhah ibn
Ubaydullah::biTalhah}, {az-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam::biAwwam}, {Sa'd ibn Abi
Waqqas::biWaqqas}, {Sa'id ibn Zayd::biZayd}.
Alim: a learned person in Islam, scholar.
Allahu Akbar: Allah is Great (God is Great). It was frequently
used by the Muslim forces as their battle cry.
Amin: means custodian or guardian. Someone who is loyal
or faithful.
Amir: means leader or commander.
Amir al-Mumineen: means commander of the belivers. This title was
given to the {Khalifah::diKhalifa}.
Ansar: means helpers. These were the people of
{Madinah::diMadinah} who responded to the Prophet's call to Islam and offered
Islam a city-state power.
Aqabah: a place just outside of Mecca, in {Mina::diMina}
where the first Muslims from {Yathrib::diYathrib} {Madinah::diMadinah} pledged
allegiance to the Prophet in the year {621::date621} {C.E.::diCe}. A similar
meeting took place the next year when more Muslims from {Yathrib::diYathrib}
pledged their allegiance to the Prophet.
Arafat: a plain north of Mecca. It is on this plain that
humanity will be raised on the Day of Judgement for questioning and judgement.
During the {hajj::diHajj} on the ninth day of the month of Zhu-l-Hijjah, Muslim
pilgrims gather on this plain for one day.
Asabiyyah: means tirbal loyalty, nationalism.
Asr: the late afternoon obligatory {salat::diSalat},
prayer.
Awqiyyah: means weight, like the ones used to weigh items.
Awrah:parts of the body that are not supposed to be
exposed to others. For men this is from the navel to the knee. For the women it
is all of her body except the hands, feet, and face.
Ayat-ul-Kursi: Surah {Baqara Ayah 256:>qs2.256} of the Quran.
It is called the throne of the Quran.
Ayah: means a sign which leads or directs one to
something important. An individual verse in the Quran.
Ayat: it is the plural form of {ayah::diAyah}.
'Abd: A male slave.
'Ad: An ancient tribe that lived after Noah. It was
prosperous, but naughty and disobedient to Allah, so Allah destroyed it with
violent destructive westerly wind.
(Ad) Dabur: Westerly wind.
(Ad) Dajjal: Pseudo Messiah (Al-Masih-ad-Dajjal) (See F.N. of
V. 6: 158 the Qur'ân) and also
Hadîth No.649 and 650, Vol.4, Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Adhân: The call to prayer pronounced loudly to indicate
that the time of praying is due. And it is as follows: Allahu Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar; Ash-hadu
an la ilaha ill Allah, Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill Allah; Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan
Rasul-Ullah, Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-Ullah; Haiya 'alas-Sala(h),
Haiya'alas-Sala(h); Haiya 'alal-Falah, Haiya 'alal-Falah; Allahu-Akbar,
Allahu-Akbar; La ilaha ill Allah. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.1, Page 334). Adhkhar or Idhkhir: A kind of grass
well-known for its good smell and is found in Hijaz, Saudi Arabia. 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)
'Ajwa: Pressed soft dates (or a
kind of dates).
Al-Ahzâb:
Confederates.
Al-'Aqiq: A valley in Al-Madina about seven kilometers west
of Al-Madina.
Al-'Amânah: The trust or the moral responsibility or honesty,
and all the duties which Allah has ordained.
Al-'Awamir: Snakes living in houses. Al-Bahîra: A milking she-camel, whose milk used
to be spared for idols and other false deities.
Al-Baida': A place to the south of Al-Madina on the way to Makka.
Al-Bait-ul-Ma'mur: Allah's House over the seventh heaven.
Al-Batsha: Grasp.
Al-Fâtiha: The first Sûrah in the Qur'ân.
Al-Firdaus: The middle and the highest part of Paradise.
Al-Ghâba: (Literally :
the forest) A well-known place near Al-Madina.
Al-Ghurr-ul-Muhajjalûn: A name that will be given on the Day of
Resurrection to the Muslims because the parts of their bodies which they used
to wash in ablution will shine then.
Al-Harûriyya: A special unorthodox religious sect.
Al-Hasbâ: A place outside Makka where pilgrims go after
finishing all the ceremonies of Hajj.
Al-Hijr: The unroofed portion of the Ka'ba which at present is in the form
of a compound towards the north of the Ka'ba.
Al-Hudaibiya: A well-known place ten miles from Makka on the
way to Jeddah.
Al-Ihtibâ': A sitting posture, putting one's arms around
one's legs while sitting on the hips.
Al-Ji'rana: A place, few miles from Makka. The Prophet saw
distributed the war booty of the battle of Hunain there, and from there he
assumed the state of Ihram to perform 'Umra.
Al-Juhfa : The Miqât of the people of Shâm.
Al-Kabâ'ir: The biggest sins.
Ghazwat-al-Khandaq: The name of a battle between the early Muslims
and the infidels in which the Muslims dug a Khandaq (trench) round Al-Madina to
prevent any advance by the enemies.
Al-Kauthar: A river in Paradise (See The Qur'ân, Sûrah
No.108).
Al-Lât & Al-'Uzza: Well-known idols in Hijaz which used to be
worshipped during the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance.
Al-Lizâm: The settlement of affairs, in the Hadîth, it
refers to the battle of Badr, which was the means of settling affairs between
the Muslims and the pagans.
Al-Madina : Well-known town in Saudi Arabia, where the
Prophet's mosque is situated.
Al-Maghâzi: Plural of Ghazwâ (i.e. holy battle).
Al-Mahassab : A valley outside Makka sometimes called Khaif
Banî Kinana.
Al-Manâsî: A vast plateau on the outskirts of Al-Madina.
Al-Masjid-al-Aqsâ: The great mosque in Jerusalem.
Al-Masjid-al-Haram: The great mosque in Makka. The Ka'ba is situated
in it.
Al-Mut'a: A temporary marriage which was allowed in the
early period of Islam when one was away from his home, but later on it was
cancelled (abrogated).
Al-Muta'awwilûn: Those (ones) who form wrong opinions of Kufr
about their Muslim brothers. Al-Qasâma:
The oath taken by 50 men of the tribe of a person who is being accused of
killing somebody.
Al-Qaswâ': The name of the Prophet'ssaw she-camel.
Al-Qisâs: Laws of equality in punishment for wounds etc. in
retaliation.
Al-Wâsil: One who keeps good relations with his kith and
kin.
Al-Yarmûk: A place in Shâm.
Allahu-Akbar: Allah is the Most Great.
Ama: A female slave.
Amîn: O Allah, accept our invocation. Amma Ba'du: An expression used for separating an
introductory from the main topics in a speech; the introductory being usually
concerned with Allah's Praises and Glorification. Literally it means,
"whatever comes after."
An-Najashi: (Title for the) king of Ethiopia. An-Najash: A trick (of offering a very high
price) for something without the intention of buying it but just to allure and
cheat somebody else who really wants to buy it although it is not worth such a
high price.
An-Najwa: The private talk between Allah and each of His
slaves on the Day of Resurrection. It also means, a secret counsel or
conference or consultation. [See the Qur'ân (V.58: 7-13), and also see the F.N. of (V.11:18)].(See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.3, Hadîth No. 621).
Ansâri: The Companions of the Prophet sawfrom the
inhabitants of Al-Madina, who embraced Islam and supported it and who received
and entertained the Muslim emigrants from Makka and other places.
'Anza: A spear-headed stick.
'Aqîqa: It is the sacrificing of one or two sheep on the
occasion of the birth of a child, as a token of gratitude to Allah. (See Sahih
Al-Bukhari, The Book of 'Aqîqa, Vol. 7, Page No. 272).
'Aqra Halqa: Is just an exclamatory expression, the literal
meaning of which is not meant always. It expresses disapproval.
'Arafât: A famous place of pilgrimage on the south-east of
Makka about twenty-five kilometers from it. Arak: A tree from which Siwak (tooth brush) is made.
'Ariya (plural 'Arâyâ): Bai'-al-'Arayâ is a kind of sale by which the
owner of a 'Ariya is allowed to sell the fresh dates while they are still over
the palms by means of estimation, for dried plucked dates. (See Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Vol.3, Ahadîth Nos. 389, 394 and 397).
Ar-Rajm: Means (in Islamic Law) to stone to death those
married persons who commit the crime of illegal sexual intercourse.
'Arsh: Compensation given in case of someone's injury
caused by another person.
Ar-Ruqya: Divine Speech recited as a means of curing
disease. (It is a kind of treatment, i.e. to recite Sûrat Al-Fâtiha or any
other Sûrah of the Qur'ân and then blow one's breath with saliva over a sick
person's body-part).
'Asaba: All male relatives of a deceased person, from the
father's side.
'Asb: A kind of Yemeni cloth that is very coarse.
Ash-Shajara: A well-known place on the way from Al-Madina to
Makka.
Ash-Shiqâq: Difference between husband and wife.
'Ashûra: The 10th of the month of Muharram (the
first month in the Islamic calendar).
'Asr: Afternoon, 'Asr prayer time.
As-Sabâ: Easterly wind.
As-Sâ'iba: A she-camel which used to be let loose for free
pastures in the name of idols, gods, and false deities. (See the Noble Qur'ân
5:103).
As-Saum: The fasting i.e., to not to eat or drink or have
sexual relations etc. from before the Adhân of the Fajr (early morning) prayer
till the sunset.
As-Sirât: Sirât: originally means 'a road'; it also means
the bridge that will be laid across Hell-Fire for the people to pass over on
the Day of Judgement. It is described as sharper than a sword and thinner than
a hair. It will have hooks over it to snatch the people.
Ashâb As-Suffa: They were about eighty men or more who used to
stay and have religious teachings in the Prophet's mosque in Al-Madina, and
they were very poor people.
At-Tan'îm: A place towards the north of Makka outside the
sanctuary from where Makkans may assume the state of Ihrâm to perform 'Umra.
'Aura: That part of the body which it is illegal to keep naked before others.
'Awâli-al-Madina: Outskirts of Al-Madina at a distance of four or
more miles.
Awâqin: (Singular: Uqiyya: 5 Awaqin = 22 Silver Riyals of
Yemen or 200 Silver Dirham (i.e. 640 grams approx.) (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.
2, Hadîth No. 526).
Awsaq: Plural of Wasq, which is a measure equal to 60
Sa's = 135 kgms. 1 Sa' = 3 kilograms (approx). It may be less or more.
Ayât: Proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.
Ayât-ul-Kursi: Qur'ânic Verse No. 255 of Sûrat Al-Baqara.
Azlâm: Literally means "arrows". Here it means
arrows used to seek good luck or a decision, practised by the 'Arabs of
Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance.
Terms Beginning With
B
Badiyyah: a desert or semi-arid environment.
Badr: the first full military confrontation between the
Muslims and the enemies of Allah. The battle took place between the Muslims and
the {Quraysh::diQuraish} of Mecca in the second year of {Hijrah::diHijrah}
({624::date624} {CE::diCE}). Eventhough the Muslims were outnumbered, the final
result was to their favor.
Bakka'in: means weepers. These were the people that could
not accompany the Prophet on his campaign to Tabuk because they lacked the
resources to do so. They started to weep when they could not go.
Baqi: the cemetery where a good many of the
{sahaba::diSahabah} are buried. It is in the south-east side of Madinah.
Barakah: means blessing or Divine Grace.
Batil: means false of falsehood.
Batul: means ascetic. It is ascribed to Fatimah (the
Prophets daughter) and the Virgin Mary.
Bawadi: plural form of {badiyyah::diBadiyyah}.
Bay'ah: it is an oath of allegiance. To make a pledge.
Bayt al-Mal: the State Treasury in an Islamic State.
Bismillah: In the name of Allah (God).
Bi'thah: the beginning of the Prophet's mission, his call
to Prophethood in {610::date610} {C.E.::diCe}.
Busr: means partially ripe dates.
Badana: (Plural : Budn) A camel or a cow or an ox driven
to be offered as a sacrifice, by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of Makka.
Badr: A place about 150 kilometer to the south of
Al-Madina, where the first great battle in Islamic history took place between
the early Muslims and the infidels of Quraish.
Badhaq: A kind of alcoholic drink prepared from grapes.
Bai'â (pledge) : A pledge given by the citizens etc. to their Imâm
(Muslim ruler) to be obedient to him according to the Islamic religion.
Bait-ul-Midras: A place in Al-Madina (and it was a Jewish
centre).
Bait-ul- Maqdis: Bait' literally means 'House': a mosque is
frequently called Baitullah (the House of Allah). Bait-ul-Maqdis is the famous
mosque in Jerusalem which is regarded as the third greatest mosque in the
Islamic world; the first and second being Al-Masjid Al-Haram at Makka and the
mosque of the Prophet sawat Al-Madina, respectively.
Banu Al-Asfar: The Byzantines.
Balâm: Means an ox.
Barrah: Pious.
Baqi': The cemetery of the people of Al-Madina; many of
the companions of the Prophet saware buried in it.
Bid'a: Heresy (or any innovated practice in religion).
Bint Labun: Two-year-old she-camel.
Bint Makhad: One-year-old she-camel.
Bu'ath: A place about two miles from Al-Madina where a
battle took place between the Ansâr tribes of Al-Aus and Al-Khazraj before
Islam.
Buraq: An animal bigger than a donkey and smaller than a
horse on which the Prophet saw went for the Mi'raj. The Ascent of the Prophet
saw to the heavens.
Burd, Burda: A black square narrow dress.
Burnus: A hooded cloak.
Burud: Plural of Barid which means sixteen Farsakhs.
Buthan: A valley in Al-Madina.
Terms Beginning With
C
C.E. stands for Christian Era. It is used instead of
A.D. in Islamic text referring to the dates before the {Hijrah::diHijrah}.
Covenant: a solemn agreement between two or more persons or
groups, a compact between God and man. The Old Testament tells of the covenant
the Jews made with Allah.
Caliph: The Imâm or the Muslim ruler.
Caliphate: The Muslim state.
Terms Beginning With
D
Daff: tambourine used in Arabia.
Da'iy: Muslim missionary involved in {da'wah::diDawah}.
It can also have a general meaning reffering to someone who calls others to a
certain belief.
Da'wah: inviting others to Islam. Missionary work.
Dhikr: remembrance for the sake of Allah.
Dhimmi: a non-Muslim living under the protection of a
Muslim state. He is exempt from duties of Islam like military and
{zakat::diZakat} but must instead pay a tax called {jizyah::diJizyah}.
Dirham: a silver coin.
Dhu-n Nurayn: it means 'Possessor of the Two Lights'. It is used
to refer to {Uthman ibn Affan::biUthman} because he married two of the
Prophet's daughters.
Din: means way of life or religion.
Du'a: a prayer.
Du'at: plural of {da'iy::diDaiy}.
Dunya: this world or life, as opposed to the Hereafer.
Daghâbis: Snake cucumbers.It is a plural of Daghbûs.
Daiyân: Allah; it literally means the One Who judges
people from their deeds after calling them to account.
Dâniq: A coin equal to one sixth of a Dirham.
Dâr-al-Qadâ': Justice House (court).
Day of Nafr : The 12th or 13th of
Dhul-Hîjja when the pilgrims leave Mina after performing all the ceremonies of
Hajj at 'Arafat, Al-Muzdalifa and Mina.
Dhat-un-Nitâqain: Asma', the daughter of Abu Bakr. It literally
mean a woman with two belts. She was named so by the Prophet saw.
Dhaw-ûl-Arhâm: Kindred of blood.
Dhu-Mahram: A male, whom a woman can never marry because of
close relationship (e.g. a brother, a father, an uncle etc.); or her own
husband.
Dhû-Tuwa: A well-known well in Makka. In the life-time of
the Prophet saw Makka was a small city and this well was outside its precincts.
Now-a-days Makka is a larger city and the well is within its boundaries.
Dhimmî: A non-Muslim living under the protection of an
Islamic government.
Dhûl-Hîjja: The twelfth month in the Islamic calendar.
Dhûl-Hulaifa: The Miqât of the people of Al-Madina now called
'Abyâr 'Ali.
Dhûl-Khalâsa: Al-Ka'ba Al-Yamaniya. (A house in Yemen where idols
used to be worshipped. It belonged to the tribe of Khath'am and Bajaila).
Dhûl-Qa'da: The eleventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Dhûl Qarnain: A great ruler in the past who ruled all over the
world, and was a true believer. His story is mentioned in the Qur'ân.(18:83)
Dîbâj: Pure silk cloth.
Dinâr: An ancient gold coin.
Dirham: A silver coin weighing 50 grains of barley with
cut ends.
Diya (Diyât plural): Blood-money (for wounds, killing etc.),
compensation paid by the killer to the relatives of the victim (in
unintentional cases).
Duha: Forenoon.
Terms Beginning With
E
'Eid-al-Adhâ: The four day festival of Muslims starting on the
tenth day of Dhul-Hîjja (month).
'Eid-al-Fitr: The three day festival of Muslims starting from
the first day of Shawwâl, the month that follows Ramadân immediately. Fitr
Iiterally means 'breaking the fast.' Muslims fast the whole of Ramadân, the
ninth month of the Islamic calendar and when Shawwâl comes, they break their
fast.
Terms Beginning With
F
Fajr: the obligatory {salat::diSalat}, prayer, before
sunrise.
Faqih: a person who is an expert on Islamic jurisprudence
(law), fiqh.
Fard: something which is obligatory on a Muslim. It is
sometimes used in reference to the obligatory part of {salat::diSalat}.
Faruq: this was the name given to {Uman ibn
al-Khattab::biUmar}. It means 'One who distinguishes the truth from falsehood'.
Fatwa: legal opinion concerning Islamic Law.
Fiqh: Islamic law.
Fitnah: means civil strife, war, riots.
Fuqaha: plural form of {faqih::diFaqih}.
Fadak: A town near Al-Madina.
Fâhish: One who talks evil.
Fai': War booty gained without fighting.
Fajr: Dawn or early morning before sunrise, or morning
prayer.
Faqîh: A learned man who can give religious verdicts.
Farâ'id: Share fixed for the relatives of a deceased. Such
shares are prescribed in the Qur'ân [4:11, 12, 176] 1/2, 1/4, 1/3, 1/6 1/8,
2/3).
Faraq: A bowl for measuring. Farîda: (Plural: Farâ'id) an enjoined duty.
Farruj: A Qabâ' opened at the back.
Farsakh: A distance of three miles : 1 mile = 6000 Dora =
1760 yards.
Fatâh: A female slave or a young lady.
Fidya: Compensation for a missed or wrongly practised
religious ceremony, usually in the form of money or foodstuff or offering
(animal).
Terms Beginning With
G
Ghazi: Muslim soldier, warrior.
Ghazwah: military expedition.
Gharâr: The sale of what is not present; e.g. of unfished
fish.
Ghâzî: A Muslim warrior returning after participation in
Jihâd (Islamic holy war).
Ghazwâ: (Plural : Ghazawât); A holy fighting in the cause of Allah consisting
of a large army unit with the Prophet saw himself leading the army.
Ghira: This word covers a wide meaning : jealousy as
regards women, and also it is a feeling of great fury and anger when one's
honour and prestige is injured or challenged.
Ghulul: Stealing from the war booty before its
distribution.
Ghuraf: Special abodes.
Ghusl: Taking a bath in ceremonial way. This is
necessary for one who is Junub, and also on other occasions. This expression
'taking a bath' is used in this book with the special meaning of Ghusl
mentioned here.
Terms Beginning With
H
Hadith: sayings of the Prophet.
Hadith Qudsi: the Hadith Qudsi are hadith's in which the Prophet
says the Allah says so and so. The meaning of the these {hadith::diHadith} was
revealed to the Prophet but he put them in his own words, unlike the Quran
which is the word of Almighty Allah and the Prophet conveyed it exactly as it
was revealed to him.
Hajj: means effort. The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that
is obligatory on every Muslim. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and takes
place during the Islamic month of Zhul al-Hijjah. A Muslim must perform the
Hajj at least once in his life. The exception to this is financial and health
reasons.
Halal: something that is lawful and permitted in Islam.
Halif: a person who enjoys the protection of a tribe but
does not belong to it by blood.
Halqah: a group of students involved in the study of
Islam.
Hanif: people who during the time of {jahiliyyah::diJahil}
rejected the idolatry in their society. These people were in search for the
true religion of Prophet Abraham.
Haqq: the Truth.
Haraam: something which is unlawful or prohibited in
Islam.
Haram: a Haram is a sanctuary, a sacred territory. Mecca
has been considered a Haram since the time of Abraham. All things within the
limit of the Haram are protected and considered inviolable {Madinah::diMadinah}
was also declared a Haram by the Prophet.
Hijrah: means migration. The Hijrah refers to the Prophet's
migration from Mecca to Madinah. This journey took place in the twelfth year of
his mission ({622::date622} {CE::diCe}). This is the beginning of the Muslim
calendar. The word hijrah means to leave a place to seek sancturary or freedom
from persecution or freedom of religion or any other purpose. Hijrah can also
mean to leave a bad way of life for a good or more righteous way.
Hudud: the limits ordained by Allah. This includes the
punishment for crimes.
Hadath (Small) : Passing wind or urine or answering the call of
nature.
Hadath (Big) : Sexual discharge.
Hady: An animal (a camel, a cow, a sheep or a goat)
offered as a sacrifice by the pilgrims.
Hadîth: The statements of the Prophet saw ; i.e. his
sayings, deeds, and approvals, etc..
Hais: A dish made of cooking-butter, dates and cheese.
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Makka.
Al-Hajj-al-Akbar: The day of Nahr (i.e the 10th of
Dhul-Hîjja).
Hajj-al-Asghar: 'Umra.
Hajjat-ul-Wadâ': The last Hajj of the Prophet saw, the year before
he died.
Hajj Mabrûr: Hajj accepted by Allah for being perfectly
performed according to the Prophet's Sunna and with legally earned money.
Hajj At-Tamattu' and Al-Qirân: Hajj performed with 'Umra preceding it. For
details, see Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Book of Hajj, Vol.2.
Hajjâm: One who performs cupping.
Halal: Lawful.
Hanatâ: An expression used when you don't want to call
somebody by her name. (It is used for calling a female).
Hanif: Pure Islamic Monotheism (Worshipping Allah Alone
and nothing else).
Harâm: Unlawful, forbidden and punishable from the
viewpoint of religion.
Haram: Sanctuaries of Makka and Al-Madina.
Hâraurâ: A town in Iraq.
Harba: A short spear.
Harj: Killing.
Harra: A well-known rocky place in Al-Madina covered
with black stones.
Hasîr: A mat that is made of leaves of date-palms and is
as long as (or longer than) a man's stature.
Hayâ': This term covers a large number of concepts. It
may mean 'modesty', 'self-respect', 'bashfulness', 'honour', etc. Haya' is of
two kinds: good and bad; the good Hayâ' is to be ashamed to commit a crime or a
thing which Allah ÚÒ æ Ìá and His Messenger saw has forbidden, and bad Hayâ' is
to be ashamed to do a thing, which Allah and His Messenger saw ordered to do.
(See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadîth No.8).
Hawâla: The transference of a debt from one person to
another. It is an agreement whereby a debtor is released from a debt by another
becoming responsible for it.
Hawâzin: A tribe of Quraish.
Henna: A kind of plant used for dyeing hair etc.
Hilab: A kind of scent.
Himâ: A private pasture.
Himyân: A kind of belt, part of which serves as a purse to
keep money in it.
Hiqqa: A three-year-old she-camel.
Hira': A well-known cave in a mountain near Makka.
Hourîs: Very fair females created by Allah as such not
from the off-spring of Adam, with intense black irises of their eyes and
intense white scleras.
Hubal: The name of an idol in the Ka'ba in the
Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance.
Hublâ: A kind of desert tree. Hudâ: Chanting of
camel-drivers keeping time of camel's walk.
Hudûd (plural of Hadd): Allah's boundary limits for Halâl (lawful) and
Haram (unlawful).
Hujra: Courtyard of a dwelling place, or a room (See
Lisân-e-Arab).
Hukm: A judgement of legal decision (especially of
Allah)
Hums: The tribe of Quraish, their offspring and their
allies were called Hums. This word implies enthusiasm and strictness. The Hums
used to say, "We are the people of Allah." They thought themselves
superior to the other people.
Hunain: A valley between Makka and Ta'if where the battle
took place between the Prophet saw and Quraish pagans.
Hanût: A kind of scent used for embalming the dead.
Terms Beginning With
I
Imam: leader of the congregational prayer,
{salat::diSalat}, that the Muslims offer five times a day. It is sometimes used
to refer to the head of an Islamic State.
Iman: faith and trust in Allah.
Injil: the revelations that were sent down during the
time of Prophet Isa (Jesus). It is reffered to as the New Testament.
Iqamah: means establishing. It is similar to the {adhan::diAdhan}
with the addition of a pharse that signifies that a compulsory prayer,
{fard::diFard}, is about to begin.
Isha: the obligatory {salat::diSalat}, prayer, after
sunset later in the evening.
Istighfar: to seek Allah's forgiveness. It is something that
must be done continuously in a Muslims life.
'Iddah: Allah's prescribed period for divorce and
marriage, etc. (See the Qur'ân Sûrat 65).
Iftar: The opposite of fasting, (breaking the fast).
Ihrâm ( ÇÍÑÇã ) : A state in which one is prohibited to practise
certain deeds that are lawful at other times. The ceremonies of 'Umra and Hajj
are performed during such state. When one assumes this state, the first thing
one should do is to express mentally and orally one's intention to assume this
state for the purpose of performing Hajj or 'Umra. Then Talbîya is recited, two
sheets of unstitched clothes are the only clothes one wears,
(1) Izâr: worn below one's waist and the other
(2) Rida: worn round the upper part of the body.
Ihsân: The highest level of deeds and worship,
(perfection i.e. when you worship Allah or do deeds, consider yourself as if
you see Him and if you cannot achieve this feeling or attitude, then you must
bear in mind that He sees you).
Ilâ': The oath taken by a husband that he would not
approach his wife for a certain period.
Iliyâ: Jerusalem. Imâm: The person who leads others in
the prayer or the Muslim Caliph (or ruler).
Imân: Faith, Belief. Imlâs: An abortion caused by being
beaten over one's (a pregnant wife's) abdomen.
Inbijâniya: A woolen garment without marks.
Iqâma: The statements of the Adhân are recited reduced
so that the statements that are expressed twice in the Adhân are recited once
in Iqâma except the last utterance of 'Allahu-Akbar,' The prayer is offered
immediately after Iqâma has been pronounced.
Iqamat-as-Salât: The offering of the prayers perfectly. This is
not understood by many Muslims. It means:
(A) Each and every Muslim, male or female, is obliged to offer his prayers
regularly five times a day at the specified times; the male in the mosque in
congregation and the female at home. As the Prophet saw has said: "Order your children for Salât
(prayer) at the age of seven and beat them (about it) at the age of ten".
The chief (of a family, town, tribe, etc.) and the Muslim ruler of a country
are held responsible before Allah in case of non-fulfilment of this obligation
by the Muslims under his authority.
(B) To offer the prayers in a way just as Prophet Muhammad saw offered it
with all its rules and regulations, as he saw said: "Offer your prayers the way you see me offering them."
Please see Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1 for the Prophet's way of praying, in the
book of characteristics of the prayer and that the prayer (Salât) begins with
Takbîr (Allahu-Akbar) with the recitation of Sûrat Al-Fatiha etc. along with
its various postures, standing, bowing, prostrations, sitting etc. and it ends
with Taslîm.
'Ishâ': Late evening prayer. Its time starts about one
and a half hours after sunset, till the middle of night.
Ishtimal-as-Sammâ: The wearing of clothes in the following two ways:
1. To cover one shoulder with a garment and leave the other bare.
2. To wrap oneself in a garment while sitting in such a way that nothing of
that garment would cover one's private parts.
Istabraq: Thick Dibaj (pure silk cloth).
Istihâda: Bleeding from the womb of a woman in between her
ordinary periods. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadîth No. 303 and Chapter No.
10, Page No. 183).
Istihsân: To give a verdict with a proof from one's heart
[only) with satisfaction, and one cannot express it (only Abû Hanifa and his
pupils say so but the rest of the Muslim religious scholars of Sunna (and they
are the majority) do not agree to it].
Istikhâra: A prayer consisting of two Rakât in which the
praying person appeals to Allah to guide him on the right way, regarding a
certain deed or situation with which one is confronted. (See Hadîth No. 263,
Vol. 2, Hadîth No.391, Vol. 8, Hadîth No. 487, Vol. 9, Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Istisqâ': A prayer consisting of two Rakât, invoking Allah
for rain in seasons of drought,
I'tikâf: Seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of
worshipping Allah only. The one in such a state should not have sexual
relations with his wife, and one is not allowed to leave the mosque except for
a very short period, and that is only for very urgent necessity e.g. answering
the call of nature or joining a funeral procession etc.
Izâr: A sheet worn below the waist to cover the lower
half of the body.
Terms Beginning With
J
Jahannam: means Hell.
Jahiliyyah: means ignorant. Jahiliyyah refers to the
pre-Islamic era that existed in Arabia. It is a combination of views, ideas,
and practices that totally defy and reject the guidance sent down by God
through His Prophets.
Jalbab: this is a long loose fitting garment worn by the
Arabs.
Jannah: means Paradise.
Jihad: means to strive. This can be any kind of striving
in the way of God which involves either spiritual or personal effort, material
resources, or arms. Jihad is also used to refer to a war waged by the Muslims
for the defence or advancement of Islam; it's interests and ideals.
Jizyah: a tax paid by non-Muslims living in a Muslim
State. Since the non-Muslims are exempt from military service and taxes imposed
on Muslims, they must pay this tax to compensate. It guarentees them security
and protection. If the State cannot protect those who paid jizyah, then the
amount they paid is returned to them.
Jadha'a: A four-year-old she-camel.
Jalîl: A kind of good smelling grass grown in Makka.
Jam': Al-Muzdalifa, a well-known place near Makka.
Jamra: A small stone-built pillar in a walled place.
There are three Jamras situated at Mina. One of the ceremonies of Hajj is to
throw pebbles at these Jamras on the four days of 'Eid-al-Adha at Mina.
Jamrât-al-'Aqaba: One of the three stone-built pillars situated at
Mina. It is situated at the entrance of Mina from the direction of Makka.
Janâba: The state of a person after having sexual
intercourse with his wife or after having a sexual discharge in a wet dream. A
person in such a state should perform Ghusl (i.e. have a bath) or do Tayammum,
if a bath is not possible.
Janîb: A good kind of date.
Jihâd: Holy fighting in the Cause of Allah or any other
kind of effort to make Allah's Word (i.e. Islam) superior. Jihâd is regarded as
one of the fundamentals of Islam.
Jimâr: Plural of Jamra.
Jinn: A creation, created by Allah from fire, like human beings from mud,
and angels from light.
Jîzya: Head tax imposed by Islam on all non-Muslims living
under the protection of an Islamic government. [See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 4,
Page No. 251 Chapter 21, and Ahadîth No. 384, 385 and 386.]
Jubba: A cloak.
Jumada-ath-Thâniya: Sixth month of the Islamic calendar.
Jumu'a: Friday.
Junub: A person who is in a state of Janâba.
Jurhum: Name of an Arab tribe.
Terms Beginning With
K
Ka'bah: the first house of worship built for mankind. It
was originally built by Adam and later on reconstructed by Abraham and Isma'il.
It is a cubed shaped structure based in the city of Mecca to which all Muslims
turn to in their five daily paryers.
Kafir: a person who refuses to submit himself to Allah
(God), a disbeliever in God.
Khalifah: in the begining it was a reference to the
successor of the Prophet. Later on it began to take on the meaning of head of
state for a Muslim nation.
Khandaq: means ditch.
Khatib: orator, speaker.
Khutbah: a speech or sermon. It is sometimes used to refer
to the sermon given during the Friday cogregational prayer.
Kuffar: plural form of {kafir::diKafir}.
Kufr: to show ungratefulness to Allah and not to believe
in Him and His religion.
Ka'ba: A square stone building in Al-Masjid-al-Haram
(the great mosque at Makka) towards which all Muslims turn there faces in
prayer.
Kafâla: The pledge given by somebody to a creditor to
guarantee that the debtor will be present at a certain specific place to pay
his debt or fine, or to undergo a punishment etc.
Kafir: The one who disbelieves in Allah, His Messengers,
all the angels, all the holy Books, Day of Resurrection and in the Al-Qadar
(Divine Preordainments).
Kanz: Hoarded up gold, silver and money, the Zakât of
which has not been paid. (See the Qur'ân 9:34).
Kasafat: An Arabic verb meaning "eclipsed", used
for a solar eclipse: Ash-Shamsu
Kasafat (the sun eclipsed).
Katm: A plant used for dyeing hair.
Kauthar: See Al-Kauthar.
Khadîra: A kind of vegetation.
Khaibar: A well-known town in the north of Al-Madina.
Khalîl: The one whose love is mixed with one's heart and
it is superior to a friend or beloved. The Prophet saw had only one Khalîl,
i.e. Allah, but he had many friends.
Khaluq: A kind of perfume.
Khamîsa: A black woollen square blanket with marks on it.
Kharâj: Zakât imposed on the yield of the land (1/10th
or 1/20th).
Khasafa: An Arabic word meaning "eclipsed" used
for lunar eclipse: Al-Qamaru Khasafa
(the moon eclipsed).
Khawârij: The people who dissented from the religion and
disagreed with the rest of the Muslims.
Khazîr: A special type of dish prepared from barley-flour
and meat-soup.
Khazîra: A special dish prepared from white flour, fat etc.
Khuff: Leather socks.
Khul': (A kind of divorce) the parting of a wife from
her husband by giving him a certain compensation, or to return back the Mahr
which he gave her.
Khumra: A small mat just sufficient for the face and the
hands (on prostrating during prayers).
Khums: One-fifth of war booty given in Allah's Cause
etc. (The Qur'ân 8:41).
Khutba: Sermon (religious talk).
Khutba of Nikâh: A speech delivered at the time of concluding the
marriage contract.
Kuhl: Antimony eye powder.
Kûfa: A town in Iraq.
Kufr: It is basically disbelief in any of the articles
of Islamic Faith and they are: to
believe in Allah (God), His angels, His Messengers, His revealed Books, the Day
of Resurrection, and Al-Qadar (i.e. Divine Preordain-ments whatever Allah has
ordained must come to pass).
Kuniya: Calling a man, O 'father of so-and-so!' Or
calling a woman, O'mother of so-and- so!' This is a custom of the Arabs.
Kusûf: Solar eclipse. La Ilaha ill Allâh: None has the right to be worshipped
but Allah.
Terms Beginning With
L
Laat: a chief goddess in the religion of the pre-Islamic
Arabs during the days of {jahiliyyah::diJahil}.
Labbaika wa Sa'daika: I respond to Your Call; I am obedient to Your
Orders.
Li'ân: An oath which is taken by both the wife and the husband when he
accuses his wife of committing illegal sexual intercourse. (The Qur'ân, Sûrat
Nûr,24 :6,7,8,9,).
Luqata: Article or a thing (a pouch or a purse tied with a
string) found by somebody other than the owner who has lost it.
Lailat-ul-Qadr: One of the odd last ten nights of the month of
fasting (i.e. Ramadân), Allah ÊÚÇáì describes it as better than one thousand
months, and the one who worships Allah during it by performing optional prayers
and reciting the Holy Qur'ân, etc. will get a reward better than worshipping
Him for one thousand months (i.e. 83 years and four months).[See the Qur'ân
Sûrat 97 (V.97: 1-5)]. (See Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Hadîth No. 231 and Chapter No.2).
Terms Beginning With
M
Madinah: the first city-state that came under the banner of
Islam. It is where the Prophet's {masjid::diMasjid} and grave are situated.
Maghazi: the military campaigns of the Prophet.
Maghrib: the obligatory {salat::diSalat}, prayer, that is
performed right after the sun sets over the horizon.
Mahr: a dowry given by the man to the woman he is about
to marry. It is part of the Muslim marriage contract. It can never be demanded
back under any circumstances.
Marwah: a mound near the {Ka'bah::diKabah} that is
referred to in the Quran as one of the symbols of Allah. It is in conjuction
with {safa::diSafa}.
Masjid: a place of worship and {salat::diSalat}. The life
of the early Muslims used to revolve around the masjid. Meetings would be held
there, discussions would take place there. It is called a 'mosque' in English.
Mawla: a person of slave origin who does not have tribal
protection. It is a word with dual meaning. It can mean either master or
servant.
Mawlaya: a form of address to a ruler implying protector.
Mihrab: a recess in the {masjid::diMasjid} that indicates
the direction of {salat::diSalat}.
Mina: a plain within the bounds of the
{haram::diMasjidHaram} of Mecca, within five kilometers outside the city.
During the {hajj::diHajj} the pilgrims pass the night between the eighth and
ninth day proceed to {Arafat::diArafat} on the ninth day.
Minbar: a pulpit.
Muadh-dhin: the person who calls the {adhan::diAdhan}.
Muhajir: a person who does {hijrah::diHijrah}.
Mujahid: someone who is active and fights for Islam. A
Muslim fighter. The opposite of {qaideen::diQaideen}.
Mu'min: a person who has deep faith in Allah and is a
righteous and obedient servant of His.
Munafiq: a hypocrite, more dangerous and worse than a
{kafir::diKafir}.
Murabit: a person who is on the road spreading Islam.
Musalaymah: Undefined.
Musad'afin: a weak and oppressed person.
Mushaf: a copy of the Quran.
Mushawarah: means consultation.
Mushrik: a polythiest. A person who ascribes partners to
Allah.
Mabrûr (Hajj): Accepted by Allah for being perfectly performed
according to the Prophet's legal ways and with legally earned money.
Maghâfîr: A bad smelling gum.
Maghrib: Sunset, evening prayer.
Mahram: See Dhu-Mahram.
Mahr: Bridal-money given by the husband to the wife at
the time of marriage.
Makrûh: Not approved of, undesirable from the point of
view of religion, although not punishable.
Mamlûk: A male slave.
Manâsik: [i.e. Ihram, Tawaf of the Ka'ba and Sâ'y of
"As-Safâ" and "Al-Marwa", stay at 'Arafat, Muzdalifa and
Mina, Ramy of Jamrâts, slaughtering of Hady (animal) etc. For details, see The
Book of Hajj and 'Umra, Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.2-3.
Manîha (plural:Manâ'îh): A sort of gift in the form of a she-camel or a
sheep which is given to somebody temporarily so that its milk may be used and
then the animal is returned to its owner.
Maqam Ibrahim: (The place) the stone on which AbrahamÚáíå ÇáÓáÇã
stood while he and IshmaelÚáíå ÇáÓáÇã were building the Ka'ba.
Al-Maqam-al-Mahmûd: The highest place in Paradise, which will be
granted to Prophet Muhammad saw and none else.
Mar'âs: A place nearer to Mina than Ash-Shajara.
Al-Marwa: A mountain in Makka, neighbouring the great
mosque (i.e. Al-Masjid-al-Haram)
Mâshâ' Allah: An Arabic sentence meaning literally, "What
Allah wish," and it indicates a good omen.
Masjid: Mosque.
Mashruba: Attic room.
Mathânî: Oft repeated Verses of the Qur'ân, and that is
Sûrat Al-Fatiha, recited repeatedly in the prayer.
Maulâ: It has many meanings. Some are: a manumitted slave, or a
master or the Lord (Allah).
Maulâya: My lord, my master (an expression used when a
slave addresses his master (also used for freed slave).
Mayâthir: Silk cushions.
Mijanna: A place at Makka. Mina: A place outside Makka on the road to 'Arafat. It is five
miles away from Makka and about 10 miles from 'Arafât.
Miqât (plural Mawâqît): One of the several places specified by the
Prophet saw for the people to assume Ihrâm at, on their way to Makka, when
intending to perform Hajj or 'Umra.
Miracles: Of the Prophet saw . See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol 1,
'Introduction'.
Mi'râj: The ascent of the Prophet saw to the heavens.
(See Hadîth No. 345, Vol. 1, Hadîth No. 429, vol. 4 and Hadîth No. 227, Vol. 5,
Sahih Al-Bukhari). [Also see (V. 53:12)
the Qur'ân]
Mirbad: A place where dates are dried.
Misr: Egypt.
Miswâk: A tooth brush made of Arak-tree roots.
Mithqâl: A special kind of weight (equals 4 2/7 grams
approx., used for weighing gold). It may be less or more. [20 Mithqâl = 94
grams approx.]
Muhkam: Qur'ânic Verses the orders of which are not
cancelled (abrogated).
Mu'adh-dhin: A call-maker who pronounces the Adhân loudly
calling people to come and perform the prayer.
Mu'awwidhât: i.e. Sûrat Al-Falaq (113) and Sûrat An-Nas (114).
[The Qur'ân].
Mubashshirât: Glad tidings. [See the F.N. of (V. 10:64), Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Hadîth
No. 119].
Mubiqât: Great destructive sins.
Mudabbar: A slave who is promised by his master to be
manumitted after the latter's death.
Mudd: A measure of two thirds of a kilogram (approx.)
It may be less or more. Mufassal or
Mufassalat: The Sûrah starting from 'Qaf to the end of the
Holy Qur'ân (i.e. from No. 50 to the end of the Qur'ân 114).
Muhâjir: Anyone of the early Muslims who had migrated from
any place to Al-Madina in the life-time of the Prophet saw before the conquest
of Makka and also the one who emigrates for the sake of Allah and Islam and
also the one who quits all those things which Allah has forbidden.
Muhrim: One who assumes the state of Ihrâm for the
purpose of performing the Hajj or 'Umra.
Muhrima: A female in the state of Ihrâm.
Muhsar: A Muhrim who intends to perform the Hajj or 'Umra
but cannot because of some obstacle.
Mujâhid: A Muslim warrior in Jihâd (Plural: Mujahidûn).
Mujazziz: A Qâ'if:
a learned man who reads the foot and hand marks.
Mujtahidûn: Independent religious scholars who do not follow
religious opinions except with proof from the Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunna,
from all over the Muslim world.
Mukatab: A slave (male or female) who binds himself (or
herself) to pay a certain ransom for his (or her) freedom.
Mulâ'ana: The act of performing Li'ân.
Mulhidûn: Heretical.
Muqaiyar: A name of a pot in which alcoholic drinks used to
be prepared.
Musalla: A praying place.
Mushrikûn: Polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers
in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad saw
Mustahada: A woman who has bleeding from the womb in between
her ordinary periods.
Mutafahhish: A person who conveys evil talk.
Mu'takif: One who is in a state of I'tikaf.
Mutashâbihât: Qur'ânic Verses which are not clear and are
difficult to understand.
Mutras: A Persian word meaning "don't be
afraid."
Muttaqûn: Pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much
(abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love
Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained).
Muzâbana: The sale of fresh dates for dried dates by measure,
and the sale of fresh grapes for dried grapes by measure. In both cases the
dried fruits are measured while the fresh ones are only estimated as they are
still on the trees.
Muzaffat: A name of a pot in which alcoholic drinks used to
be prepared.
Muzdalifa: A place between 'Arafat and Mina where the
pilgrims while returning from 'Arafat, have to stop and stay for the whole
night or greater part of it (the night), between the ninth and tenth of
Dhul-Hîjja and to perform the Maghrib and 'Ishâ' prayers (together) there.
Muharram: The first month of the Islamic calendar.
Terms Beginning With
N
Nasab: means lineage or geneology.
Nasihah: means sincere good advice.
Nabîdh: Water in which dates or grapes etc. are soaked
and is not yet fermented.
Nafr (day of) : The 12th and 13th of
Dhul-Hîjja when the pilgrims leave Mina after performing all the ceremonies of
Hajj at 'Arafat, Al-Muzdalifa and Mina.
Nahd: Sharing the expenses of a journey or putting the
journey food of the travellers together to be distributed among them in equal
shares.
Nahr: (Literal:
slaughtering of the camels only and is done by cutting carotid artery at the
root of the neck); the day of Nahr is the tenth of Dhul-Hîjja on which pilgrims
slaughter their sacrifices.
Nâdîha: A camel used for agricultural purposes.
Nâdy: A part of an arrow.
Namîma: (Calumnies) conveyance of disagreeable false
information from one person to another to create hostility between them.
Naqîb (s): A person heading a group of six persons in an
expedition (tribal chiefs).
Naqîr: A name of a pot in which alcoholic drinks used to
be prepared.
Nasl: A part of an arrow.
Nawâfil: (plural of Nafila), Optional practice of worship in contrast to
obligatory (Farîda).
Nikâh: Marriage (wedlock) according to Islamic law.
Nisâb: Minimum amount of property liable to payment of
the Zakât e.g. Nisâb of gold is twenty (20) Mithqal i.e. approx. 94 grams;
Nisâb of silver is two hundred (200) Dirhams, i.e. approx. 640 grams; Nisâb of
food-grains and fruit is 5 Awsuq i.e. 673.5 kgms. Nisâb of camels is 5 camels;
Nisâb of cows is 5 cows; and Nisâb of sheep is 40 sheep, etc.
Nûn: Fish. Nusk:
Religious act of worship.
Nusub: Singular of Ansâb. An-Nusub were stone alters at
fixed places or graves, etc., whereon sacrifices were slaughtered during fixed
periods of occasions and seasons in the name of idols, jinns, angels, pious
men, saints, etc., in order to honour them, or to expect some benefit from
them.
Nusuk: A sacrifice.
Terms Beginning With
p
Prophet: A person who is inspired divinely.
Terms Beginning With
Q
Qadi: judge.
Qaideen: people who remain inactive and do not actively
fight. The opposit of {mujahid::diMujahid}.
Qard: a loan given for a good cause in the name of
Allah, in hopes of repayment or reward in the Hereafter.
Qari: someone who recites the Quran.
Qiblah: it is the direction that Muslims face when they do
their {salat::diSalat}. It is in the direction of the {Ka'bah::diKabah} in
Mecca.
Qisas: retaliation in kind (eye for an eye). In Islam
though, retaliation should be forgone as an act of charity {sura::diSura} 5,
{ayah::diAyah} 48.
Qiyamah: Day of Judgement, resurrection.
Qudah: plural form of {qadi::diQadi}.
Quraysh: the most powerful and prominent tribe in all of
Arabia in the Prophet's era. The Quraysh were the keepers of the
{Ka'bah::diKabah} and therefore one of the wealthiest and most powerful tribes.
The Prophet was from among the Quraysh. When he started to preach the True
religion of Allah, the Quraysh violently persecuted him and his followers. They
were badly defeated at the battle of {Badr::diBadr} by the Muslims and their
days of {jahiliyyah::diJahil} were finally ended when the Muslims liberated
Mecca and destroyed all the idols in the {Ka'bah::diKabah} in the year {630::date630}
{CE::diCE}
Qabâ': An outer garment with full length sleeves.
Qadar: Divine Pre-Ordainment.
Qalîb: A well.
Qâri': Early Muslim religious scholar was called Qurrâ'
(plural of Qarî). (This word is also used for a person who knows the Qur'ân by
heart). The plural is Qurrâ'. The Qurrâ' were teachers of the early Muslims.
Qarin: One who performs Hajj-al-Qiran.
Qarn-al-Manazil: The Miqât of the people of Najd. It is situated
on the way to Makka.
Qasab: Pipes made of gold, pearls and other precious
stones.
Qatîfa: Thick soft cloth.
Qattât: A person who conveys information from someone to
another with the intention of causing harm and enmity between them. (Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, Hadîth No.82).
Qiblah: The direction in which all Muslims turn their
faces in prayers and that direction is towards the Ka'ba in Makka (Saudi Arabia).
Qîl and Qâl: Sinful, useless talk (e.g. backbiting, lies,
etc.).
Qintâr: A weight-measure for food-grains, etc., e.g.
wheat, maize, oat, barley.
Qirâm: A thin marked woolen curtain.
Qirât: A special weight; sometimes a very great weight
like Uhud mountain. 1 Qirat = 1/2 Daniq & 1 Daniq = 1/6 Dirham.
Qissî: A kind of cloth containing silk; some say it is
called so because it is manufactured in Egypt at a place called Qiss.
Qithâm: A plant disease which causes fruit to fall before
ripening.
Qiyâm: The standing posture in prayer.
Qiyâs: Verdicts and judgements given by the Islamic
religious scholars. These are given on the following proofs respectively:-
(A) From the Qur'ân;
(B) From the Prophet's "Sunna."
(C) From the unanimously accepted verdict of the Mujtahidûn;
(D) Qiyâs: i.e. the verdict
given by a Mujtahid who considered the case similar in comparison with a case
judged by the Prophet saw . Qiyâs is not to be practised except if the
judgement of the case is not found in the first three above mentioned proofs,
A, B and C.
Qubâ': A place on the outskirts of Al-Madina. The
Prophet saw established a mosque there, which bears the same name. A visit to
that mosque on Saturday forenoon and offering a two Rak'ât prayer is regarded
as a performance of 'Umra in reward according to the Prophet's saying.
Qudhadh: A part of an arrow.
Qumqum: A narrow headed vessel.
Qunut: Invocation in the prayer.
Quraish: One of the greatest tribes in Arabia in the
Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance. The Prophet Muhammad saw belonged to this
tribe, which had great powers spiritually and financially both before and after
Islam came.
Quraishi: A person belonging to the Quraish (well-known
Arab) tribe.
Terms Beginning With
R
Ra'kat: an individual unit of {salat::diSalat}.
Ramadan: the holy month of prescribed fasting for the
Muslims. It was during this month that the Quranic revelations began.
Rasulullah: the Messenger of Allah (God).
Ruku: the position in {salat::diSalat} in which the
person prostrates himself in a standing position with his body bent forward at
the waist and his hands on his knees.
Rutb: ripe dates, opposite {busr::diBusr}.
Rabb: Lord, Owner (it is also one of the Names of
Allah).
Rabbuk: Your Lord, Your Master.
Rabî'-ul-Awwal: Third month of the Islamic calendar.
Rahila: A she-camel used for riding. (Literally means: a mount to ride).
Raiyan: The name of one of the gates of Paradise through
which the people who often observe fasting will enter.
Rajab: The seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Rajaz: Name of poetic metre.
Rak'â: The prayer of Muslims consists of Rak'ât
(singular-Rak'â), which consists of one standing, one bowing and two
prostrations.
Ramadân: The month of fasting. It is the ninth month of
the Islamic calendar. In it the Holy Qur'ân started to be revealed to our
Prophet saw and in it occurs the night of Qadr and in it also occurred the
great decisive battle of Badr.
Ramal: Fast walking accompanied by the movements of the
arms and legs to show one's physical strength. This is to be observed in the
first three rounds of the Tawâf around the Ka'ba, and is to be done by the men
only and not by the women.
Ramy: The throwing of pebbles at the Jimar at Mina.
Ribâ' (Usury) : Usury which is of two major kinds: (a) Ribâ' Nasî'a, i.e.
interest on lent money; (b) Ribâ' Fadl, i.e. taking a superior thing of
the same kind of goods by giving more of the same kind of goods of inferior
quality, e.g., dates of superior quality for dates of inferior quality in
greater amount. Islam strictly forbids all kinds of usury.
Ridâ': A piece of cloth (sheet etc.) worn around the
upper part of the body.
Rikâz: Buried wealth (from the pre-Islamic period).
Ruh-ul-Lah: According to the early religious scholars from
among the companions of the Prophet saw and their students and the Mujtahidûn,
there is a rule to distinguish between the two nouns in the genitive
construction.
(A) When one of the two nouns is Allah, and the other is a person of a
thing, e.g.,
(i) Allah's House (Bait-ul-Lah ),
(ii) Allah's Messenger;
(iii) Allah's slave ('Abdullah );
(iv) Allah's spirit (Ruh-ul- Lah ) etc.
The rule of the above words is that the second noun, e.g., House,
Messenger, slave, spirit, etc. is created by Allah and is honourable in His
Sight and similarly Allah's spirit may be understood as the spirit of Allah, in
fact, it is a soul created by Allah, i.e. Jesus, and it was His Word: "Be!", - and he was created
(like the creation of Adam).
(B) But when one of the two is Allah and the second is neither a person nor
a thing, then it is not a created thing but is a quality of Allah, e.g.,
(i) Allah's Knowledge ('Ilmullah );
(ii) Allah's Life (Hayatullah ); (iii) Allah's Statement (Kalamullah );
(iv) Allah's Self (Dhatullah )etc.
Ruqba: A kind of gift in the form of a house given to
somebody to live in as long as he is alive.
Terms Beginning With
S
Sabirin: people who are patient and steadfast.
Sabr: patience, steadfastness.
Sadaq: same meaning as {mahr::diMahr}.
Sadaqah: means charity.
Safa: a mound near the {Ka'bah::diKabah} that is
referred to in the Quran as one of the symbols of Allah. It is in conjuction
with {marwah::diMarwah}.
Sahabah: companions of the Prophet.
Sahifah: a page or manuscript.
Salat: the five obligatory prayers that a Muslim must
perform everyday.
Saqifah: a shelter with a roof. The companions of the
Prophet met in a Saqifah in Madinah to pledge their loyalty to {Abu
Bakr::biBakr} after the death of the Prophet.
Sa'yee: the going back and forth seven times between
{safa::diSafa} and {marwah::diMarwah} that is done during the {hajj::diHajj} or
the {umrah::diUmrah}. It is done to symbolize Hajar's search for water for her
son Ismael.
Sayyid: leader or chief.
Seerah: biography of the Prophet.
Shahadah: declaration of faith. A person must recite the
shahadah to convert to Islam. The shahadah in Islam is:: "I testify that
there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah."
Shaheed: a martyr. Someone who dies in the way of Allah.
Shahid: means a witness or martyr.
Shariah: Islamic law.
Shirk: associating partners with Allah. Shirk can also
encompase any object that a person may hold in regard higher than Allah. It is
the most severe of sins and will not be forgiven.
Shura: consultation.
Sirwal: long under garment worn by the Arabs.
Siwak: a piece of a branch or root of a tree that is used
as a toothbrush. Also called a miswak.
Suffah: a raised platform that was used by the Prophet as
a welcomming point for newcomers or destitute people. It was part of his
{masjid::diMasjid}.
Suhuf: pages or manuscripts.
Sujud: the position in {salat::diSalat} in which the
person prostrates on the ground with his hands, knees, feet, and face touching
the ground.
Sunnah: the examples of the Prophet's life what he said,
did, implemented, how he implemented... Almost the same as the
{hadith::diHadith}.
Surah: a chapter in the Quran.
Sâ': A measure that equals four Mudds (3 kg. approx).
Sab'a-al-Mathânî: The seven repeatedly recited Verses i.e. Sûrat
Al-Fatiha.
Sabâhâh: An exclamation indicating an appeal for help.
Sâbi'ûn: A passed nation used to live in Iraq say Lâ Ilâha
ill Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) and used to read
Az-Zabur (The Psalms of the Sâbi'ûns) and they were neither Jews nor
Christians.
Sa'dan: A thorny plant suitable for grazing animals.
Sadaqâ: Anything given in charity.
As-Safa and Al-Marwa: Two mountains at Makka neighbouring
Al-Masjid-Al-Haram (the great mosque) to the east. One who performs 'Umra and
Hajj should walk seven times between these two mountains and that is called
'Sâ'y'.
Sahba: A place near Khaibar.
Sahw: Forgetting (here it means forgetting how many
Rak'ât a person has prayed in which case he should perform two prostrations of
Sahw).
Sahûr: A meal taken at night before the Fajr (morning)
prayer by a fasting person.
Sa'y: The going for seven times between the mountains
of As-Safâ and Al-Marwa in Makka during the performance of Hajj and 'Umra.
Sayyid: Master (it is also used as a title name of the
descendants of the Prophet saw ).
Sayyidi: My master.
Sakînah: Tranquillity, calmness, peace and reassurance
etc.
Salab: Belongings (arms, horse, etc.) of a deceased
warrior killed in a battle.
Salaf: A sale in which the price is paid at once for
goods to be delivered later.
Salam: Synonym of Salaf.
Sami' Allahu: Liman Hamidah: Allah heard him who sent his praises to Him.
Samur: A kind of tree.
Sanah: Means 'good' in the Ethiopian language.
Sarîya: A small army-unit sent by the Prophet saw for
Jihâd, without his participation in it.
Sarîf: A place six miles away from Makka.
Sawîq: A kind of mash made of powdered roasted wheat or
barley grain (also with sugar and dates).
Sha'bân: The eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Shâm: The region comprising Syria, Palestine, Lebanon
and Jordan.
Shawwâl: The tenth month of the Islamic calendar.
Shighâr: A type of marriage in which persons exchange
their daughters or sisters in marriage without Mahr.
Shirak: A leather strap. Shirk: Polytheism and it is to worship others along with Allah. (See the
Appendix II at the end of the Book).
Shuf'a: Pre-emption.
Siddiq and Siddiqûn: Those followers of the Prophets who were first
and foremost to believe in them (See the Qur'ân 4:69).
Sidr: Lote tree (or Nabk tree).
Sidrat-ul-Muntahâ: A Nabk tree over the seventh heaven near the
Paradise (the lote tree of the utmost boundary)
Siffin (battle of): A battle that took place between 'Ali's followers
and Mu'awiya's followers at the river of the Euphrates in 'Iraq.
Siwak: A piece of a root of a tree called Al-Arak, used
as a toothbrush.
Subhân Allah: To honour Allah and make Him free from all that
(unsuitable evil things) that are ascribed to Him (or Glorified be Allah).
Suhûliya: A cotton cloth, its name is derived from the name
of a village in Yemen called Suhul.
Sundus: A kind of silk cloth.
Sunna (legal ways): Literally means: legal way or ways, orders, acts of worship and statements etc. of
the Prophet saw, that have become models to be followed by the Muslims.
Sutra: An object like a pillar, wall or stick, a spear
etc., the height of which should not be less than a foot and must be in front
of a praying person to act as a symbolical barrier between him and the others.
Terms Beginning With
T
Tahajjud: the Tahajjud prayer is an optional prayer that is
supposed to be performed in the middle of the night. It is required that a
person sleep a little before he gets up for the Tahajjud prayer. It can be
performed anytime between {Isha::diIsha} and {Fajr::diFajr}.
Talbiyah: Undefined.
Tamr: means dates.
Taqwa: the love and fear that a Muslim feels for Allah. A
person with taqwa desires to be in the good pleasures of Allah and to stay away
from those things that would displease Allah. He is careful not to go beyond
the bouds and limits set by Allah.
Tayammum: Undefined.
Tawaf: the circumfering of the {Ka'bah::diKabah} seven
times. People usually do this during {umrah::diUmrah} or {hajj::diHajj}.
Tauhid: confirming the Oneness of Allah. It is the basis
of Islam.
Thawab: reward of blessing.
Torah: the Revelation that Allah sent down to Moses. It
is the Jewish Holy Book
Tâba (Taiba): Another name for Al-Madina.
Tabûk: A well-known town about 700 kilometers north of
Al-Madina.
Tâghût: The word Tâghût covers a wide range meanings: It means anything worshipped other
than the Real God (Allah), i.e. all the false deities. It may be Satan, devils,
idols, stones, sun, stars, angels, human beings e.g. Jesus, Messengers of
Allah, who were falsely worshipped and taken as Tâghûts. Likewise saints,
graves, rulers, leaders, etc., are falsely worshipped, and wrongly followed.
Tahajjud: Night optional prayers offered at any time after
Ishâ prayers and before the Fajr prayer.
Tahnîk: It is the Islamic customary process of chewing a
piece of date etc.and putting a part of its juice in the child's mouth and
pronouncing Adhân in child's ears, etc. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Book of
'Aqîqa, Vol. 7, Page No. 272).
Taiba: One of the names of Al-Madina city.
Tâ'if: A well-known town near Makka.
Takbîr: Saying Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Most Great).
Takbîra: A single utterance of Allahu-Akbar
Talbîna: A dish prepared from flour and honey.
Talbîya: Saying Labbaik, Allahumma Labbaik (O Allah! I am
obedient to Your Orders, I respond to Your Call).
Taqlîd: Putting coloured garlands around the necks of
Budn (animals for sacrifice).
Taribat Yamînuka: (May your right hand be in dust). It is an
expression of exhortation, meaning, if you do not do what I tell you, you will
lose great advantage and win nothing but dust.
Tarwiya (day of) : The eighth day of Dhul-Hîjja, when pilgrims start
going to Mina.
Tarâwîh: Optional prayers offered after the Ishâ prayers
on the nights of Ramadân. These may be performed individually or in
congregation.
Tashah-hud: The recitation of the invocation: At-tahiyyatu Lillahi... (upto) wa
ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasul-ullah", while in Qu'ud, i.e. sitting
posture in prayer. (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadîth No. 794, and also see
the footnote of Page No. 56, Vol. 5 of Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Tashrîq (days of): 11th, 12th and 13th
of Dhul-Hîjja.
Tashmît: May Allah bestow His Blessings upon you.
Taslîm: On finishing the prayer, one turns one's face to
the right and then to the left saying, Assalamu 'Alaikum wa Rahmatullah (Peace
and Mercy of Allah be on you), and this action is called Taslîm. p>Tauhîd: It has three aspects; A, B and C:
(A) Oneness of the Lordship of Allah; Tauhîd-ar-Rububiyya: To believe that there is only one
Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, and the
Giver of Security, etc., and that is Allah.
(B) Oneness of the worship of Allah; Tauhîd-al-Uluhiyya: To believe that none has the right to be worshipped [e.g.
praying, invoking, asking for help (from the unseen), swearing, slaughtering
sacrifices, giving charity, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.], but Allah.
(C) Oneness of the Names and the Qualities of Allah; Tauhîd-al-Asmâ
was-Sifat: To believe that : (i) we must not name or qualify Allah
except with what He or His Messenger saw has named or qualified Him; (ii) none
can be named or qualified with the Names or Qualifications of Allah; e.g.
Al-Karim; (iii) we must confirm Allah's all qualifications which Allah has
stated in His Book (the Qur'ân) or mentioned through His Messenger (Muhammad
saw ) without changing them or ignoring them completely or twisting the
meanings or giving resemblance to any of the created things; e.g. Allah is
present over His Throne as mentioned in the Qur'ân. (V. 20 : 5): "The Most
Beneficent (i.e. Allah) Istawa (rose over) the (Mighty) Throne" over the
seventh heaven; and He only comes down over the first (nearest) heaven (to us)
during the day of 'Arafât (Hajj, i.e. 9th Dhul-Hijja) and also during the last
third part of the night, as mentioned by the Prophet saw , but He is with us by
His Knowledge only, not by His Personal Self (Bi-Dhatihi), "There is
nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer." (The
Qur'ân, V. 42:11).
This holy Verse confirms the quality of hearing and the quality of sight
for Allah without resemblance to others; and likewise He also said:
"To one whom I have created with Both My Hands," (V. 38:75); and He also said:
"The Hand of Allah is over their hands.": (V. 48:10, The
Qur'ân). This confirms two Hands for Allah, but there is no similarity for
them.
This is the Faith of all true believers, and was the Faith of all the
Prophets of Allah from Noah, Abraham, Moses and Christ till the last of the
Prophets, Muhammad saw . It is not like as some people think that Allah is
present every-where, here, there and even inside the breasts of men.
These three aspects of Tauhîd are included in the meanings of Lâ ilâha ill
Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).
It is also essential to follow Allah's Messenger Muhammad saw : Wajûb Al-Itteba' and it is a part of
Tauhîd-al-Uluhiyya. This is included in the meaning: "I testify that Muhammad saw is the Messenger of Allah"
and this means, "None has the right to be followed after Allah's Book (the
Qur'ân), but Allah's Messenger saw ". [See the Qur'ân (V. 59:7) and (V. 3:31)].
Tawâf: The circumambulation of the Ka'ba.
Tawâf-al-Ifâda: The circumambulation of the Ka'ba by the pilgrims
after they come from Mina on the tenth day of Dhul-Hîjja. This Tawâf is one of
the essential ceremonies (Rukn) of the Hajj.
Tawâf-ul-Wadâ': The Tawâf made before leaving Makka.
Tayammum: To put or strike lightly the hands over clean
earth and then pass the palm of each on the back of the other, blow off the
dust and then pass them on the face. This is performed instead of ablution
(Wudu) and Ghusl (in case of Janaba etc.) See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, Hadîth
No. 334 and 340.
Thâniyât-al-Wadâ': A place near Al-Madina.
Tharîd: A kind of meal, prepared from meat and bread.
Thaur: A well-known mountain in Al-Madina.
Tilâ': A kind of alcoholic drink prepared from grapes.
Tubbân: Shorts that cover the knees (used by wrestlers).
Tulaqâ' : Those persons who had embraced Islam on the day of
the conquest of Makka.
Tûr: A mountain.
Terms Beginning With
U
Ulama: the learned, knowledgeble people in Islam. Plural
form of {alim::diAlim}.
Ummah: an ummah is a community or a people. It is used in
reference to the community of Believers or Muslims.
Umm al-Mu'mineen: means 'Mother of the Believers'. This was the
title of the Prophet's wives; ({sura::diSura} 33 {ayah::diAyah} 6 stipulated
that they could not marry after the Prophet's death because all of the
believers were their spiritual children.
Umrah: this is the lesser pilgrimage which is optional
and can be performed at any time.
Urdu: the official language of Pakistan.
Uzzah: a chief goddess in the religion of the pre-Islamic
Arabs during the days of {jahiliyyah::diJahil}.
Uhud: A well-known mountain in Al-Madina. One of the
great battles in the Islamic history took place at its foot. This battle is
called Ghazwa Uhud.
'Umra: A visit to Makka during which one performs the
Tawâf around the Ka'ba and the Sâ'y between As-Safâ and Al-Marwa. (See Sahih
Al-Bukhari, Vol. 3, Page 1).
'Umra: Synonym of Ruqba.
Umm-al-Walad: A slave woman who begets a child for her master.
Uqiya: 128 grams. It may be less or more according to
different countries.
'Urfut: The tree which produces Maghafîr.
'Ushr: One tenth of the yield of land to be levied for
public assistance (Zakât). (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Hadîth No. 560).
Terms Beginning With
W
Wakil: a person who is an authorized repesentative or
proxy. Also can mean lawyer in {Urdu::diUrdu}.
Wali: legal guardian. A friend or protector. Someone who
is supposed to look out for your interest.
Walimah: a feast after the wedding. The reception.
Wudu: a purification (abulution) that must be performed
before someone does their {salat::diSalat} or reads the Quran.
Waihaka: May Allah be Merciful to you.
Wailaka: 'Woe upon you!'
Walâ': A kind of relationship (between the master who freed a slave
and the freed slave).
Walî [plural Auliyâ]: Protector, Guardian, Supporter, Helper, Friend
etc.
Walîma: The marriage banquet.
Waqf: Religious endowment.
Wars: A kind of perfume.
Wasaya: Wills or testaments.
Wasq: : (plural Awsaq or or Awsuq) A measure equal to 60
Sa's = 135 kg. approx. It may be less or more.
Wisâl: Fasting for more than one day continuously.
Witr: An odd number of Rak'ât with which one finishes
one's prayers at night after the night prayer or the Ishâ prayer.
Terms Beginning With
Y
Yathrib: the area where the city of {Madinah::diMadinah} is
situated.
Yakhsifan: Eclipse.
Yalamlam: The Miqât of the people of Yemen.
Yamâma: A place in Saudi Arabia towards Najd.
Yaqîn: Perfect absolute Faith.
Yathrib: One of the names of Al-Madina.
Terms Beginning With
Z
Zakat: the obligatory tax that every Muslim must give. It
is one of the five pillars of Islam. The zakat is used to provide for the poor
and destitute.
Zuhr: the obligatory {salat::diSalat}, prayer, that is
performed in the afternoon right after the sun moves away from it's zenith.
Zakât: A certain fixed proportion of the wealth and of
the each and every kind of the property liable to Zakât of a Muslim to be paid
yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community. The payment of
Zakât is obligatory as it is one of the five pillars of Islam. Zakât is the
major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslim
society to prosperity and security. [See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Book of
Zakât (24)].
Zakât-ul-Fitr: An obligatory Sadaqâ to be given by Muslims
before the prayer of 'Eid-ul-Fitr (See Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, The Book of
Zakât-al-Fitr, Page No. 339).
Zamzam: The sacred well inside the Haram (the grand
mosque) at Makka.
Zanâdiqa: Atheists.
Zarnab: A kind of good smelling grass.
Zuhr: Noon, mid-day prayer is called Zuhr prayer.
