Glossary
A.H. |
- |
After Hijrah |
'Aad |
- |
Rebellious people of Erum. Community to which Hûd was sent. |
| ‘Aalem |
- |
Religious scholar. Plural is ‘Ulema |
Al-Hamdu Lillah |
- |
Praise God |
Allah |
- |
God |
Allahu Akbar |
- |
God is the greatest. |
Allat |
- |
Idol of pre-Muhammad Arabia; alleged daughter of God. |
Arafat |
- |
Knoll near Mecca where pilgrims must spend one day of meditation. |
Ansaar |
- |
Residents of Medina who supported and hosted the believers who immigrated from Mecca (see Hijra). |
Ayah |
- |
Verse, or sign, or miracle. |
Ayaat |
- |
Plural of Ayah. |
Ayyoub |
- |
Job; God’s messenger. |
Azan |
- |
Call to prayer. |
B.H. |
- |
Before Hijrah (see Hijrah). |
Badr |
- |
A place between Mecca and Medina where the first battle between the idol worshipers and the Muslims took place. The Muslims won despite overwhelming odds. |
Basmalah |
- |
First Verse of the Quran. |
Gematria |
- |
The ancient practice of assigning numbers to alphabet letters. |
Hadith |
- |
Utterances attributed falsely to the prophet Muhammad. |
Hajj |
- |
Pilgrimage to Mecca. |
Halal |
- |
Lawful. |
Haraam |
- |
Unlawful. Also sacred (Al-Masjid Al-Haraam is the Sacred Mosque of Mecca). |
Hijrah |
- |
Immigration of Muhammad and the persecuted believers from Mecca to Medina. Beginning of Calendar. |
Hijrah Calendar |
- |
Lunar calendar starting from the Prophet’s Hijrah. Months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi I, Rabi II, Jumada I, Jumada II, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zul- Qi‘dah, and Zul-Hijjah. |
Iblis |
- |
Satan (see Shaytan). |
Imam |
- |
Leader. One who leads the prayers. |
In Shaa Allah |
- |
God willing. |
Injeel |
- |
Scripture delivered by Jesus. Gospel |
Islam |
- |
Arabic word meaning “submission.” Jannah Paradise. |
Jinns |
- |
Invisible creatures. Descendants of Satan. |
Jum‘ah |
- |
Friday. Friday Prayer. |
Ka‘bah |
- |
Cubic shaped shrine originally built by Abraham in Mecca. Focal point towards which submitters pray.் |
Kaafer |
- |
Heathen. Disbeliever. |
Kitab |
- |
Book. Scripture. |
Laa Elaaha Ellaa Allah |
- |
No other god besides God. Profession of God’s oneness. First pillar of Submission. |
Laylat Al-Qadr |
- |
Night of destiny. |
Maa Shaa Allah |
- |
This is God’s will. |
Manaat |
- |
Idol of ancient Arabia. |
Mu’azzin |
- |
Caller to the Contact Prayers. |
Muhajireen |
- |
Immigrants from Mecca to Medina in 1 A.H. |
Mulla |
- |
Teacher Imam |
Mu‘men |
- |
Believer |
Munafeq |
- |
Hypocrite |
Mushrik |
- |
Idolater |
Mualim |
- |
Arabic word Meaning "Submitter". |
Nabi |
- |
Message delivering Messenger. |
Qaran |
- |
Hebrew slave driver who enslaved his own people to serve Pharaoh. |
Qiblah |
- |
Direction submitters face during the Contact Prayers (Salat). |
Rak‘ah |
- |
One unit of Contact Prayer. |
Rasool |
- |
Messenger (see Nabi). |
Sacred Months |
- |
Months during which Haj pilgrimage may be observed;
Zul- Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi I. |
Sacred Mosque |
- |
Al-Masjid Al-Haraam of Mecca, where the Ka‘aba is located. |
Salaam |
- |
Greetings. Peace. |
Salamun ‘Alaikum |
- |
Peace be upon you. |
Salat |
- |
The five daily Contact Prayers. |
Seyam |
- |
Fasting. |
Shaikh |
- |
Old man. Head of tribe. Imam. |
Shaytan |
- |
Satan, devil. |
Shirk |
- |
Idolatry. Associating any name with the name of God. Believing that any creatures possesses any power. |
Subhan Allah |
- |
God be glorified. |
Sunna |
- |
Practices falsely attributed to the prophet Muhammad and used by the idol worshipers as a source of religious guidance. |
Sura |
- |
Chapter in the Quran. |
Tayammum |
- |
The dry ablution (5:6). |
'Ulema |
- |
Plural of ‘Aalem. Scholars. |
Umrah |
- |
Part of the Hajj pilgrimage. |
Wudu’ |
- |
Ablution. |
Zakat |
- |
Obligatory charity (2.5% of net). |
