Glossary of Islam

The following list consists of concepts that are derived from both Islamic and Arab tradition, which are expressed as words in the Arabic language. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Islam all in one place.

Separating concepts in Islam from concepts specific to Arab culture, or from the language itself, can be difficult. Many Arabic concepts have an Arabic secular meaning as well as an Islamic meaning. One example is the concept of dawah. One of the complexities of the Arabic language is that a single word can have multiple meanings. The word Islam is itself a good example.

Readers should also note that Arabic is written in its own alphabet, with letters, symbols, and orthographic conventions that do not have exact equivalents in the Latin alphabet (see Arabic alphabet). The following list is a transliteration of Arabic terms and phrases. Consequently, Muslims may transliterate certain Arabic words differently, such as din as opposed to deen, and aqidah as opposed to aqeedah. Most items in the list also contain their actual Arabic spelling.

A

Abd (عبد ‘Abd)

servant, worshipper, slave. Muslims consider themselves servants and slaves of God. A common Muslim name is Abd'allah/Abdullah, or Servant of God. AbdulMalik (Slave of the King), AbduRrahmaan (Slave of the most Merciful), AbdulSsalaam (Slave of Peace) etc. which are all of the many names of Allah.

Ashurah (عاشوراء Template:Semxlit)

Tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is the day God saved Moses and the children of Israel from the Pharaoh. Muslims are recommended to fast during this day. To the Shias, it is also a day on which they mourn the death of the third Shia Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, along with his family and companions, who were killed in the famous battle in Karbala.

Adab (أدب ’Adab)

Traditionally describes good manners, as in etiquette. For example, being courteous is good adab. However, the term can be used very broadly, and the proper translation would be "the proper way to go about something," as in the example, Aadaab al Qitaal, or, "The Proper Way of Fighting in War," (Qitaal in Arabic means mortal combat) in which the word "etiquette" does not befit the context.

Adhan (أذان Ādhān)

call to salat (prayer), sometimes alternatively spelled and pronounced Azaan.

Adl (عدل ‘Adl)

Justice especially distributive justice: social, economic, political, environmental.

Ahad (أحد ’Aḥad)

literally "one." Islamically, ahad means One Alone, unique, none like God. Al-Wahid is one of the names of God.

Ahkam (أحكام ’Aḥkām)

rulings and orders of the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Five kinds of orders: Wajib, Mustahab, Muharram, Makruh, and Halal.

Ahl al Bayt (أهل البيت ’Ahl ul-Bayt)

members of Muhammad's Household. Also known among Shia as the Masumin (infallibles; spiritually pure).

Ahl al-Fatrah ( أهل الفترة‎, ahl ul-fatratu)

people who live in ignorance of the teachings of Islam,

Ahl al-Kitab (أهل الكتاب ’Ahl ul-Kitāb)

"People of the Book", or followers of pre-Islamic monotheistic religions with some form of scripture believed to be of divine origin: Jews, Christians and Hanifs.

Akhirah

(hereafter)-bound life

Akhlaq (أخلاق ’Akhlāq)

The practice of virtue. Morals.

Alamin (عالمين ‘Ālamīn)

Literally "worlds", humankind, jinn, angels and all that exists

Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله Al-Ḥamdu li-llāhi)

"Praise be to God!" Qur'anic exclamation

Allahumma (اللَّهُمَّ)

"O God."

Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر Al-Ḷāhu ’Akbar)

"God is the Greatest." Islamic expression.

Al-isra (الإسراء Al-’Isrā’)

"Night journey" of Muhammad

Alim (عالم ‘Ālim)

One who knows. A scholar (in any field of knowledge); a scientist (who knows science) or a theologian (who knows religion); similar to Japanese sensei, "teacher"

Amanah (أمانة ’Amānah)

the trust. Of all creation, only human beings carry the "trust", which is free will.

Ameen (آمين ’Āmīn)

Amen, a supplication meaning, "O God, accept our invocation!" (used only in Sunni Islam)

Amir al-Muminin (’Amīr al-Mu’minīn)

In some countries like Morocco, Amir al-Muminin or (Commander of the faithful) is the religious chief.

Amna (أمنة)

The mother of Muhammad. Syeda Amna fell sick and died in Abwa, near Madina (then Yitsrab) when Muhammad was 6-years-old.

Ansar (أنصار Template:Semxlit)

"Helpers." The Muslim converts at Medina who helped the Muslims from Mecca after the Hijrah.

Aqidah (عقيدة ‘Aqīdah)

The Islamic creed, or the six article of faith, which consists of the belief in God, Angels, Messengers and Prophets, Scriptures, the Day of Judgment, and Destiny.

Arazat

The bridge on which judgement of where a person's Akhira (afterlife) will lie is passed.

Aql (عقل ‘Aql)

Intelligence, intellect, mind, understanding

Arba'in (اربعين ’Arba‘īn)

The number forty (40).

Arkan singular rukn (ركن/أركان)

The five rukn "pillars" of Islam. (See rukn)

Aslim Taslam (أسلم تسلم)

"Submit to Islam" (See dawah)

Asr (العصر Al-‘Aṣr)

The third salat prayer. The time of the day before sunset and after noon. also means "era".

Asharatu mubashshirun (العشرة المبشّرون)

The ten companions of Muhammad who were promised paradise (only in Sunni Islam)

As-Salamu Alaykum (السلام عليكم As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum)

The Islamic greeting; literally "Peace be upon you"; In addition, Template:Semxlit means "and the Mercy of God and His blessing". The response to this greeting is Template:Semxlit --"And on you be the Peace and Mercy of God and His Blessing".

Astaghfirullah (أستغفر الله ’Astaghfiru llāh)

"I seek forgiveness from God." Islamic expression.

Audhu billah (أعوذ بالله ’A‘ūdhu bi-llāhi)

"I seek refuge in God". This is a paraphrase on the beginnings of the two last suras in the Qur'an.

Awliya' (أولياء ’Awliyā’)

Friends, protectors, helpers, caretaker, maintainer . (singular: wali)

Awrah (عورة ‘Awrah)

The part of a person's body that must be covered before everybody but a spouse. It may also be used to refer to what must be concealed of a woman before non-related men

Ayah (آية ’Āyah) (plural ayat, آيات)

A sign. More specifically, a verse in the Qur'an.

Ayatollah (آية الله ’Āyat allāh)

Sign of God Title given to highly ranked religious scholars in Sh'ia sect.

‘Azl (عزل)

coitus interruptus, Intercourse characterized by withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation. Literally means "isolation".

B

Baitullah (بيت الله baytu-llāhi): A mosque, literally "house of God".

Barakah (بركة)

a blessing. Also, spiritual wisdom and blessing transmitted from master to pupil.

Barzakh (برزخ)

life after death in which the soul of the deceased is transferred across the boundaries of the mortal realm into the spirit world.

Basher (بشر)

Human(s). Literally means 'face' but generally it refers to a person (man/woman).

[[Basirah|Template:Semxlit]] (بصيرة)

Insight, discernment, perceptivity, deep knowledge. Sometimes used by Sufis to denote the ability to directly perceive a transcendental Truth.

[[Bid'ah|Template:Semxlit]] (بدعة)

Innovation in religion, i.e. inventing new methods of worship. Bad Bid'ahs in Islam are considered a deviation and a serious sin by many Muslims.

Bint (بنت)

daughter

Bismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم)

"In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful".

Burda (بردة)

not an Arabic term; means "curtain" in Persian. Means covering or to cover.

[[Bay'ah|Template:Semxlit]] (بيعة)

an oath of allegiance to a leader, traditionally the Caliph or Imam.

C

Caliph (خليفة khalīfah)

literally successor; refers to the successor of the Prophet Muhammad, the ruler of an Islamic theocratic monarchy

D

Dajjal (دجّال)

an Islamic figure similar to the Antichrist; means "liar" or "deceiver"

Dallal (ضلال)

going astray

Dar al-`Ahd (دار العهد)

the Ottoman Empire's relationship with its Christian tributary states

Dar al-Amn (دار الأمن)

translated (house of safety) refers to status of a Muslim living in some of the Western world.

Dar ad-Dawa (دار الدعوة)

a region where Islam has recently been introduced.

Dar al-Harb (دار الحرب)

translated (house of war), refers to areas outside Muslim rule; the non-Islamic world

Dar al-Islam (دار الإسلام)

the abode, or land, of Islam.

Dar al-Kufr (دار الكفر)

translated (domain of disbelief), the term originally refers to the Quraish-dominated society of Mecca between Prophet Mohammed's flight to Medina (the Hijra) and his triumphant return.

Dar ash-Shahada (دار الشهادة)

See Dar al-Amn

Darūd

blessing

Da`wah (الدعوة)

the call to Islam. (See aslim taslam)

Darwīš (درويش)

an initiate of the Sufi Path, one who practices Sufism

Dhimmi (ذمّي)

"Protected person"; Jews and Christians (and sometimes others, such as Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, and Zoroastrians), whose right to practice their religion is tolerated under Islamic law, but with lower legal status.

Dīn (الدين)

the way of life based on Islamic revelation; the sum total of a Muslim's faith and practice. Dīn is often used to mean the faith and religion of Islam.

Diyya (ديت)

fine for unintentional murder.

Dua (دعاء)

personal prayer, supplication

Dhikr (ذكر)

remembrance of God; Sufi spiritual exercise; Muslims believe that the primary function of prophets is to remind people of God.

Dhuhr (الظهر)

second salat prayer

Dunya (دنيا)

The physical Universe, as opposed to the Hereafter

F

Fajarah (فجرة)

Wicked evil doers. Plural of "Fajir" (فاجر).

Fajr (فجر)

morning, as in the morning prayer. The time of the day when there is light in the horizon before sunrise.

[[Falah|Template:Semxlit]] (فلاح)

success, happiness, well-being

[[Fanaa (Sufism)|Template:Semxlit]] (فناء)

Sufi term meaning extinction - to die to this life while alive. Having no existence outside of God.

[[Fard|Template:Semxlit]] (فرض) plural Fara’id

a religious duty, or an obligatory action: praying 5 times a day is fard Neglecting a fard will result in a punishment in the hereafter. (See wajib)

Fard ayn

obligatory on every individual Muslim to aid in any way he can.

Fard kiyahfa

an obligation on the Muslim community as a whole, from which some are freed if others take it up.

Fāsiq (فاسق)

anyone who has violated Islamic law; usually refers to one whose character has been corrupted (plural "fasiqun").

Fatwā (فتوى)

legal opinion of an (alim) binding on him and on those who follow his taqlid

Fiqh (فقه)

jurisprudence built around the shariah by custom (al-urf). Literally means "deep understanding", refers to understanding the Islamic laws.

Fi sabil Allah (في سبيل الله Fī sabīlu-llāhi)

on the path of God; common Islamic expression for Jihad. Means for the sake of God (eg. giving in charity for the sake of God)

Fitna (فتنة)

trial or tribulation; also refers to any period of disorder, such as a civil war, or the period of time before the end of the world or any civil strife.

Fitrah (فطرة)

innate disposition towards virtue, knowledge, and beauty. Muslims believe every child is born with fitrah.

Furqān (فرقان)

the criterion (of right and wrong, true and false); for example, the Qur'an as furqan.

G

Ghafara (غفر)

(verb in past tense) to forgive, to cover up (sins). A characteristic of God.

Ghaflah (غفلة)

heedlessness, forgetfulness of God, indifference

Ghayb (غيب)

the unseen, unknown.

Ghusl (غسل)

full ablution of the whole body (see wudu)

H

Hādī (هادي)

a guide, one who guides; A Muslim name for God is The Guide, or Al-Hadi.

Hidāyah (هداية)

guidance from God.

Hadath asghar

minor ritual impurity

Hadath akbar

major ritual impurity

Hadith (حديث ḥadīth) plural ahādīth

literally "speech"; recorded saying or tradition of the Prophet Muhammad validated by isnad; with sira these comprise the sunnah and reveal shariah

[[Halal|Template:Semxlit]] (حلال)

lawful, permitted, good, beneficial, praiseworthy, honourable. (See mustahabb, mandub)

[[Hafiz (Quran)|Template:Semxlit]] (حافظ)

someone who knows the Qur'an by heart. Literal translation = memorizer or Protector.

Hajj (الحجّ) or haj

pilgrimage to Mecca. Sunnis regard this as the fifth Pillar of Islam

[[Hakim (title)|Template:Semxlit]] (حاكم)

a ruler's or gubernatorial title

Hakmiya

sovereignty

[[Hanif|Template:Semxlit]] (حنيف)

one of the five prophets; namely, Prophet Adam, Prophet Abraham, Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Muhammad. Plural: Template:Semxlit (حنفاء).

Haqq (‎‍حق)

truth, reality, right, righteousness. Al-Haqq is one of 99 names of God.

[[Haraam|Template:Semxlit]] (حرام)

forbidden. An individual is rewarded for keeping away from haram done out of obedience, (rather than out of fear, shyness or the inability to do it.) Antonym: halal. (See mazur, makrouh)

[[Haram|Template:Semxlit]] (حرم)

sanctuary.

[[Hasan (Islamic term)|Template:Semxlit]] (حسن)

Good, beautiful, admirable. Also a categorization of a hadith's authenticity as "acceptable". (other categorizations include authenic and fabricated).

[[Hijab|Template:Semxlit]] (حجاب)

literally "cover". It describes the self-covering of the body for the purposes of modesty and dignity; broadly, a prescribed system of attitudes and behaviour regarding modesty and dignity. (See al-amira, burnuk, khimar, milfeh, shayla)

Hijra (الهجرة)

Muhammad and his followers' emigration from Mecca to Medina. Literally, "migration".

[[Hima|Template:Semxlit]] (حمى)

wilderness reserve, protected forest, grazing commons, important to khalifa

[[Hizb|Template:Semxlit]] (حزب)

one half of a juz', or roughly 1/60th of the Qur'an

Houri (حورية Template:Semxlit; pl. Template:Semxlit حوريات)

beautiful and pure young men and women, that Muslims believe inhabit Paradise, or Heaven.

Hudā (هدى)

guidance

Hudna (هدنة)

Truce. Cease-fire (often temporary)

[[Hudud|Template:Semxlit]] (حدود)

Literally, limits or boundaries. Usually refers to limits placed by God on man; penalties of the Islamic law which are described in the Qur'an.

[[Hukm|Template:Semxlit]] (حكم)

ruling in the Qur'an or Sunnah

I

[[Ibadah|Template:Semxlit]] (عبادة)

worship, but not limited to ritual: all expressions of servitude to God, including the pursuit of knowledge, living a pious life, helping, charity, and humility, can be considered ibadah.

Iblīs (إبليس)

a jinn banished to Hell for his arrogance and disobedience; aka Satan : derived from the Greek Diabolos or Devil He is the equivalent of Lucifer.

[[Eid|Template:Semxlit]] (عيد)

festival or celebration.

[[Eid ul-Adha|Template:Semxlit]] (عيد الأضحى)

"the Festival of Sacrifice." The four day celebration starting on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijja.

[[Eid ul-Fitr|Template:Semxlit]] (عيد الفطر)

"the Festival of Fitr (Breaking the fast)." A religious festival that marks the end of the fast of Ramadan.

I'dad Al-'oda

"preparation for battle" according to Qur'an

[[Iftaar|Template:Semxlit]] (إفطار)

a meal eaten by Muslims breaking their fast after sunset.

[[Ihram|Template:Semxlit]] (إحرام)

state of consecration for hajj. Includes dress and or prayer.

[[Ihsan|Template:Semxlit]] (إحسان)

perfection in worship, such that Muslims try to worship God as if they see Him, and although they cannot see Him, they undoubtedly believe He is constantly watching over them.

Ijaz (إعجاز)

how Muslims describe the character of the Qur'an in both form and content

Ijazah

a certificate authorizing one to transmit a subject or text of Islamic knowledge

[[Ijma|Template:Semxlit]] (إجماع)

the consensus of either the ummah (or just the ulema) - one of four bases of Islamic Law. More generally, political consensus itself.

Ijtihād (إجتهاد)

During the early times of Islam, the possibility of finding a new solution to a juridical problem. Has not been allowed in conservative Islam since the Middle Ages. However, Liberal movements within Islam generally argue that any Muslim can perform ijtihad, given that Islam has no generally accepted clerical hierarchy or bureaucratic organization. The opposite of ijtihad is taqlid, Arabic for "imitation".

Ilah (إله)

deity, a god; not necessarily God.

[[Ilm|Template:Semxlit]] (علم)

all varieties of knowledge, usually a synonym for science

Imām (إمام)

literally, leader; e.g. a man who leads a community or leads the prayer; the Shi'a sect use the term only as a title for one of the twelve God-appointed successors of Prophet Muhammad.

Imamah (إمامة) or imamate

successorship of Prophet Muhammad and the leadership of mankind.

Imān (إيمان)

personal faith

Infāq (إنفاق)

the habitual inclination to give rather than take in life; the basis for charity

Injīl (الإنجيل)

Arabic term for the holy book called The Gospel said to have been given to Jesus, who is known as Isa in Arabic; Muslims believe the holy book has been lost and the New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are not the word of God, only Christian stories about Jesus.

Insha'Allah (إن شاء الله)

God Willing.

Iqamah (إقامة)

the second call to prayer. Similar to the azhan.

[[Isa|Template:Semxlit]] (عيسى)

Jesus - Isa ibn Maryam (English: Jesus son of Mary), a matronymic (since he had no biological father.

[[Isha|Template:Semxlit]] (عشاء)

night; the fifth salat prayer

Islam

"submission to God". The Arabic root word for Islam means submission, obedience, peace, and purity.

Isnād (إسناد)

chain of transmitters of any given hadith

Isra (الإسراء)

the night journey during which Muhammad (محمّد)is said to have visited Heaven. See miraj.

Istislah (إستصلاح)

public interest - a source of Islamic Law.

Istišhād (إستشهاد)

martyrdom.

Itmām al-hujjah (اتمام الحجة)

clarification of truth in its ultimate form.

J

Jahannam (جهنم)

the Hell-fire; Hell

Jāhiliyyah (الجاهليّة)

the time of ignorance before Islam was realized. Describes polytheistic religions.

Jahl (جهل)

ignorance, arrogance

[[Jamia|Template:Semxlit]] (جامعة)

"gathering"; i.e. a university, a mosque, or more generally, a community or association.

Janaza (جنازة)

funeral prayer

Jannah (جنة)

Paradise, Heaven, the Garden

Jazakallahu Khayran (جزاك الله خير)

"May God reward you for the good." Islamic expression of gratitude.

Jihād (جهاد)

struggle. Any earnest striving in the way of God, involving personal, physical, for righteousness and against wrong-doing;

"Lesser Jihad" (الجهاد الأصغر): in defence, fighting to protect Islam from attack or oppression. In such fighting, no woman, child or innocent civilian is to be harmed, and no tree is to be cut down.

"Greater Jihad" (الجهاد الأعظم): internal struggle for the soul (nafs) against evil, e.g. Lust, Greed, Envy, etc. Also to thrive to do actions that have great value in Islam, and that one has to overcome one's self to do it, e.g.: to overcome the temptation to sleep when it is time to pray the morning prayer is a greater jihad.

Jilbāb (جلباب)

(pl. jalabib) a long, flowing, baggy garment worn by some to fulfill the mandates of sartorial hijab. Some more conservative Muslims believe that jilbāb is incumbent upon Muslim women to wear this as a sign of modesty. (See abaya. burka, chador)

Jinn (جنّ)

An invisible being of fire

Jizya (جزية)

A tax specified in the Koran (9:29) to be paid by non-Muslim males living under Muslim political control.

[[Jumuah|Template:Semxlit]] (جمعة)

Friday prayer

Juz' (جزء)

one of thirty parts of the Qur'an

K

Ka'bah (الكعبة)

cube-house; the cube-shaped building i.e in Mecca toward which Muslims pray. Muslims, however, do not worship it, nor pray to it. Muslims only pray to Almighty God.

Kāfir (كافر)

from the word kafara - "to hide." Those who deliberately hide the truth; unbelievers, truth-concealers; one who is ungrateful. Plural: Kaffirun. Extreme care ought to be taken with this word, as it is was (and is) occasionally misued as an epithet against black people.

Kalam (علم الكلم)

Islamic theology

Khalīfah (خليفة)

Caliph, more generally, one performing the duties of khilafa.

[[Khatib|Template:Semxlit]] (خاطب)

the speaker at the Friday Muslim prayer, or Jumu'ah prayer

Khilāfah (خلافة)

Man's trusteeship and stewardship of Earth; Most basic theory of the Caliphate; Flora and fauna as sacred trust; Accountability to God for harms to nature, failure to actively care and maintain. Three specific ways in which khalifa is manifested in Muslim practice are the creation of haram to protect water, hima to protect other species (including those useful to man), and by resisting infidel domination over Muslim lands, in jihad.

Khilāfah Rašīdah

Establishment of a caliphate is Template:Semxlit (obligatory) for all Muslims

Kharāj (خراج)

a land tax

Khums (خمس)

a Shi'a article of faith that refers to a one-fifth tax, divided between Sehme Sadaat, a poor sayyid, and Sehme Imam, given to a Mujtahid

[[Khutbah|Template:Semxlit]] (خطبة)

the sermon at Jumu'ah prayer

Kitāb (كتاب)

book; The Qur'an is often referred to as "Al-Kitāb" (The Book)

Kufr (كفر)

In Arabic - ungratefulness and disbelief. Islamically speaking, disbelief in God and denial of the truth.

Kun (كن)

God's command to the universe, 'Be!' is sufficient to create it.

L

Laghw (لغو)

Dirty, false, evil vain talk

Lā ilāha ill-Allāh (لاإله إلا الله)

"There is no god but God." The most important expression in Islam. It is part of the first pillar of Islam. Also is the message of all the Prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.

[[La'nat|Template:Semxlit]] (لعنة)

Imploration for withdrawal of God's mercy

Laylat al-Qadr (ليلة القدر)

the Night of Power, towards the end of Ramadan, when Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an.

M

Madhab (مذهب)

(pl. Madhahib) school of religious jurisprudence, school of thought

Madrasa (مدرسة)

school, university

Maghrib (مغرب)

the fourth daily salat prayer

Mahdi (مهدي)

"a guide". More specifically al-Mahdi (the guide) is a figure who will appear with Prophet Jesus before the end of time, when God allows it, to bring world peace, order and justice, after it has been overcome with injustice and aggression. The Shi'ah regard the twelfth Imam as Imam Mahdi Imam-e-Zamana who was hidden in a cave when he was 5 years old ghabat and will reappear zuhur. The Sunnis regard someone else as the Mahdi.

Mahram (محرم)

a relative of the opposite gender usually described as being "within the forbidden limits"; a better description is "within the protected limits". means relatives who one can appear before without observing hijab and who one cannot marry.

Makrouh

Means "detested", though not haraam (forbidden); something that is disliked or offensive. There is no sin and no punishment if a person commits the Makruh, but it is blameworthy.

Malaikah (ملائكة)

angels

Ma malakat aymanukum (ما ملكت أيمانكم)

one's rightful spouse (literally: what your right hands possess)

Mandub

commendable or recommended. (See halal mustahabb)

Manzil (منزل)

one of seven parts of the Qur'an

Ma'ruf (معروف)

consensus of the community

Maqasid (مقصد)

goals or purposes; such as the purposes of Islamic law

Masha Allah (ما شاء الله)

God has willed it.

Masih (مسيح)

the (Biblical) Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Masjid (مسجد)

place of prayer; mosque

Ma'sum (معصوم), plural Ma'sumin (معصومين)

literally, innocent or free of sin; children are considered masum. Can also refer to an adult individual who does not commit sins, does not make mistakes, does not forget, etc. although he/she does have the choice to commit sins. The Shi'as regard the Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah, and the twelve Imams to be the fourteen Masumin. Finally assumed as a title for an 'infallible leader sent by God', notably by the Almohads' founding Mahdi and Imam.

Maulana (مولانا)

an Arabic word literally meaning "our lord" or "our master". It is used mostly as a title preceding the name of a respected religious leader, in particular graduates of religious institutions. The term is sometimes used to refer to Rumi.

Maulvi (مولوی)

an honorific Islamic religious title often, but not exclusively, given to Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names. Maulvi generally means any religious cleric or teacher.

Me'ad (معاد)

the Resurrection; God will resurrect all of humankind to be judged. Shi'as regard this as the fifth Pillar of Islam.

Mecca (مكّة)

the holiest city in Islam

Medina (مدينة)

"city"; Medinat-un-Nabi means "the City of the Prophet." See Hijra (Islam).

Mihrab (محراب)

a niche in the wall of all mosques, indicating the direction of prayer

Minaret (منارة)

a tower built onto a mosque from the top of which the call to prayer is made

Minbar (منبر)

a pulpit in the mosque where the Imam stands to deliver sermons

Minhaj (منهج)

methodology, e.g. methods, rules, system, procedures.

Miraj (المعراج)

the Ascension to the Seven Heavens during the Night Journey See also: isra

Mohartiq ()

heretic.

Mota'siboon

fanatics

Mu'awwidhatayn (المعوذتين)

suras Al-Falaq and an-Nas, the "Surahs of refuge", should be said to relieve suffering (also protect from Black Magic)

Mubah (مباح)

literally permissible; neither forbidden nor commended. Neutral. (See halal)

Mufti (مفتى)

an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa (plural of "fatwa").

Mubaligh (مبلغ)

person who recites Qur'an

Muhajabah (محجبة)

woman who wears hijab (polite form of hijabi).

Muhammadun rasulullah

"Muhammad is the messenger of God." This statement is the second part of the first pillar of Islam. This is the second most important statement in Islam.

Muezzin (مأذن)

a person who performs the call to prayer

Mufsidun (مفسدون)

a person who wages jihad not in accordance with the Qur'an. Plural mufsideen.

Muhajireen (مهاجرون)

The first Muslims that traveled to Medina.

Mujahid (مجاهد)

a fighter for Islam. Plural mujahideen.

Mujtahid(مجتهد)

a scholar who uses reason for the purpose of forming an opinion or making a ruling on a religious issue. Plural: Mujtahidun.

Mullah (ملا)

are Islamic clergy. Ideally, they should have studied the Qur'an, Islamic traditions (hadith), and Islamic law (fiqh).

Mu'min (مأمن)

believer

Munafiq (منفق)

hypocrite. Plural: Munafiqun

Muntaqabah (منتقبة) pl. muntaqabāt (منتقبات)

woman who wears niqab

Murshid (مرشد)

a Sufi teacher

Murtadd (مرتد)

apostate

Muslim (مسلم)

a follower of the religion of Islam. One who sumbits their will to Allah (God)

Mustahabb (مستحبّ)

commendable or recommended. (See halal, mandub)

Mut'ah (متعه)

joy; a type of marriage practiced only by the shiites; or a practice between Umrah and Hajj.

Mutawatir (متواتر)

"agreed upon"--used to describe hadith that were narrated by many witnesses through different narration chains (isnads) leading back to Muhammad

N

Nabī (نبي)

literally, prophet. In the Islamic context, a Nabi is a man sent by God to give guidance to man, but not given scripture. The Prophet Abraham was a Nabi. This is in contrast to Rasul, or Messenger. Plural: Anbiya. See: Rasul.

Nafs (النفس)

soul, one's self

Najāsah

Impurity

Nakhbah

disaster i.e. the establishment of the state of Israel

Nakir and Munkar

two malaikah who test the faith of the dead in their graves

Nifaq

falsehood; dishonesty

Niqāb (نقاب)

veil covering the face

Naseeha

advice

[[Nass|Template:Semxlit]] (نصّ)

a known, clear legal injunction

Nubuwwah (نبوّة)

prophethood. Shi'as regard this as the third Pillar of Islam.

Nūr

light. Muslims believe angels were created from light.

P

Prophet

A person who has had messages from Allah. (see nabi).

Prayer: Prayer is preformed five times a day. It is the direct link between the worshiper and God. The prayers are said in Arabic.

Q

Qadar

destiny

Qādī (قاضي)

judge of Islamic Law

Qiblah

the direction Muslims face during prayer

Qiyāmah

resurrection; return of the dead for the Day of Judgment

[[Qisas|Template:Semxlit]] (قصاص)

fine for intentional murder if heirs forgive

Qiyās (القياس)

analogy - foundation of legal reasoning and thus fiqh

Qutba

sermon given by the imam in a mosque

Qudsī

classification of a hadith that are believed to be narrated by Muhammad from God.

Qur'ān (القرآن)

Muslims believe that the Qur'an (Koran) is the literal word of God and culmination of God's revelation to mankind, revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the year 610 A.D.

R

Rabb

Lord, Sustainer, Cherisher, Master.

Rahman

Merciful; Ar-Rahman means "The Most Merciful"

Rahim

compassionate; Ar-Rahim means "The Most Compassionate" as in the Basmala

Rajm

the practice of stoning

Rakaat

one unit of Islamic prayer, or Salat. Each daily prayer is made up of a different number of rakaat.

Rasul

messenger; Unlike prophets (Nabi), messengers are given scripture. Moses, David, Jesus and Mohammed are considered messengers. All messengers are considered prophets, but not all prophets are given scripture. See: Nabi.

Riba (ربا)

interest, the charging and paying of which is forbidden by the Qur'an

Risalah

literally, message or letter. Used both in common parlance for mail correspondences, and in religious context as divine message.

Ruh

spirit; the divine breath which God blew into the clay of Adam.

Rukn plural arkan

means what is inevitable. One of the five pillars of Islam. (See fard, wajib)

Ruk'u

the bowing performed during Muslim prayer

S

Sabr

patience, endurance, self-restraint

Sadaqah

charity; voluntary alms

Sahabah

companions of Muhammad. In Islam, the Sahāba (الصحابه) were the companions of the Prophet Muhammad. This form is plural; the singular is Sahābi, which is Arabic for "friend, companion." A list of the best-known Companions can be found at List of companions of Muhammad.

Sahih

"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith.

Sajda

prostration

Salaf (السلف الصالح)

(righteous) predecessors/ancestors. In Islam, Salaf is generally used to refer to the first three generations of Muslims.

Salah (صلاة) or salat

any one of the 5 daily obligatory prayers. Sunnis regard this as the second Pillar of Islam

Salaam (سلام)

peace

Salat (صلاة)

prayer

Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

"May God bless him and grant him peace." Expression used after stating Prophet Muhammad's name. Abbreviated as (saw)

Samad

eternal, absolute; Muslims believe God is "The Eternal."

Salsabil

a river in heaven (al-firdaus)

Sawm (صَوم)

fasting during the month of Ramadhan. The word sawm is derived from Syriac sawmo.

Sayyid (سيّد)

master or a descendant of a relative of Muhammad [upon whom be peace], usually a title given to a descendant who comes from Huessain.

Sema

refer to some of the ceremonies used by various sufi orders

Shahadah (الشهادة)

The expression of faith: La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammadun rasulullah. ("There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."). Sunnis regard this as the first Pillar of Islam

Shahid (شهيد)

witness, martyr. Usually refers to a person killed whilst fighting in "jihad fee sybil Allah" (jihad for the sake of Allah). Often used in modern times for deaths in a political cause (including victims of soldiers, deaths in battle, et cetera) which are viewed by some Muslims as a spiritual cause not just a political cause. But the real meaning of Jihad is to defend Islam in any way; thus, it could be in an economic way or could refer to fighting for the rights of the oppressed or the believers; most often it refers to mastering one's own inclination for evil and shirk.

Shaikh (شيخ)

a spiritual master, Muslim clergy

Sharia/shariah (الشريعة)

"the path to a watering hole"; the eternal ethical code and moral code based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; basis of fiqh

Sharif (شريف)

a title bestowed upon the descendants of Muhammad through Hasan, son of his daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib

Shaytan

Satan, the Devil; also known as Iblis

Shi'a (الشيعة)

a follower of Prophet Muhammad and his successors (the twelve Imams), the first being Ali. Shi'as constitute the second largest sect in Islam.

Shirk (شرك)

idolatry; polytheism; the sin of believing in any divinity except God and of associating other gods with God.

Shura (شورى)

consultation

majlis ash-shura (مجلس الشورى)

advisory council

Sira (السيرة)

life or biography of the Prophet Muhammad; his moral example - with hadith this comprises the sunnah

Sirat al-Mustaqim

the Straight Path

Subhanahu wa ta'ala

expression used following written name or vocalization of Allah in Arabic

Subhan'allah

expression used by Muslims to express strong feelings of joy or relief.

Sufi (صوفي)

a Muslim mystic; See: Sufism (tasawwuf).

Suhoor

the meal eaten by fasting Muslims just before dawn.

Sunnah (السنّة) or sunnah al-Nabi (سنّة النبي)

the "path" or "example" of the Prophet Muhammad, i.e., what the Prophet did or said or agreed to during his life. He is considered by Muslims to be the best human moral example, the best man to follow.

Sunni (سنّي)

the largest sect in Islam.

Surah (سورة)

chapter; the Qur'an is comprised of 114 suras

T

Taba'een

followers of the Sahabah

Tafsir (تفسير)

exegesis, particularly such commentary on the Qur'an

Takfir (تكفر)

is a practice of declaration of individual or group of previously considered Muslim as kaffir.

Taghut

impurity; anything worshipped other than God, i.e. all the false deities.

Tahajjud

optional (supererogatory), late-night (pre-dawn) prayer

Taharah

purification from ritual impurities by means of wudu or ghusl

Tahir

pure, ritually clean

Tahrif (تحريف)

corruption, forgery. Muslims believe the Bible Scriptures were corrupted but the Qur'an is in its original form.

Tajdid (تجديد)

to purify and reform society in order to move it toward greater equity and justice

Tajdif

blasphemy

Tajwid (تجويد)

a special manner of reciting the Qur'an according to prescribed rules of pronunciation and intonation.

Takbir (تكبير)

a proclamation of the greatness of God; a Muslim invocation.

Takfeer

to declare kufr (disbelief) about a non-Muslim or Muslim or to denounce them as disbelievers.

Taqlid (تقليد)

to blindly follow a person whose following is not based on proof and does not rely upon knowledge.

Taqiyya (تقيّة)

the mostly Shi'a principle that one is allowed to hide one's true beliefs in certain circumstances.

Taqwa

righteousness; goodness; Piety : Taqwa is taken from the verbe Ittaqua, witch means Avoiding, Fearing the punishement from God for commiting sins. It s piety obtained by fearing the punishement of God

Tarawih

tarawih prayers are extra prayers in Ramadan after the Isha prayer.

Tarkib (تَرْكِيب)

the study of Arabic grammar issued from the Qur'an

Tariqa (طريقة)

a Muslim religious order, particularly a Sufi order

Tartil (ترتيل)

slow and measured (meditative) recitation of the Qur'an

Tashkil (تشكيل)

vocalization of a text, for example the Qur'an

Taslim (تسلم)

salutation at the end of prayer

Tawassul

asking Allah Almighty through the medium and intercession of another person.

Tawbah

repentance

Tasawwuf (التصوّف) or Sufism

Tawaf

circumambulating the Ka'bah during Hajj.

Tawheed (توحيد)

monotheism; affirmation of the Oneness of God. Muslims regard this as the first part of the Pillar of Islam, the second part is accepting Muhammad as Messenger. The opposite of Tawheed is shirk

Tawrat

the revelation to Musa

Tayyib

all that is good as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc. Means "pure." The Shahaddath is tayyib.

Tazkiyah

Purification of the Soul.

U

Ulema (علماء) or ulama

the leaders of Islamic society, including teachers, Imams and judges. Singular alim.

Ummah (الاُمّة) or umma

the global community of all Muslim believers; international personhood of Islam

Umrah

the lesser pilgrimage performed in Mecca. Unlike hajj, umrah can be performed throughout the year.

Urf (عرف)

custom of a given society, leading to change in the fiqh

Usul al-Fiqh

the study of the origins and practice of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh)

W

[[Wahdat al-wujud|Template:Semxlit]] (وحدة الوجود)

"unity of being". Philosophical term used by some Sufis. Related to fanaa

Wahy

revelation or inspiration of God to His prophets for all humankind

Wajib

obligatory or mandatory see fard

Wali

friend, protector, guardian, supporter, helper

Warraq (ورّاق)

traditional scribe, publisher, printer, notary and book copier

Wasat

the middle way, justly balanced, avoiding extremes, moderation

Witr

a voluntary, optional night prayer of three rakaat

Wudu

ablution for ritual purification from minor impurities before salat (see ghusl)

Y

Ya Allah

O, God!

Yaqin

certainty, that which is certain

Yawm ul-Qiyāmah (يوم القيامة)

"Day of the Resurrection"; Day of Judgement

Z

Zabur

the Psalms revealed to King David

Zaidi

Islamic sub-sect of Shi'ah, popularly found in Yemen , with similarities to Sunni

Zakat (زكاة)

tax, alms, tithe as a Muslim duty; Sunnis regard this as the fourth Pillar of Islam. Neither charity nor derived from Islamic economics, but a religious duty and social obligation.

Zalimun

polytheists, wrong-doers, and unjust.

Zinā (زناء , زنى)

sexual activity outside of marriage (covering the English words adultery and fornication)

Notes

• Wikipedia is not a general Arabic-to-English dictionary. The list above includes only those concepts sufficiently specific to Islam or Muslim culture to merit their own full articles. There is an English/Arabic dictionary on Wiktionary.
• Arabic words are created from three-letter "roots" which convey a basic idea. For example, k-t-b conveys the idea of writing. Addition of other letters before, between, and after the root letters produces many associated words: not only "write" but also "book", "office", "library", and "author". The abstract consonantal root for Islam is s-l-m.
• Some English words or phrases would translate very poorly into Arabic for cultural reasons, for instance the English word "crusade" would most likely be interpreted as meaning "genocide", and "infinite justice" would most likely be interpreted as meaning "divine judgement" – adl in Arabic implying God's justice. Probably it is best to avoid such terms for anything one intends to translate into Arabic, or knows will be translated.
• Some Islamic concepts are usually referred to in Persian or Turkic. Those are typically of later origin than the concepts listed here; for completeness it may be best to list Persian terms and those unique to Shi'a on their own page, likewise Turkic terms and those unique to the Ottoman period on their own page, as these are culturally very distinct.
• The word "crusade" in English is usually translated in Arabic as "Hamlah Ssaleebiyah" which means literally "campaign of Cross-holders" (or close to that meaning). In Arabic text it is "حملة صليبية" and the second word comes from "Ssaleeb" which means "cross."
• The verses in the Qur'an that Christians usually refer to as jihad verses have the phrase "qitl fee sybil Allah" (fight/kill for the sake of Allah).
• Westerners use the terms non-observant (secular), fundamentalist, extremist, reformist or moderate to refer to differing Muslim practices. Muslims use the terms tableeghi, takfiri, ikhwani, shirazi.

References

• Suzanne Haneef, What Everyone Should Know about Islam and Muslims, (Kazi Publications, Chicago), popular introduction
• Muzaffar Haleem, The Sun is Rising In the West, (Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD 1999).
• Ziauddin Sardar, Muhammad for Beginners, Icon Books, 1994, some sloppiness, from very modern Sufi point of view.
• Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, NY, 1976). ed. J. Milton Cowan. ISBN 0-87950-001-8.

See also

• 99 Names of God
• List of English words of Arabic origin
• List of Christian terms in Arabic
• Prophets of Islam
• Islamic eschatology

External links

• Voiced Dictionary of Islamic and Arabic Key Words