Glossary of Islamic Words and Terms

Arabic terms used in this book are explained below:

Adhan: The call to Salah (prayer).
Ahadith (Plural of Hadith): Reports of the sayings, deeds, and actions approved by Prophet Muhammad.
Akhirah: Life after death, including the Day of Judgment and the everlasting life afterward.
Allah: The proper name of God, the Creator of all beings.
Arafat: The plain where people gather during Hajj.
Arkanul Islam: The five pillars or basic duties of Islam.
Asr: Name of the Salah after mid-afternoon.
Basmalah: The recitation “Bismillahir rahmanir rahim,” meaning “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”
Darud: Reciting Salawat upon Prophet Muhammad during Salah or at other times.
Du’a’: A supplication or prayer to Allah, seeking favor, blessings, or mercy.
Fajr: Name of the Salah at dawn.
Fard: Compulsory duty prescribed by Allah.
Ghusl: Washing the entire body for cleanliness and purification.
Hadith (Plural: Ahadith): A report of a saying, deed, or action approved by Prophet Muhammad.
Halal: That which is lawful or permitted in Islam.
Haram: That which is unlawful or forbidden in Islam.
Hidayah: Guidance from Allah.
Ibadah: Translated as “worship,” referring to any permissible activity performed to gain Allah’s pleasure.
Id: A day of celebration, such as Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha.
Imam: The person who leads prayer in a congregation or a leader.
Iman: Faith or belief.
Iqamah: The second call to prayer, made when Salah is about to begin in congregation.
Isha’: Name of the Salah at night.
Islam: The religion of submission and obedience to Allah’s commands to attain peace in this life and in the Akhirah (Hereafter).
Istikharah: A prayer for seeking Allah’s guidance on a matter.
I’tidal: Returning to the position of qivām after ruku (bowing) during Salah.
Jahannam: Hell, the place of eternal suffering.
Jama’ah: Congregation, when people pray Salah as one group.
Janazah: The funeral Salah.
Jannah: Heaven, the place of eternal bliss.
Jibra’il: The angel (Gabriel) who brought revelations from Allah.
Jihad fi sabi lillah: Striving to establish Ma’ruf (good) and remove Munkar (evil) from society, to gain Allah’s pleasure.
Jinn: Allah’s creatures with free will, created from smokeless fire.
Jumu’ah: The special congregational Salah said at midday every Friday.
Ka’bah: The first place built for the worship of Allah in Makkah, also called “The House of Allah” (Baitullah).
Kafir: A person who does not believe in Islam.
Khalifah: An agent or vicegerent of Allah on earth.
Khutbah: The sermon given before Salatul Jumu’ah.
Ma’ruf: Right actions, the opposite of Munkar (wrong).
Salatul Istikharah: A prayer for seeking Allah’s guidance on a matter.
Salatul Jumu’ah: The special congregational Salah said at midday every Friday.
Sawm: Fasting in the month of Ramadan, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Shahadah: Testifying that “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.”
Sujud: Prostrating during Salah (prayer).
Sunnah (Plural: Sunan): The example of Prophet Muhammad in what he did, said, and approved. Also, the additional Salah practised by Prophet Muhammad.
Surah (Plural: Suwar): A chapter of the Qur’an.
Ta’awwudh: Saying “A’udhu billahi minash shaiṭānir rajim” (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil).
Tahajjud: Optional Salah between midnight and dawn.
Taharah: Being clean and pure.
Takbir: Saying “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
Testifying that “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.”: The first pillar of Islam.
Tasbih: The recitation after two rak’ahs and at the end of Salah.
Tashahhud: Reciting the testimony of faith during Salah.
Tasmiyah: Saying “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful).
Tayammum: Dry ablution, performed when water is scarce, unavailable, or using it would be harmful.
Thana’: Saying “Subhanaka allahumma” (Glory be to You, O Allah) after Takbiratul Iḥram (the opening Takbir) during Salah.
Wajib: Obligatory.
Witr: A Salah offered after Isha’.
Wudu: Washing for Salah (ablutions).
Zakah: Welfare contribution, a compulsory payment from a Muslim’s annual savings, one of the five pillars of Islam. It is an act of worship and should not be confused with any tax.
Zuhr: Name of the Salah just after midday.