Glossary of Terms

إفْطارiftaarThe meal that breaks the fast at sunset, and it is recommended to hasten in breaking the fast once the time has entered.

سُحُوْرsuhoorThe pre-dawn meal eaten before the fast begins, and is encouraged as a Sunnah due to the blessing (barakah) it contains.

تَرَاوِيْحtaraaweehVoluntary night prayers performed after 'ishaa prayer during Ramadhaan, usually in congregation.

عَام'aamTerm used in usool al-fiqh denoting a general word.

رِبَاribaaUsury or interest; an unlawful increase charged or paid on a loan.

آيَة جـ آيَاتaayah, pl. aayaatSign, miracle, verse from the Noble Qur.aan.

المُفَصَّلal-MufassalThe final portion of the Qur.aan, made up of its shorter soorahs - from around soorah Qaaf (50) to the end at soorah an-Naas (114); so called because these soorahs are shorter and thereby more frequently divided by the bismillaah.

أَذَانadhaanThe call to prayer, pronounced vocally to indicate the time of prayer has entered.

أَهْلُ الذِّكْرAhl adh-DhikrLiterally means, “People of Reminder”, as occurs in the Qur.aan in Soorah al-Anbiyaa, Aayah 7: So ask the people of the Reminder [Scriptures – the Torah, the Gospel] if you do not know.

أَهْلُ الْكَلامAhlul-KalaamPeople of dialectical theology.

عَلَيْهِ السَّلام'alayhim as-salaamLiterally means, “Salutations be upon him.” This is to be said every time reference is made to any of the Messengers and Prophets of Allaah.

العَصْرal-'AsrLiterally means, “The Time”; It is also the name of the 103rd Soorah of the Qur.aan.

الْحَمْدُ للهal-Hamdu LillaahLiterally means, “All Praise is due to Allaah.”

اللهُ أَكْبَرAllaahu AkbarLiterally means, “Allaah is the Greatest.”

اللهُ الْمُسْتَعَانAllaahul-Musta'aanLiterally means, “Allaah is the One from Whom Assistance is sought.”

عَقِيْدَة جـ عَقَائِد'aqeedah, pl. 'aqaa.idCreed, belief, doctrine.

أَثَر جـ آثَارathar, pl. aathaarA tradition, hadeeth, sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ.

بَلاَغَةbalaaghahEloquence, good style, expressiveness, fluency.

بِرّbirrRighteousness, righteous deed, piety, charity, dutifulness, devotion, obedience, kindness, upright.

دَاعِي جـ دُعَاةdaa'ee, pl. du'aatOne who engages in missionary work to invite all people to worship Allaah as One, without associating any partners with Him; in short - Islaam.

ضَعِيْفda'eefA weak hadeeth, narration.

دَعْوَة جـ دَعْوَاتda'wah, pl. da'waatMissionary work to invite all people to worship Allaah as One, without associating any partners with Him; in short - Islaam.

دِيْنَار جـ دَنَانِيْرdeenaar, pl. danaaneerA gold coin from the old Roman era weighing 4.233 gramms, equivalent to twenty dirhams during the time of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ.

دِرْهَم جـ دَرَاهِمdirham, pl. daraahimA silver coin weighing 2.9 gramms, equivalent to a twentieth part of a deenaar during the time of the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ.

إِيْمَانeemaanA firm belief in Allaah, the Angels, the Revealed Books, the Messengers, the Last Day and al-Qadar. It manifests itself in the heart, the tongue, and upon the limbs – and it increases with obedience to Allaah and decreases with disobedience to Him.

فَاحِشَة جـ فَوَاحِشfaahishah, pl. fawaahishObscenity (such as adultery, lesbianism, sodomy, incest), shameful deed, obscene act, filthy act, abominable act.

فَجْرfajrPre-dawn prayer; the first obligatory prayer of the day.

فَرِيْضَة جـ فَرَائِضfareedah, pl. faraa.idPrescribed shares of inheritance; Law of inheritance.

فَرْضُ عَيْنfard 'aynPersonal obligation, individual duty.

فَرْض كَفَايَةfard kifaayahCollective obligation.

فَتْوَى جـ فَتَاوَىfatwa, pl. fataawaLegal ruling based upon the Qur.aan and the Sunnah, passed by a Scholar in response to a question.

فَقِيْه جـ فُقَهَاءfaqeeh, pl. fuqahaaJurist, jurisprudent, legal expert; one who is distinguished in his knowledge and understanding of fiqh.

فِقْهfiqhIslaamic jurisprudence.

فُرْقَانfurqaanDiscriminator, separator between right and wrong, criterion. Another name for the Qur.aan.

غُسْلghuslMajor ritual ablution, washing oneself, bathing.

حَافِظ جـ حُفَّاظhaafiz, pl. huffaazOne whose knowledge of hadeeth is more than that which he knows not; His comprehensive knowledge of hadeeth places him at a recognised level above the Muhaddith.

حَدِيْث جـ أَحَادِيْثhadeeth, pl. ahaadeethLiterally means, “sayings” and could refer to the recorded quotes of anyone. Usually, it is the title given to the collection of recorded words, actions and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which serve as an explanation of the meaning of the Noble Qur.aan.

حَجّhajjThe “major pilgrimage”. The once in a lifetime obligation (only if one possesses the means) of pilgrimage to Makkah; made up of specified rites performed between the 8th to the 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah (the twelfth month of the Islaamic hijrah year). It is one of the five pillars of Islaam.

حَكِيْم جـ حُكَمَاءhakeem, pl. hukamaaWise man, wise, sagacious, prudent, judicious, reasonable, sensible, shrewd.

حَلالhalaalLawful, legal, licit, allowed, allowable, permissible, permitted.

حَنَفِيّ جـ حَنَفِيَّة / أَحْنَافHanafee, pl. hanafiyyah / ahnaafAn adherent to, or a student of the School of Islaamic Jurisprudence which is based upon the teachings of Abu Haneefah Nu'maan ibn Thaabit ibn Zootaa ibn Marzubaan (died in Baghdad 148 Hijree / 767 AD).

حَنْبَلِي جـ حَنَابِلَةHanbalee, pl. hanaabilahAn adherent to, or a student of the School of Islaamic Jurisprudence which is based upon the teachings of Abu 'Abdullaah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal ash-Shaybaanee (died in Baghdad 241 Hijree / 855 AD).

حَرَامharaamUnlawful, illegal, illicit, illegitimate, forbidden, prohibited, banned, taboo, disallowed, barred.

حَسَنhasanLiterally means, good and handsome. Ibn Hajar explains it to be that hadeeth which fulfills the conditions of the “saheeh” except that the precision of one or more of its narrators is of a lesser standard.

هِجْرَة جـ هِجْرَاتhijrah, pl. hijraatEmigration, expatriation, exodus, immigration (to), migration.

حِكْمَة جـ حِكَمhikmah, pl. hikamWisdom, sapience, sageness, sagacity, judiciousness, prudence, foresight, insight, reason, reasonableness.

حِزْبِيَّةhizbiyyahPartisanship, factionalism, party life (spirit, activities), partiality, bias.

عِبَادَة'ibaadahAct of worship, religious observances, forms of worship, devotions.

إِحْكَامihkaamAccuracy, precision, exactness, correctness, perfection, exactitude, definitude.

إِجْتِهَاد جـ إِجْتِهَادَاتijtihaad, pl. ijtihaadaatThe effort a jurist makes in order to deduce the law, which is not self-evident, from its sources.

إِمَام جـ أَئِمَّةimaam, pl. a.immahA distinguished and recognised scholar; Generally recognised to be at a level above the 'Allaamah, and often referred to as a Mujaddid (reformer and reviver of the religion). Also used to refer to the one who leads the prayer.

إِعْرَابi'raabArabic grammar term denoting the analysis of a word in a sentence and, where applicable, any change affected upon it by a preceding word resulting in a modification/change reaching the end of the word.

عِشَاء'IshaaNight prayer; the last obligatory prayer of the day.

الإسْلامIslaamSubmission, surrender, obedience to the Will of Allaah; the religion of the Muslims conveyed from Allaah to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

إِسْم جـ أَسْمَاءism, pl. asmaa.Popularly referred to as name, divine name of Allaah.

إِسْنَاد جـ أَسَانِيْدisnaad, pl. asaaneedChain of narration.

إِسْرَائِيْلIsraa.eelIsraelites, the ancient Jews.

جَنَابَةjanaabahMajor ritual impurity, grave impurity, ceremonial impurity, the greater incident.

جَنَّة جـ جَنَّاتJannah, pl. jannaatHeaven, paradise, garden.

جِهَادjihaadTo strive hard, or to fight to defend one's life, property, freedom, and religion. It can also refer to an attempt to free other people from oppression and tyranny. Importantly, Islaam strongly opposes the kidnapping, terrorising, or hijacking of civilians, even during war.

جُمُعَةJumu'ahThe Friday prayer performed in jamaa'ah after the khutbah. This is in place of the Salaat az-Zhuhr.

كَافِر جـ كَافِرُوْن / كُفَّار / كَفَرَةkaafir, pl. kaafiroon / kuffaar / kafarahDisbeliever, infidel, non-believer, one who disbelieves, unbelieving person, one who rejects (faith), one who denies.

كَلامkalaamSpeech, rhetoric, talk, words, speaking, address, saying, lecture.

خُطْبَة جـ خُطَبkhutbah, pl. khutabA public sermon, address, speech.

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهlaa ilaaha il-AllaahLiterally means, “There is none truly worthy of worship except Allaah.”

لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَlaa-ilaaha illaa HuwaLiterally means, “There is none truly worthy of worship except Him.”

مَالِكِيّ جـ مَالِكِيَّةMaalikee, pl. maalikiyyahAn adherent to, or a student of the School of Islaamic Jurisprudence which is based upon the teachings of Abu 'Abdullaah Maalik ibn Anas ibn Maalik ibn 'Amr al-Asbahi (died in Madeenah 179 Hijree / 795 AD).

مَذْهَب جـ مَذَاهِبmadhhab, pl. madhaahibSchool, school of Islaamic jurisprudence, school of religious law, doctrine, persuasion, sect, way, manner.

مَنْهَج جـ مَنَاهِجmanhaj, pl. manaahijMethodology, manner, approach, procedure.

مَنْسُوْخmansookhAbrogated, repealed legal rule.

مَسْجِد جـ مَسَاجِدmasjid, pl. masaajidThe Muslim's place of worship.

مَتْن جـ مُتُوْنmatn, pl. mutoonText, wording, letter, quotation, subject matter.

مُبْتَدِع جـ مُبْتَدِعَةmubtadi', pl. mubtadi'ahInnovator, heretic, heterodox, heresiarch, dissenter.

مُحَدِّث جـ مُحَدِّثُوْنmuhaddith, pl. muhaddithoonA distinguished scholar of hadeeth. His level of knowledge is lesser than that of the Haafidh.

مُجَاهِد جـ مُجَاهِدُوْنmujaahid, pl. mujaahidoonStruggler; one engaged in jihaad.

مُجْتَهِد جـ مُجْتَهِدُوْنmujtahid, pl. mujtahidoonQualified scholar, diligent jurist, diligent interpreter of Sharee'ah law, independent reasoner, judicious reasoner.

مُخَصِّصmukhassisUsool al-Fiqh term denoting specifying proof.

مُنَافِق جـ مُنَافِقُوْنmunaafiq, pl. munaafiqoonHypocrite. One who makes apparent that which is contrary to what is in his heart. The signs of a hypocrite are four: i) when he is entrusted, he breaks the trust; ii) when he speaks, he lies; iii) when he promises, he breaks his promise; iv) when he argues, he behaves immorally.

مُقَيَّدmuqayyadUsool al-Fiqh term denoting a confined and qualified word.

مُصَنَّفmusannafA comprehensive collection of ahaadeeth in which the traditions are assembled and arranged in various “books” or “chapters”, each dealing with a particular topic. To this class belong the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik, the Saheeh of Muslim, and similar works.

مُشْرِك جـ مُشْرِكُوْنmushrik, pl. mushrikoonPolytheist. One who associates partners in worship with Allaah.

مُسْنَدmusnadA collection of traditions listing the names of the Companions in alphabetical order. The most important and exhaustive of all the musnad works available is that of Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

مُسْتَدْرَكmustadrakA collection of traditions which the compiler, having accepted the conditions laid down by a previous compiler, collects together such other traditions as fulfil those conditions and were missed by his predecessor. To this class belongs the Mustadrak of al-Haakim an-Neesaabooree, who assembled a large number of ahaadeeth which fulfilled the stringent conditions laid down by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, but were not included in their Saheeh compilations.

مُصْطَلَحُ الْحَدِيْثmustalah al-hadeethScience of hadeeth and its terminology.

مُتَشَدِّق جـ مُتَشَدِّقُوْنmutashaddiq, pl. mutashaddiqoonRanter and raver.

مُطْلَقmutlaqUsool al-Fiqh term denoting an unconfined and unrestricted word.

مُتَّقِيّ جـ مُتَّقُوْنmuttaqee, pl. muttaqoonOne who fears Allaah. The pious, the righteous, one who shields oneself against the wrath of Allaah, one who wards off Allaah's wrath by devoting himself to worship and good deeds.

نَحْوnahooArabic grammar, syntax.

نَصّ جـ نُصُوْصnass, pl. nusoosPlain and clear text. Popularly referred to as the texts of the Qur.aan and the Hadeeth.

نُغَيْرnughayrLittle birdy, little bulbul.

قَدَر جـ أَقْدَارqadr, pl. aqdaarPredetermined decree of Allaah.

قِيَامqiyaamStanding. Standing posture assumed during the salaah. Being on one's legs.

قُعُوْدqu'oodSitting. Sitting posture assumed during the salaah. Sitting knelt down on one's legs.

القُرْآنQur.aanCompiled divine revelations from Allaah to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ; The Holy Book of the Muslims.

رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ / عَنْهَا / عَنْهُمَا / عَنْهُمْradhi-yAllaahu 'anhu / 'anhaa / 'anhumaa / 'anhumLiterally means, “May Allaah be pleased with him / her / with the two of them / with them.”

رَحِمَهُ / رَحِمَهَا / رَحِمَهُمُ اللهrahima-hullaah / hallaah / humullaahLiterally means, “May Allaah have mercy upon him / her / upon them.”

رَجُل جـ رِجَالrajul, pl. rijaalLiterally means men; Technically it refers to the male narrators of ahaadeeth.

رَمَضَانRamadhaanNinth month of the Islaamic Hijrah year. Fasting has been prescribed from dawn til dusk for the duration of this month.

رِقَاق جـ رَقَائِقriqaaq, pl. raqaa.iqHeart-warming narrations. Narrations that evoke warmth and tenderness in the heart.

رُكُوْعrukoo'Bowing down. Bending at the waist, stooping. Bowing posture assumed during the salaah.

رُسُوْخrusookhSteadfastness, firmly established. Well-grounded, unshakeable, immovable, fixed, rooted.

صَحَابِي / صَاحِب جـ صَحَابَة / أَصْحَابsahaabee / saahib, pl. sahaabah / as.haabThe close companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

صَحِيْح جـ صِحَاحsaheeh, pl. sihaahAuthentic, correct.

صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمSal-Allaahu 'Alayhi wa SallamLiterally means, “May Allaah send prayers and salutations upon him.” This is to be said every time reference is made to the final Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad ﷺ.

صَلاَة جـ صَلَوَاتsalaah, pl. salawaatTerm referred to specific supplications and actions, correctly understood as prayers. The Muslims are required to perform five daily prayers. It is one of the five pillars of Islaam.

سَلَف جـ أَسْلاَفsalaf, pl. aslaafThe first three generations of Muslims. Popularly referred to as “as-Salaf as-Saalih” [ السَّلَف الصَّالِح ] - the pious predecessors.

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهsami'a allaahu li-man hamidahLiterally means, “Allaah listens to the one who praises Him.”

صَرْفsarfMorphology (linguistics) - the study of the structure and content of word forms.

شَافِعِيّ جـ شَافِعِيَّةShaafi'ee, pl. Shaafi'iyyahAn adherent to, or a student of the School of Islaamic Jurisprudence which is based upon the teachings of Abu 'Abdullaah Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi'ee (died in Fustat, Egypt 204 Hijree / 820 AD).

شَعْبَانSha'baanEighth month of the Islaamic Hijrah year.

شَرِيْعَة جـ شَرَائِعSharee'ah, pl. sharaa.i'The Islaamic Law, in particular, what is stated in the texts of the Qur.aan and the Sunnah.

شَيْخ جـ شُيُوْخ / مَشَائِخshaykh, pl. shuyookh / mashaa.ikhCorrectly referred to as a religious scholar; however, it is also referred to one who is elderly.

شَيْطَان جـ شَيَاطِيْنShaytaan, pl. ShayaateenSatan. The evil one, evil spirit, devil, demon.

صِفَة جـ صِفَاتsifah, pl. sifaatDescription, attribute, characteristic, quality, trait.

سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَىSubhaanahu wa Ta'aalaLiterally means, “How perfect He is, the Almighty”; Complete meaning: “I exalt Him and elevate Him above having any defects or deficiencies.”

سُجُوْد / سَجْدَة جـ سَجَدَاتsujood / sajdah, pl. sajadaatThe prostration posture in salaah.

سُنَّة جـ سُنَنsunnah, pl. sunanWay, mode, manner; correctly referred to as the words, actions and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which serve as an explanation of the meaning of the Noble Qur.aan.

تَفْسِيْر جـ تَفَاسِيْرtafseer, pl. tafaaseerCommentary, exegesis, explanation.

تَهَجُّدTahajjudSupererogatory night prayer - best performed during the last third of the night.

تَقْوَىtaqwaFear, dread, awe. Piety to Allaah, fear of Allaah, warding off Allaah's wrath, being conscious of Allaah, devotion, devoutness.

تَأْصِيْلta.seelFirmly established, deep seated, taking root, striking root, becoming deep-rooted.

تَثَبُّتtathabbutVerification, checking, making sure, certitude, conviction, ascertainment, certainty.

تَوْحِيْدtawheedSingling out. To single out Allaah ﷻ alone for worship.

طَيِّبَاتtayyibaatPure women, good women.

ثَبَاتthabaatFirmness, fortitude, perseverance, tenacity.

ثَرْثَار جـ ثَرْثَارُوْنtharthaar, pl. tharthaaroonTalkative, chatty, gossipy, garrulous, loquacious, chatterbox.

أُمَّة جـ أُمَمummah, pl. umamCommunity of Muslims, the Muslim nation.

عُمْرَة'umrahThe “minor pilgrimage.” It has fewer rites than the “major pilgrimage” (Hajj). In general, it may be performed at any time of the year.

أُصُوْل الدِّيْنusool ad-deenPrinciples of the religion.

أُصُوْلُ الْفِقْهusool al-fiqhPrinciples of Islaamic Jurisprudence.

وَحِيwaheeRevelation, divine guidance, inspiration, afflatus.

وَاجِبwaajibObligatory, mandatory, compulsory.

وُضُوْءwudooAblution, minor ritual ablution, washing oneself in a prescribed manner in preparation for salaah or other acts of worship.

زَكَاة جـ زَكَوَاتZakaah, pl. zakawaatThe alms tax deducted from the Muslims wealth at a rate of 2.5%, and distributed to the poor and needy. It is one of the five pillars of Islaam.