RIVER GARDEN ARTS

Glossary

of

Fundamental

Islamic and Arabic Terms

 

 

Adab                    Respect for all beings.

 

Akirah                  Hereafter.       

             

Al Fatiha              The first Surah (Chapter) of the Most Holy Qur’an entitled “The Opening”.  Ayats (verses) 1-7.  The fundamental and beginning prayer for Muslims during salah (prayer) five times per day.  (See Preface).

 

Alhamdulillah      “All Praise is for ALLAH.”                                 

 

Allahu Akbar       “ALLAH is Greater.”

 

Amir                    Leader or commander.

 

Aqeedah (Akeedah)    Creed.

 

Ar-Rahman          One of the 99 Names of ALLAH meaning “Most Compassionate”.  Included in the basmalla required before reciting and reading Holy Qur’an.

 

Ar-Raheem          One of the 99 Names of ALLAH meaning “Most Merciful”.  Included in the basmalla required before reciting and reading Holy Qur’an.

 

Assalamu

Alaikum               “Peace be with you.”

   Response:

     Walaikumu

     Salaam           “Peace be also with you.”

 

Assr                     The late afternoon obligatory salah (prayer).  The third salah of the day.

 

Astaghfir

ALLAH                “I seek ALLAH’s forgiveness.”

          (Istaghfar)

 

Athan (Adhan ,Azan)  The Arabic call to prayer.  Called five times per day for each obligatory salah (prayer). 

 

Audhu billahee     “I seek refuge in ALLAH from Shaitan (Satan), the

minashaitan       rejected one.” To be said prior to reading and reciting ALLAH’S Most Holy

ar-rajim             Qur’an, at salah time, and at any time¾particularly when feeling anxious or threatened.

                          

Ayah                    An individual verse in the Holy Qur’an.

 

Ayat                     The plural of ayah.

 

Barakah               Blessing or Divine Grace.

 

Basmalla              To say “Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem”.

 

Bismillah              In the Name of ALLAH.

 Ar Rahman

 Ar Raheem         Most Gracious.  Most Merciful.

The first ayah of the first Surah of ALLAH’S Most Holy Qur’an Al Fatiha (“The Opening”).  Also required by ALLAH to preface all Holy Qur’an readings and salah. 

 

Da’wah                Invitation to ISLAM.  Inviting others to explore  ISLAM.

 

Deen                    Religion, spiritual way of life.

 

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Dhur (Zuhur)           The second obligatory salah (prayer ) of the day made shortly after 12:00p.m. noon.  See “Zuhur”.

 

Du’a (Duah)            A prayer¾supplication.

 

Dunya                  The physical world.

 

Fajr                     The first obligatory salah (prayer) of the day made 

                             shortly before sunrise. 

 

Fard                     Obligatory Islamic requirement. Commanded by

                             ALLAH in His Most Holy Qur’an.

 

Gusl                     Obligatory bathing to cleanse from major impurities.

 

Hadith                  Recorded sayings of Prophet Muhammad (saws).

 

Hajj                      Effort.  The pilgrimage to Mecca obligatory upon of all Muslims at least once during their lifetime if ALLAH has provided the finances and if one’s health allows.  The fifth pillar of ISLAM.

 

Hajji                     One who has performed their Hajj obligation.

 

Halal                    Lawful and permitted in ISLAM.

 

Haqq                    The “truth”.

 

Haraam                Unlawful or prohibited in ISLAM.

 

Hijab                    Islamic clothing covering as required by ALLAH in

                             the Holy Qur’an.

 

Hijrah                  Migration.

 

Ibadah (Ebadah)       Worship of ALLAH.

 

Imam                    Leader of congregational salah (prayer).

 

Iman (eman)            Faith and trust in ALLAH.

 

InshaALLAH       “If ALLAH wills.”

 

Isha (Eesha)             The fifth obligatory salah (prayer) after sunset in late

                             evening when the sky is completely dark (black).

 

Jennah                 Paradise.

     (Jannah, Ginnah)          .

 

Jennah Firdous   Paradise. The highest heaven.

 

Jilbab (Jelbab, jilbob)  Long loose-fitting coat like overgarment.

 

Jihad                    To strive.  Personal and/or spiritual striving or in Islamic war striving for the cause of ALLAH.

 

Jumah                  Friday thur (noon) congregational prayer performed at mosques and masjids all over the world.

 

Ka’ba (Ka’bah)        The first house of worship built for mankind.  Originally built by Adam, reconstructed by Abraham and Ismai’l.  The cube shaped structure in Mecca to which all Muslims turn for their five daily prayers.  The central place of worship during Hajj.

 

Kafir                    A person who refuses to submit himself/herself to

                             ALLAH, a disbeliever.

 

Kalimah (Shahada)   Islamic Declaration of Faith.  Shahada.  “Laillaha illALLAH Muhammadur Rasul ALLAH”. “There is no God worthy of worship but ALLAH, Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH.”

 

Khimar                Women’s head covering.

 

Khutbah               A speech or sermon.  Referring most often to the

sermon of the Jum’ah (Friday) congregational prayer.

 

Kuffar                  Plural of Kafir.

 

 

 

                                                                 

“La illaha illALLAH, Muhammadur rasulALLAH.” 

 

 


“La illaha illALLAH, Muhammadur rasulALLAH.”

 

“There is no God but ALLAH

Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH.”

 

 

          The Kalimah, Shahada or Declaration of Faith.

 

Maghrib               The fourth obligatory salah(prayer) performed directly after the sun sets on the horizon.  The early evening salah. 

 

Masjid (Mosque)          A place of congregational worship and prayer.

 

Mu’awwithataan Literally ‘The Two Seekers of Refuge’, Chapters 113 and 114 of the Holy Qur’an (Surah An-Nas and  Surah Al-Falaq)

 

Mu’min                A Muslim of deep faith who is a righteous and obedient servant of ALLAH.

 

Nabiy/Anbiyaa’    Prophet/Prophets.

 

Niqab (Niqaab)         The Islamic face veil.

 

Niqabi                  One who wears the Islamic face veil.

 

Purdah                 Placement of a veil in public places to separate the women and men in ISLAM.

 

Qiblah                  The direction Muslims face in performance of salah

(prayer).  The direction of the Ka’ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

 

Ra’kat                  An individual unit of salah (prayer).

 

Ramadan (Ramadhan)  The revelations of the Holy Qur’an to Prophet

Muhammad (PBUH) began in this month.  Muslims are required to fast during this month.  Ramadan Fasting is the fourth Pillar of ISLAM and Muslims are required to fast from just before the early morning Fajr salah (prayer) until sunset and Maghrib salah time.

 

RasulALLAH       The “Messenger of ALLAH”.

 

Sabr (Sabur)             Patience, steadfastness.

 

Sadaqah               Charity. Almsgiving.

 

Sahabah               Companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

 

Salah                    The five obligatory prayers that a Muslim must perform daily.

 

Sallallaahu

`alayhi                  Repeated after mention of the name of Prophet Muhammad

wasallam            (May Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him.) Shortened versions:  (saws) or (pbuh).

 

Shahada (Shahadah) Declaration of Faith.  Must be recited by the revert/convert to ISLAM:  “La illaha illALLAH, Muhammadur RasulALLAH”; “There is no God but ALLAH, Muhammad is the Messenger of ALLAH.”  A repetitive verbal acknowledgement and renewal made by all Muslims on their journey, insha ALLAH, to ALLAH.

 

Shariah                Islamic law.

 

Shirk                    Associating partners with ALLAH.  Anything held in higher regard than ALLAH.  The most severe of sins.

 

Shukran               “Thank you”.

 

Subhan ALLAH   Glory to ALLAH.

 

Sujdah                 The position in salah (prayer) of prostration with hands, knees, feet and face touching the ground.

 

Sunnah                            The traditions of Prophet Muhammad’s life found in ALLAH’S Most Holy Qur’an and as relayed by authentic hadith—recorded sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). 

 

Surah                   A chapter in the Holy Qur’an.

 

Taqwa                 The love and fear a Muslim feels for ALLAH. Only goal is to please ALLAH.  Dedicated and obedient to ALLAH and fearful of His wrath.

 

Thikr  (Dhikr)          Remembrance of ALLAH.  A manner of prayer

                             in repetitive sequences

 

Torah                   The Revelation of ALLAH sent to Moses. 

 

Ummah                 World community of Muslims. 

 

Umrah                  Optional pilgrimage to Mecca.  May be performed at any time.

 

WaLaikumu

Salaam            “And peace be also with you.”  Response to Muslim greeting “Assalamu Alaikum” (May peace be with you.)

 

Wali                     Legal guardian.  A friend or protector.

 

Wudu                   An obligatory washing before salah (prayer) and before reading ALLAH’S Most Holy Qur’an.

 

Yawmud-Deen     Day of Judgment.

 

Yawmul

    Qiyamah          Day of Judgment.

 

Zakat  (Sadaqah)          The obligatory tax every Muslim must give.  It is third of the five pillars of ISLAM.  Charity for the poor and destitute.

 

Zuhur (Dhur)           The second obligatory salah (prayer) of the day performed just after the sun passes 12:00p.m—noon. 

 

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Note:  Additional definitions may be found in the 99 Names of ALLAH in English and Arabic located in the Preface – Fundamentals of Islam.

 

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