A Glossary of Islamic Terms
By
The following is a glossary of commonly used
Islamic terms and their translations and meanings in English.
It is incomplete right now
and I will continue editing it soon In
shaa’
Allaah.
·
ʿAđān (أذان) – The
Call to Prayer
The ʿAđān is one of the most recognisable and apparent symbols of
Islām. Prior to every one of the 5 daily prayers the mu’ađđin (see mu’ađđin) makes
this call to prayer to inform the believers that the time for prayer has come.
This ʿAđān is
made either from the inside or the outide of the masjid or also from atop
of the minaret.
The wording of the ʿAđān is as follows in
Arabic (with transcription and English translation below each line):
الله أكبر الله أكبر
Arabic – ‘Allāhu ‘Akbar (x4)
English – God is greater (than all things)
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
‘Ash–hadu al-lā ilāha ill-Allāh (x2)
I testify that there is no god but Allāh
أشهد أن محمّدًا رسول الله
‘Ash–hadu ‘anna Muhammadã-rasūl-ullāh (x2)
I testify that Muhammad is Allāh’s Messenger
حيّ على الصلاة
Hayya ʿalas–Solāh (x2)
Hasten towards the Prayer
حيّ على الفلاح
Hayya ʿal al-falāh (x2)
Hasten towards Success
الله أكبر الله أكبر
‘Allāhu ‘Akbar-ullāhu ‘Akbar (x2)
God is greater (than all things)
لا إله إلا الله
Lā ilāha ill-Allāh
There is no god but Allāh
·
ʿAjīb· (عجيب) – Strange/Amazing
·
‘Akh (أخ) – Brother
‘Akh is the Arabic term for brother. This may be
used for one’s brother in family, or also for one’s brother in Islām. ‘Akhī
means ‘my brother’ and is commonly used as a term of endearment when addressing
another Muslim. (See also ‘Ukht)
المسلم أخو المسلم
« A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. »
(Narrated in Sahīh al-Bukhārī)
·
Al- (الـ) – The
Al is
a prefix to Arabic words which acts as the definite article. It works in
the same way as the English word ‘the’ except that it becomes part of the
word rather than a seperate word. As such it is usually represented when
transcribing into English as being part of the word or joined by a hyphen to
the word. The Arabic word for ‘the moon’ would be Al-Qamr or alternatively
Alqamr.
The prefix Al changes according
the letters before and after it due to the rules of the Arabic language. The
most noticeable change is when the second letter changes by borrowing the sound
of the letter following it. This happens when the word Al is followed by what
are called the ‘Sun Letters’, these are half of the letters of the Arabic
alphabet, the other half are called ‘Moon Letters’. The reason for this naming
is an example of the way the rule works. When the word Al is followed by the
word ‘shams’ (sun) it becomes Ash-Shams, however as shown
above, when it is followed by ‘qamr’ (moon) it stays as Al-Qamr.
Due to this rule you will find words such as An-Nabi, At-Tawbah, Ad-Dar, As-Salam where
the letter l in Al is replaced by the letter following it.
The following letters are known as the Moon
Letters and the Al- does not change:
ي و ه م ل ك ق ف غ ع خ ح ج ب
(which correspond to the following in Latin script – b j h kh ` gh q k
l m n w y)
And the following are the Sun Letters and the
Al- changes according to the letter following it:
ن ظ ط ض ص ش س ز ر ذ د ث ت
(which correspond to the following in Latin script – t th d
đ r z s sh s d t dh n)
·
‘Al-‘Ākhirah (الآخرة) – The
Hereafter/The Afterlife
This may be Jannah (Paradise) or the Nār
(Hellfire) depending on one’s Judgment from Allāh.
·
ʿĀlim (عالم) – A
scholar
ʿĀlim
literally means ‘one who knows’ and is referred to as such for their knowledge in Islāmic
fields. It comes from the word ˤilm
(knowledge). The plural form of the word is ʿUlamā’
·
‘Al-Ḥamdulillāh (الحمد لله) – Praise
be to God
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All the praises and thanks be to Allāh (God), the Lord of the ‘Ālamīn (mankind,
jinns and all that exists). [Al-Fātihah 1:2]
·
‘Allāh (الله) – God
'Allah' written in Arabic script
Allāh is the name of God in the Arabic language.
The word is a contraction of the Arabic term al-‘ilāh which
means ‘the (one) god’. Allāh is the term used by all Arabic
speakers to refer to God irrespective of their religion, so Jews and Christians
alike also use the name Allāh to refer to God when speaking in Arabic.
·
‘Allāhu ‘Akbar (الله أكبر) – God
is greater
The phrase Allāhu ‘Akbar in Arabic
uses the comparative from of the word kabīr (كبير) which means ‘great’. The literal
translation means ‘God is greater’, however the sentence may seem to be
incomplete as it doesn’t state which object it is that Allāh is being compared
to (usually a sentence would continue ‘Allāhu ‘akbar min..’ –
Allāh is greater than.., this however implies that Allāh is greater than all
things, no matter what they may be. As such the word ‘akbartakes on
the role of the superlative, and may be translated as ‘greatest’ and as such
Allāhu ‘Akbar can mean ‘God/Allāh is the greatest’.
The phrase is referred to in Arabic as the Takbīr.
·
‘Allāh ul-Mustaʿān (الله المستعان) – God
(alone) is the one whom is sought for help
·
ʿAqd – (عقد) – Covenant
·
ʿAqīdah – (عقيدة) – Creed/Core
belief
·
‘Astaghfirullāh (أستغفر الله) – “I
Ask forgiveness of Allāh”
This is a phrase often used by Muslims, it is
essentially a duʿā’ (see Duʿā’) by which a Muslim asks
forgiveness of God. This phrase is an example of istighfār.
·
‘Āyah (آية)* – Verse
‘Āyah is usually used to refer to a verse from
the Qur’ān, however it may mean any verse in general. ‘Āyah may also mean a
sign (from God) and is used in the Qur’ān in this context.
The plural of ‘Āyah is ‘Āyāt
*an alternate Arabic spelling is – ءاية
·
ʿAzza wa Jall (عزّ وجلّ) –
·
Barakah (بركة) – Blessing
·
Bayʿah (بيعة) – Pledge
of Allegiance
The bayʿah is a pledge of allegiance given to a leader. This pledge was
given by the saḥābah to the Prophet Muḥammad, and later to the Righteous Khalifas. This pledge
necesitates that those giving the pledge will obey and follow the one whom the
pledge is made to.
﴾لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ
يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ
السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا﴿
Indeed, God was pleased with the believers when they gave their Bayʿah to
you (O Muḥammad) under the tree, He
knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakīnah (calmness and
tranquillity) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory. [Qur’ān
48:18]
‘Ad-Dajjāl (الدّجّال) – The
Antichrist/False Messiah
Daʿīf (ضعيف) – Weak
Daʿīf may refer
to a physical weakness though in Islamic texts it is used to refer to a
narration or report that is lacking in its verifiable authenticity. A weak
Hadith for example may be a Hadith that has been narrated by an untrustworthy
narrator, or it may be unverifiable and therefore may be classed as weak by the
scholars of Hadith. A weak Hadith may not necessarily mean that it is incorrect
or fabricated, but rather that it cannot be verified to be authentic due to any
number of issues.
Dār (دار) – Home/Abode
Daʿwah (دعوة) – Proselytism/Inviting
to Islām
Đikr (ذكر) – Remembrance
Dīn (دين) – Religion
The word Dīn most closely
corresponds to the English word religion. Islam for example is considered as a
religion in English and a Dīn in Arabic, the same with Christianity, Judaism,
and Buddhism etc. The word Dīn however also can be used to describe other
groups which are non-faith based. Communism for example can be referred to as a
Dīn, so could atheism. Many translators like to describe a Dīn as a way of
life, any system which a person follows or bases their actions upon.
The word Dīn also means
‘judgment’ as is used in the term Yawm ud-Dīn, the Day of Judgment. This
alternate meaning also helps to understand better the first meaning of religion/way
of life. Any system a person devises, even if done by one’s self to judge the
way they think or act can be a Dīn.
In the sematic languages the word dīn (or the verb D-N) can also mean ‘Law’.
The Hebrew name Daniel is comprised of 2 words – Dani El, translated as ‘My
Judge is God’, so we see that the concept of dīn means that one would be
judged by certain laws which they should follow. Those laws whatsoever they may
be become the persons Dīn.
Duʿā’ (دعاء) – Supplication/Prayer
الدعاء هو عبادة
« Duʿā’ is worship. »
(Saḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ #3407)
‘Ad-Dunyā (الدّنيا) – The
World
Fatwā (فتوى) – Ruling
Fiq·h (فقه) – Jurispredence
Gharīb· (فقه) – Strange
‘Al-Ghayb· (الغيب) – The
Unseen
Ghībah (غيبة) – Backbiting
Ḥadīth (حديث) –
Ḥajj· (حجّ) – Pilgrimage.
Ḥalāl (حلال) – Permissible.
Ḥaqq· (حقّ) – Truth.
Ḥarām (حرام) – Impermissible.
Ḥaram (حرم) – Sanctuary
Ḥijāb· (حجاب) – Islamic
clothing regulations
Ḥikmah (حكمة) – Wisdom.
ʿIbādah (عبادة) – Worship/Servitude
‘Ib·līs (إبليس) – Satan
‘Īmān (إيمان) – Faith/Belief
‘Injīl (إنجيل) – The
Gospel of Jesus
‘Innā lillāhi wa
‘innā ‘ilayhi rājiʿūn (ٳنّا لله وٳنّا إليه راجعون) – ‘Verily,
to Allāh we belong, and to Him we return’
الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ
وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Those who, when afflicted with calamity, say:
“Verily! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return
(Al-Baqarah 2:156)
ʿIlm (علم) – Knowledge
ʿĪmād· (عماد) – Column/Pillar
‘In shā‘ Allāh (إن ساء الله) –If
God has willed
‘Islām (إ سلام) – Islam
Istighfār – Seeking
forgiveness
Jamāʿah (جماعة) – Congregation
Janāzah (جنازة) – Funeral
Jannah (جنّة) – Paradise
Jayyid· (جيّد) – Good
Jazākum ‘Allāhu Khayran (جزاكم الله خيرًا) – May
Allah reward you with good
Jihād· (جهاد) – Jihad
Jinn (جنّ) – Demon/Evil
spirit.
Jumuʿah (جمعة) – Friday
literally it means ‘the day of gathering’. Unlike the other days of the week
which are named for their numerical order, Friday is named after the
congregational prayer (Sạlāt ul-Jumuˤah) which occurs on this day and is compulsory for all male
Muslims to attend.
Juz’ (جزء) – Portion
(of the Qur’ān)
Khalīfah (خليفة) – Caliph
Kufr (كفر) – Disbelief
Lā Ḥawla wa Lā Quwwata Illā Billāh (لا حول ولا قوّة إلا بالله) –
Lā ‘ilāha ‘ill-Allāh (لا إله إلا الله) – There
is no god but Allāh
Madīnah (مدينة) – City
Mađhab· (مذهب) – School
of Islamic jurispredence
Makkah (مكّة) – Makkah
(Mecca)
Malā’ikah (ملائكة) – Angels
Mu’ađđin (مؤذّن) –
(see ‘Ađān)
Musībah (مصيبة) – Catastrophe
Mus-ḥaf (مصحف) – Manuscript/Book
Nabī (نبي) – Prophet
‘An-Nār (النّار) – Hell/Hellfire
‘An-Nār literally means ‘The Fire’ and as such refers to the fire of Hell.
Nikāḥ (نكاح) – Marriage
Niyyah (نيّة) – Intention
Qab·r (قبر) – Grave
‘Al-Qud·s (القدس) – Jerusalem
Al-Quds literally means ‘The Holy (city)’. Jerusalem was the home of many
of the Prophets of Islām (such as Moses and Jesus). Jerusalem is viewed by many
as being the 3rd holiest city in the world, after Makkah and Madinah.
Al-Quds is also referred to as Bayt al-Maqdis or Bayt al-Muqaddas, both of
which refer to the city as being the ‘house of holiness’. These are synonomous
with variant names for the city in Hebrew – HaKodesh and Beit
HaMikdash
Qur’ān (قرءان) – Qur’an/Koran
Radī Allāhu ʿAnhu (رضي الله عنه) – May
Allah be pleased with him/Allah is pleased with him
Rasm (رسم) – Orthography
Rasūl (رسول) – Messenger
Ribā (ربا) – Interest/Usury
Rukn (ركن) – Pillar
Sadaqah (صدقة) – Charity
Saḥabāh (صحابة) – Companions
of the Prophet Muḥammad
Saḥīḥ (صحيح) – Authentic
‘As-Salaf us-Sāliḥ (السّلف الصّالح) – The
Righteous Predecessors
Sạlāh (صلاة) – Prayer
Salām (سلام) – Peace
As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum (السّلام عليكم) – May
Peace be upon you
Wa ʿAlaykum as-Salām () –
…wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuhu
Sallallāhu ʿAlayhi wa Sallam – May
the Blessings and Peace of God be upon him
Sawm (صوم) – Fasting
Shahādah (سهادة) – Testimony/Declaration
Sharīʿah (شريعة) – Islamic
Law
Shaykh (شيخ) – Sheikh
Shaytān (شيطان) – Satan/Devil
Shirk (شرك) – Polytheism
Sihr (سحر) – Witchcraft/Sorcery
Sub·ḥān Allāh (سبحان الله) – Glory
be to God
Sub·ḥānahu wa Taˤāla (سبحانه وتعالى) – Glorious and
Exalted is He
Sūrah (سورة) – Chapter
(of the Qur’ān)
Tablīgh (تبليغ) – Conveying
Takbīr (تكبير) –
The utterance of ‘Allāhu ‘Akbar – When one says this it is
known as the Takbīr. A single utterance of it alone is referred to as a Takbīrah
(تكبيرة). The initial takbīr of
the prayer is referred to as the Takbīrat ul-‘Iḥrām (التكبيرة الإحرام).
Taq·līd· (تقليد) – Imitation
Taq·wa (تقوى) – Piety
Tawḥīd· (توحيد) – Monotheism
Tawrāh (توراة) – Torah
Tayyib· (طيّب) – Good/Pure
‘Ukht (أخت) – Sister
‘Ummah (أمّة) – Nation
ʿUmrah (عمرة) – Lesser
Pilgrimage
ʿUrf (عرف) – Custom
‘Usūl (أصول) – Foundations
‘Al-Walā’ wal-Barā’ (الولاء والبراء) – Allegiance
and Disavowal
Walī (ولي) – Protector
Waq·f (وقف) – Endowment
Wudū’ (وضوء) – Ablution
Yawm al-Qiyāmah (يوم القيامة) – The
Day of Resurrection
Zabūr (زبور) – Psalms
Zinā (زنا) – Fornication/Adultery
.
Asking for Duaas
Your Islamic Brother
Mumbai, India
 |
| Rakibul Islam Salafi @ Phoenix Marketcity, Mumbai |
