Adal – The just.
Adhan – The formal call for Islamic daily Prayers.
Ahl-e-Bait – The people of the household of the Holy Prophet of Islam(sa).
Ahadith – Plural of hadith, See Hadith.
Ahmadi Muslim or an Ahmadi – A member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at – (Also Ahmadiyya) The Community of Muslims who accept the claims of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as) as being the Promised Messiah and Mahdi; the Jama’at established by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in 1889, now under the leadership of his fifth Khalifah, Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba).
Allah – Allah is the personal name of God in Islam. To show proper reverence to Him, Muslims often add Ta’ala ‘the Most High', when saying His Holy name.
Al-Imam al-Mahdi – The title given to the Promised Reformer by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa); it means guided leader.
Amanah – Trust
Amin – May Allah make it so.
Bukhari – A book of ahadith (the sayings) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) compiled by Hadrat Imam Muhammad Bin Ismai1 Bukhari (194H-256H). This book of ahadith is believed to be the most authentic book after the Holy Qur’an.
Dajjal – A term in Arabic that literally means, 'the great deceiver.' In Islamic terminology 'Dajjal' refers to those satanic forces that would be unleashed in the Latter Days to oppose the Promised Messiah and al-Imam al-Mahdi. A similar prophecy in the Christian faith about the appearance of the Antichrist refers to the same phenomenon, and we have therefore translated the term 'Dajjal' as 'Antichrist'.
Durud or Durud Sharif – Invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa).
Du’a’ – Prayer or supplication.
Hadith – A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa). The plural is ahadith.
Hadrat – A term of respect used for a person of established righteousness and piety.
Hakam – The arbitrator.
Halal – Lawful, permissible or pure.
Holy Prophet – A term used exclusively for Hadrat Muhammad(sa), the Prophet of Islam.
Holy Qur’an – The Book sent by Allah for the guidance of mankind. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) over a period of twenty-three years.
Hudur – Your Holiness; His Holiness.
Imam – The Arabic word for a leader. The head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is also referred to as the Imam.
Insha’Allah – An Arabic term meaning 'God-willing'.
Isa – Jesus(as) son of Mary
Jama’at – Jama’at means community. Although the word Jama’at itself may refer to any community, in this book, Jama’at specifically refers to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Jihad – Exerting oneself or striving.
Jizyah – A tax paid by non-Muslims living in a Muslim State in lieu of military service.
Ka’bah – House of Allah in Mecca.
Khalifah – Caliph is derived from the Arabic word Kha1ifah, which herein means the successor. Khulafa’ is the plural of Khalifah. Ahmadi Muslims refer to each successor of the Promised Messiah(as) as Khalifatul Masih.
Khalifatul Masih II – Hadrat Khalifatul Masih II, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad(ra), was the second successor of the Promised Messiah(as). He is also called Musleh-e-Mau’ud (Promised Son) because he was born in accordance with the prophecy made by the Promised Messiah(as) in 1886 concerning the birth of a righteous son who would be endowed with unique abilities and attributes.
Khalifatul Masih IV – Hadrat Khalifatul Masih IV, Mirza Tahir Ahmad(rh) (1928-2003), was the fourth successor of the Promised Messiah(as). He was the grandson of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah(as).
Khalifatul Masih V – Hadrat Khalifatul Masih V, Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aba), is the fifth successor of the Promised Messiah(as) and the current Imam of Jama’at-e-Ahmadiyya. He is the great grandson of the Promised Messiah(as).
Khatamul Anbiya’and Khatamun-Nabiyyin – Seal of the Prophets.
Khilafat – The institution of successorship in Islam.
Khulafa’ – Plural of Khalifah, See Khalifah.
Mahdi – 'The guided one'. This is the title given by the Holy Prophet Muhammad to the awaited Reformer of the Latter Days.
Masih-e-Mau'ud – The Promised Messiah.
Maulana or Maulavi – A Muslim religious cleric.
Momin – A true believer; a pious person.
Mo’edhdhin – A person who calls the Adhan (call to Prayer).
Muharram – The first month of the Islamic Calendar.
Mujaddid – Reformer.
Mullah – A Muslim religious cleric.
Musa – Moses(as).
Nabi – Prophet.
Nuzul – To descend.
(The) Promised Messiah – This term refers to the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as). He claimed that he had been sent by Allah in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) concerning the coming of al-Imam al-Mahdi and Messiah from among the Muslims.
Qamar – Moon of the night following the second night, and according to some it is the moon of the night following the third night.
Shahadah (Kalimah Shahadah) – The declaration of the Islamic faith: to bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, He is One, without any associate, and to bear witness that the Holy Prophet Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger; also known as the first pillar of Islam.
Sharia – Islamic religious law.
Shirk – Associating partners with Allah.
Siratun-Nabi Day – Tradition of holding conventions on the blessed life of the Holy Prophet(sa).
Sunnah – Traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad of Islam(sa).
Surah – A term in Arabic referring to a chapter of the Holy Qur’an.
Tahajjud Prayer – Optional Prayer of great merit offered in the latter part of the night; pre-dawn formal Islamic worship.
Tauhid – The fundamental Islamic belief that there is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah.
Ulema’ – A class of Muslim scholars.
Ummah and Ummat-e-Muslimah – The larger community of Muslims; The Islamic community.
Umrah – Lesser Pilgrimage in which some of the rites of the Pilgrimage are left out.