Glossary

BID’AT — Unnecessary innovations in religious practices or customs.

BURQA — A long and loose outer garment worn by Muslim women.

CHADOR — A large piece of cloth wrapped around the upper body.

CHOORIDAR — A style of tight, long, pants worn by South Asian women. The excess fabric from the pants gathers at the bottom, forming ring-like shapes from the calf to the ankle.

CHUNNI — A traditional scarf or head covering worn by South Asian women.

DUPATTA — A long scarf or head covering that is a part of traditional South Asian clothing for women.

FURUJ — Private parts of the body and all openings into the human body.

GHADD-E-BASAR — The Islamic commandment of lowering or restraining one’s eyes from gazing at the other gender.

GHARARA — A traditional South Asian bridal outfit known for having pleated wide-legged pants.

HAYA — Modesty or self-restraint; to not do, say or think anything that will take one away from attaining nearness to Allah.

HIJAB — A head covering worn by Muslim women in the presence of unrelated men and some women.

ISTIGHFAR — To seek forgiveness from Allah.

ISTIKHARA — Special prayer seeking guidance from Allah regarding a specific matter.

I‘TIKAF — Retiring to seclusion during the last ten days of the month of Ramadan to gain closeness to Allah.

JALBAB — A long and loose outer garment worn by Muslim women.

LAGHAV — A useless activity which negatively impacts one’s virtue.

MAHRAM — A man or woman with whom marriage is not permissible. A non-Mahram, therefore, refers to a man or woman who one can marry and between whom the Shariah instructs segregation in light of the Islamic injunction of veiling.

NIQAB — A veil that covers a woman’s face, often leaving the eyes uncovered.

PURDA — The Islamic veil worn by Muslim women to fulfill the commandment of Allah.

REESH — Refers to clothing that is elegant and beautiful.

RUKHSATI — Bidding farewell to a female as she leaves her parents to live with her husband.

SALAT — Obligatory prayer commanded upon all Muslims to be offered five times daily.

SATTAR — An attribute of Allah which means, “the One Who Veils Sin.”

SHALWAR — A style of pants traditionally worn by South Asians.

TAQWA — Righteousness.