Amin — A term said after a prayer meaning, ‘May Allah make it so’ and is used at the end of a supplication to pray that God may accept it. It is similar in meaning to ‘amen’.
Dajjal — An Arabic word literally meaning the ‘great deceiver’. In Islamic terminology Dajjal refers to those satanic forces which would be unleashed in the Latter Days to oppose the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi(as).
Dhul-Qarnain — Lit. One who lives in two centuries or one with two horns. Historical figure mentioned in the Holy Quran. Also contains a prophecy about the Promised Messiah(as).
Hadith — A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa). The plural is ahadith.
Hazrat — A term of respect used to show honour and reverence for a person of established righteousness and piety. The literal meaning is: His/Her Holiness, Worship, Eminence, etc. It is also used for God in the superlative sense.
Jizyah — Lit. Tax. A tax paid in lieu of military service by non-Muslims living in a Muslim State.
Rahim — Merciful—an attribute of God as mentioned in Surah al-Fatihah and throughout the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Rahimiyyat.
Promised Messiah(as) — A title given to the Reformer prophesied to appear during the Latter Days, by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa); see also About the Promised Messiah.
Mahdi — Literally means ‘Guided’. A title given to the Reformer of the Latter Days prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa); see also About the Promised Messiah.
Holy Prophet(sa) — A title used exclusively for the Founder of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad(sa).
Holy Quran — The final and perfect Scripture revealed by Allah for the guidance of mankind for all times to come. It was revealed word by word to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) over a period of twenty-three years.
Khalifah — Caliph is derived from the Arabic word khalifah, which herein means ‘successor’. Khulafa’ is the plural of Khalifah. In many divine revelations someone commissioned by God Almighty is referred to as His Khalifah. In Islamic terminology, the title ‘Khalifa-e-Rashid’ [righteous Khalifah] is applied to each of the first four Khulafa’ who continued the mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa). Ahmadi Muslims refer to each successor of the Promised Messiah(as) as Khalifatul Masih.
Maulawi — A Muslim religious cleric.
Muhammad(sa) — Founder of Islam. See Holy Prophet(sa).
Quran — See Holy Quran.
Rahman — Gracious—an attribute of God as mentioned in Surah al-Fatihah and throughout the Holy Quran. The verbal noun of this attribute is Rahmaniyyat.
Shariah — Religious Law of Islam. The term is also used in a general sense for any religion’s revealed legal code.
Surah — A chapter of the Holy Quran.