A’immah-e-Arbi‘ah: Literally means ‘The Four Leaders’ and particularly refers to the jurists Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, Imām Shāf‘ī, Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal and Imām Mālik.
A’immah-e-Ḥadīth: Literally means ‘The Leaders of Ḥadīth’ and is a term used to describe prominent scholars in the field who collected narrations of the Holy Prophetsa.
Adhān: The formal Muslim call to the compulsary five daily prayers or Ṣalāt.
Aḥādīth: Traditions pertinent to the sayings or deeds of the Holy Prophetsa as recorded by his faithful companions. Ḥadith is the singular form of this word.
Ahl-e-Kitāb: Commonly refers to the Jews and Christians and literally means ‘People of the Book’.
‘Ajamī: A term which refers to non-Arabs and literally means ‘those who cannot speak’ or ‘mutes’.
Amīn: A famous title given to the Holy Prophetsa, which literally means ‘The Trustworthy’.
Al-Badw: Bedouins of Arabia who reside outside of the city.
Al-Ḥaḍr: Those who live in socially civilised towns and cities.
Allāh: The personal name of God in Islām.
Amīnul-Millah: The title endowed to Abū ‘Ubaidah bin ‘Abdullāh bin Al-Jarrāḥra by the Holy Prophetsa.
Amīrul-Mu’minīn: Means ‘Leader of the Believers’, and is used to refer to the Caliph of the time. This term was first coined in the era of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umarra as a term for the office of Caliphate in Islam.
‘Āmul-Fīl: A term used to refer to the year in which Abrahah, the viceroy of Yemen brought his armies in an attempt to destroy the Ka‘bah and literally means ‘Year of the Elephant’.
‘Āmul-Ḥuzn: A term used by the Holy Prophetsa to refer to the 10th year Nabawī, in which Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra and Abū Ṭālib passed away, one after the other and literally means ‘The Year of Grievances’.
Anṣār: Literally means ‘The Helpers’, which was a title of veneration given to the Muslims of Madīnah, on account of their giving protection to the Holy Prophetsa and his companions of Makkah, when they migrated to Madīnah. ‘Anṣārī’ is the singular form of this word.
Anṣārī: Refer to ‘Anṣār’
‘Arab-e-‘Āribah: A term used to refer to the Arabia composed of the pure and actual inhabitants of the country.
‘Arab-e-Bā’idah: A term used to refer to the Arabia which was annihilated or became extinct, either by divine wrath or other reasons not clearly known.
‘Arab-e-Musta‘ribah: A term used to refer to the Arabia composed of immigrants who settled in the country but originally belonged to another nation.
Aṣḥābul-Fīl: Refers to Abrahah and his armies who marched forward to destroy the Ka‘bah astride elephants prior to the birth of the Holy Prophetsa and literally means, ‘People of the Elephant’.
‘Asharah Mubashsharah: A title given to the ten fortunate companions of the Holy Prophetsa who were given the glad tidings of paradise in this very world by the Holy Prophetsa.
Ashhur-e-Ḥurum: Refers to the four sacred months in which any and all violence or bloodshed is prohibited as per the ancient law of the Arabs. The four sacred months are Muḥarram, Safar, Rabī‘ul-Awwal and Dhul-Ḥijjah.
Athar: Traditions of the Holy Prophetsa which do not reach him in the chain of narrators, rather ends at one of his companions. ‘Athar’ is the singular form of this word.
Awqiyah: A silver coin used as a form of currency in Arabia. 40 Awqiyah were equivilant to 1 Dirham.
‘Azīz: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by the number of narrators in its chain. This type of tradition must not have less than two narrators in its chain of narrators.
Baḥīrah: The 11th female child of a she-camel which gave birth to 10 female children consecutively prior to its birth.
Bai‘at: Oath of allegiance to a religious leader; initiation at the hands of a prophet or his caliph. Literally means ‘to be sold’.
Baitul-Ma‘mūr: The centre of the heavenly places of worship situated in the seventh heaven (for which the Ka‘batullāh was erected in this world as its symbolic representation).
Baitullāh: Refers to the Holy Ka‘bah originally erected by Abrahamas and his eldest son Ishmaelas in the Valley of Becca and literally means ‘House of Allāh’.
Bānat Su‘ād: The name of a famous Qasīdah or poem in praise of the Holy Prophetsa, written by Ka‘b bin Zuhair.
Burrāq: A horse-like animal which was brought to the Holy Prophetsa on the night of the Mi‘rāj for his journey to the heavens.
Ḍa‘īf: Can be described as ‘weak’ and is a type of Ḥadīth categorized by the attributes of its narrators. A narration of this type is usually composed of dishonest narrators or those who do not possess a sound memory.
Dārul-‘Amal: Literally means the ‘Abode of Deeds’, and refers to one’s life in this world, wherein mankind performs various deeds for the pleasure of God.
Dārul-Jazā’: Literally means the ‘Abode of Recompense’, and refers to one’s life in the hereafter, wherein mankind recieves recompense for good or bad deeds.
Dārun-Nadwah: Established by Qusaiyy bin Kilāb, this was the council hall of Makkah, where the Quraish would gather to deliberate upon issues of national importance.
Dhabīḥullāh: A term used to refer to Ishmaelas the son of Abrahamas and literally means ‘Sacrificial Offering of Allāh’. Abrahamas intended to slaughter him under Divine instruction.
Dhātun-Niṭāqain: The title given to Asmā’ bint Abī Bakrra and literally means ‘Possessor of Two Girdles’. When the Prophetsa and Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakrra were to migrate, she took her girdle and cut it into two pieces. Then she tied one to the food vessel and one to the water vessel.
Dhirā‘: An instrument of measure among the Arabs, which was equivilant to an arm’s length, or 1.5 feet.
Dhul-Ḥijjah: The twelfth month of the Islāmic calendar and the last of the ‘Four Sacred Months.’
Dhul-Qa‘dah: The eleventh month of the Islāmic calendar and the third of the ‘Four Sacred Months’.
Dhun-Nūrain: A title of veneration given to Ḥaḍrat Uthmān bin ‘Affānra, third successor to the Holy Prophetsa, and literally means ‘Possessor of Two Lights’. The Holy Prophetsa gave two of his daughters to him in matrimony one after the other.
Dīnār: A gold coin used among the Arabs as a form of currency.
Dirāyat: A term used to describe the phenomenon by which a narration is analysed by way of rationalization and common sense, in order to determine the validity of that tradition.
Dirham: A silver coin used among the Arabs as a form of currency and was equivalent to 40 Awqiyah.
Du‘ā: Supplications made of God the Almighty. Du‘ā can be made at any time and in any language and does not require any formal or prescribed posture.
Fi‘lī: Refers to a type of Ḥadīth where the actions or deeds of the Holy Prophetsa are conveyed by his companions.
Faḍā’il: A term used to describe something of secondary or trivial nature.
Fatrat-e-Waḥī: The era in which revelation to the Holy Prophetsa came to a temporary hault after his first revelation. This was a period of great anxiety for the Prophet Muhammadsa.
Gharīb: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by the number of narrators in its chain. This type of tradition is left with only one narrator in its chain of narrators.
Ḥadīth: Refer to ‘Aḥādīth’.
Ḥajj: Pilgrimage to the Ka‘bah, which takes place once a year. All Muslims who are financially able must perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as a pillar of faith.
Ḥajar-e-Aswad: A sacred black stone which is said to have fallen from the heavens. It is currently situated in Masjid-e-Ḥarām, Makkah, and literally means ‘The Black Stone’.
Ḥām: The name given to a camel who was the father of 10 female children consecutively. These camels were left to roam freely.
Ḥaram: A term which refers to the sacred proximity of the Ka‘bah and literally means ‘unlawful’, as bloodshed and violence of all types is strictly prohibited in this sacred proximity.
Ḥarb-e-Fijār: A famous war waged in the time of the Jāhiliyyah, between the Banū Kinānah and Qais ‘Ailān, and literally means ‘Unlawful War’, as it was fought in the sacred month, during which violence was prohibited.
Ḥasan: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by the attributes of its narrators. It does not contain a narrator accused of lying and does not contradict a more authentic Ḥādīth. The level of this type of Ḥadīth is below Ṣaḥīḥ.
Ḥaṭīm: An area of about 3.5 yards adjacent to the Ka‘bah enclosed by a low semi-circular wall. The Holy Prophetsa has declared it as part of the Ka‘bah, and pilgrims perform their Ṭawāf around this area.
Ḥawārī: The title endowed to Zubair bin Al-‘Awwāmra by the Holy Prophetsa upon the occasion of the Battle of the Ditch. Literally means, ‘Disciple’.
Hazaj: A meter of Arabic poetry.
Ḥijr: Refer to ‘Ḥaṭīm’.
Hijrah: Literally means ‘migration’ and refers to the migration of the Holy Prophetsa from Makkah to Madīnah. The Islāmic calendar is also referred to as Hijrah which commences from the time of the Holy Prophet’ssa migration to Madīnah.
Ḥilful-Fuḍūl: A mutual agreement between various representatives of the Quraish, established to protect the rights of those who have been wronged, and literally means ‘The Confederacy of Rights’.
Ḥuffāẓ: Those who have committed the entirety of the Holy Qur’ān to memory. Ḥāfiẓ is the singular form of this word.
Ḥuqūqul-‘Ibād: The fulfillment of which is a religious duty obligatory upon every Muslim and literally means, ‘Rights Owed to Mankind’.
Ḥuqūqullāh: The fulfillment of which is a religious duty obligatory upon every Muslim and literally means, ‘Rights Owed to Allāh’.
‘Ilm Asmā’-ur-Rijāl: Literally means ‘The Science of the Names of Prominent Men’ and deals with the biographies of the narrators of Ḥadīth and Sīrat. The narrators in a chain can be brought under critique so as to determine the authenticity of a tradition.
‘Ilm-e-Muṣṭaliḥāt-e-Ḥadīth: Literally means ‘The Science of the Phraseology of Ḥadīth’ and describes the terms and phraseology used in this field of study, so as to effectively analyse and study traditions.
‘Ilm-e-Ta‘bīr-e-Ru’yā: Literally means ‘The Science of the Principles of Ḥadīth’ and refers to the field of study relevant to the interpretation of dreams and visions.
‘Ilm-e-Uṣūl-e-Ḥadīth: Literally means ‘The Science of the Principles of Ḥadīth’ and refers to the field of study relevant to the narration of traditions, as well as the principles of Riwāyat and Dirāyat.
‘Ilmul-Ansāb: Literally means ‘The Science of Geneology’, which was a systematic art through which the Arabs would preserve the record of their ancestors.
‘Ilm-e-Riwāyat: Literally means ‘The Science of Narration’, which deals with the method of the transferral of narrations from one person to another, from generation to generation.
Imāmuṣ-Ṣalāt: Literally means ‘Leader of Ṣalāt’, and is used to refer to the one who leads a congregation of Muslims in Ṣalāt.
Isrā’: A spiritual experience of the Holy Prophetsa, in which he travelled to Jeruselum by night and led a congregation of all the past prophets in Ṣalāt. The literal meaning of this Arabic word is, ‘Travel by Night’.
Jāhiliyyah: Refers to a famous period in Ancient Arab History, prior to the prophethood of the Holy Prophetsa, and literally means ‘The Ignorance’.
Jāmi‘īn: Literally means ‘The Collectors’ and is a term used to refer to those who collected various narrations of Ḥadīth and Sīrat.
Jāmi‘īn-e-Ḥadīth: A term used to describe those who gathered the traditions of the Holy Prophetsa through written and verbal testimonies and literally means ‘Collectors of Ḥadīth’.
Jihād: Is an arabic word which means ‘to strive’ in the cause of something. As per the Holy Prophetsa, the greatest Jihād is the striving one undertakes against the evil inclinations of the self. In Islāmic terminology a secondary meaning also infers defensive combat by the sword.
Jinn: Derived from Jannah, which means ‘it veiled, concealed, covered or protected’. Jinn refers to such beings as remain aloof from the people concealing themselves; strangers; the main or chief part or body of mankind.
Jumu‘ah Prayer: The special prayer service of the Muslims held every Friday. On Friday, Muslims offer the Jumu‘ah prayer consisting of two Rak‘āt instead of the Ẓuhr prayer.
Ka‘bah: A cube-like structure situated within Masjid-e-Ḥarām, erected by Abrahamas and his son Ishmaelas. Muslims undertake a pilgrimage to this sacred house every year. This literally means ‘cube’ or ‘square’.
Kalimah: An Islāmic creed: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allāh and Muḥammadsa is His Messenger.’
Khalīlullāh: An appellation given to Abrahamas as mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān and literally means ‘Friend of Allāh’.
Khātamun-Nabiyyīn: A title of veneration endowed to the Holy Prophetsa, by God Almighty in the Holy Qur’ān, which literally means, ‘Seal of the Prophets’.
Khatm-e-Nubuwwat: Refers to the lofty status granted to the Holy Prophetsa and means ‘Finality of Prophethood’. In other words, it infers that all the qualities and attributes of prophethood have reached their final point of perfection in the person of the Prophet Muhammadsa.
Khulafā’-e-Rāshidīn: A term used to refer to one of the first four Caliphs of the Holy Prophetsa who continued his mission and literally means ‘Rightly Guided Successors’.
Khumus: A portion of the spoils of war which were separated in the cause of Allāh, His messenger, and close relatives of the Prophetsa.
Kiswat-e-Ka‘bah: The black drape placed over the Holy Ka‘bah, which contains inscriptions of the Kalimah and various Qur’ānic verses.
Ma‘rūf: While taking the oath of allegiance from would-be Muslims, the Holy Prophetsa always used the word Ma‘rūf asking them to solemnly affirm that they would obey him in all his Ma‘rūf decisions, i.e., not only in such things as formed part of the divine law of Shari‘at but also in those which the Prophetsa held to be good by his own reason.
Mi‘rāj: A spiritual experience of the Holy Prophetsa, in which he travelled to the heavens, met various prophets of God and ultimately God the Almighty himself. The literal meaning of this Arabic word is, ‘The Night of Ascension’.
Mabsūṭ: A meter in Arabic poetry.
Maghāzī: A term used to describe the history of the battles of the Holy Prophetsa and his military expeditions.
Maqbūḍ: A meter in Arabic poetry
Maqtū‘: A Ḥadīth which is attributed to a narrator from the generation subsequent to that of the companions of the Holy Prophetsa.
Marfū‘: A Ḥadīth which can be traced directly to the Holy Prophetsa through its chain of narrators.
Mashhūr: Can be described as ‘famous’ and is a type of Ḥadīth categorized by the number of narrators in its chain. This type of tradition must not have less than three narrators in its chain of narrators.
Masjid-e-Aqṣā: Refers to the famous mosque in Jeruselum and literally means ‘Distant Mosque’.
Masjid-e-Ḥarām: Refers to the Holy Ka‘bah in Makkah and literally means ‘The Sacred Mosque’.
Masjid-e-Nabawī: The famous mosque built by the Holy Prophetsa when he migrated to Madīnah, and literally means ‘The Prophet’s Mosque’.
Matrūk: Can be described as ‘abandoned/left’ and is a type of Ḥadīth which contains a reporter known for lying in its chain of narrators.
Mauḍū‘: Can be described as ‘fabricated’ and is a type of Ḥadīth which has been forged and fabricated.
Mauqūf: A Ḥadīth which cannot be traced directly to the Holy Prophetsa, rather its chain of narration stops at a companion.
Madīnatur-Rasūl: Literally means ‘City of the Messenger’ and refers to the city of Madīnah or Yathrab where the Prophet Muhammadsa made his home after the migration.
Mu‘allal: A Ḥadīth which contains a major hidden defect. For example a Muttaṣil narration which has been reported as Hasan.
Mu‘allaqah: Refers to a poem written by a famous poet of the Jāhiliyyah and literally means ‘the attached’. In the era of the Jāhiliyyah, seven masterpieces of literary craftsmanship and eloquence were written by the greatest of poets and ‘attached’ to the Ka‘bah in honour, thus each of them were referred to as a Mu‘allaqah.
Mu‘aḍal: A Ḥadīth where two consecutive narrators have been omitted from the chain of narrators.
Mubāhalah: A prayer duel, in which two disputant parties pray that may the curse of God be upon the one who lies. Thus an incontrovertible judgement is sought by both parties from Allāh so as to distinguish truth from falsehood.
Mudallas: Refers to a Ḥadīth where a reporter has concealed or hidden the identity of his source narrator.
Mudarraj: Can be described as ‘interpolated’ and refers to a Ḥadīth where the narrator has added his own words to the text of the narration.
Mudd: A famous unit of measurement utilised by the Arabs.
Muḍṭarib: Refers to a Ḥadīth where additions or deletions exist in the chain of narrators or narrated text.
Mufassirīn: A term used to refer to commentators of the Holy Qur’ān.
Muḥaddith: Refer to ‘Muḥaddithīn’.
Muḥaddithīn: A title used to refer to those who possess profound knowledge of the traditions of the Holy Prophetsa and can differentiate between true and forged Aḥādīth. Muḥaddith is the singular form of this word.
Muhājirīn: Literally means ‘The Emigrants’, which was a title of veneration given to the Muslims who left Makkah, their beloved homeland, to live in Madīnah. ‘Muhājir’ is the singular form of this word.
Muḥarram: The first month of the Islāmic calendar and the first of the ‘Four Sacred Months’.
Mujammi‘: An appellation given to Qusaiyy bin Kilāb which means ‘Gatherer’, on account of his gathering all the tribes of the Quraish and settling them in Makkah.
Munkar: A type of Ḥadīth which is contrary to another authentic Ḥadīth and is reported by a weak narrator.
Munqaṭi‘: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by its chain of narrators. This type categorizes narrations in which a narrator is missing and the chain of narrators has been broken.
Muqrī: The title given to a religious preacher in the era of the Holy Prophetsa and literally means ‘a recitor’. This is because in that era preaching primarily consisted of reciting portions of the Holy Qur’ān. See Qārī also.
Mursal: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by its chain of narrators. This type of narration does not have a companion of the Holy Prophetsa in its chain of narrators.
Mutawātir: A type of Ḥadīth categorized by the number of narrators in its chain. This type of tradition is clear in its meaning, and the number of its narrators is of such magnitude as one cannot accept it as a forgery.
Muthlah: The name of an ancient Arab custom where the dead body of one’s enemy would be mutilated, by cutting off various parts of his body, like his nose, ear, etc. This was a common custom practiced in Arab warfare.
Muttafaq ‘Alaih: A Ḥadīth which has been supported by both Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhāri and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
Muttaṣil: A Ḥadīth which contains no gaps or omissions in its chain of narrators.
Nas’ī: A term used to refer to a method employed by the Arabs, whereby they would re-arrange the ‘Four Sacred Months’ as per their own expediencies, so they could engage in warfare during months where fighting was normally prohibited without fear of sin.
Pardah: Literally means ‘a veil’ and refers to the segregation of male and female. It also refers to the clothes or head coverings by which this segregation or concealment is actualized.
Qa‘dah: The sitting position in the Ṣalāt.
Qārī: The title given to a religious preacher in the era of the Holy Prophetsa and literally means ‘a recitor’. This is because in that era preaching primarily consisted of reciting portions of the Holy Qur’ān. See Muqrī also.
Qarīḍ: In the early era, Arabian poetry was generally referred to as Qarīḍ, the framework within which there were two types of poetry: the Qiṭ‘ah (“segment”) consisting of a relatively short poem devoted to a single theme or composed for a specific ocassion and the Qaṣīdah (“eulogy”) generally consisting of 100 verses or more in praise of a tribe or person.
Qaṣīdah: Literally means ‘a eulogy’ and specifically refers to a poem written in the extolment of someone.
Qaulī: Refers to a type of Ḥadīth where the verbal statements of the Holy Prophetsa were reported by his companions.
Qiyām: The standing position in the Ṣalāt.
Qudsī: Refers to a Ḥadīth where the Holy Prophetsa conveyed the direct words of Allāh to his companions.
Rifādah: The responsibility of providing for poor pilgrims during the time of Ḥajj, for which charity was collected throughout the course of the year.
Raḥmatullil-‘Ālamīn: A title of the Holy Prophetsa, endowed upon him by God Almighty in the Holy Qur’ān, which literally means ‘A Mercy to Mankind’.
Rajab: The seventh month of the Islāmic Calendar and the second of the ‘Four Sacred Months’.
Rajaz: A type of poetry which constitutes a discourse in rhyme.
Rak‘at: A single cycle in the Ṣalāt. Every Ṣalāt is composed of two or more Rak‘āt.
Riwāyat: The chain of narrators in any tradition of the Holy Prophetsa by which the authenticity of a tradition can be determined.
Ru’yā: An Arabic word which means ‘vision’ or ‘dream’.
Rukū‘: The bowing position in the Ṣalāt.
Ṣā‘: A famous unit of measurement utilised by the Arabs.
Sa‘ī: The running to and fro between mount Safā and Marwā seven times during the Ḥajj. This is symbolic for when Hagaras ran between these two mounts seven times in search of water for her son Ishmaelas.
Sā’ibah: A she-camel which gave birth to ten female children consecutively
Sab‘ah Mu‘allaqah: Refers to the seven magnificent poems that were tied to the Ka‘bah as a sign of veneration by the Quraish, and literally means ‘Seven Attached’. See Mu‘allaqah also.
Ṣābī: A term used to address one who had forsaken his ancient religion and adopted a religion similar to that of monotheism. The Prophetsa and his followers were also referred to as Ṣābī on certain accounts.
Ṣaḥīḥ: This is the most authentic type of Ḥadīth which is categorized by the attributes of its narrators. Its narrators must be renowned for their high level of honesty, trustworthiness, worship and fasting, adherence to religious law, memory and understanding. No narrators should be missing from the chain of narrators. It literally means, ‘authentic’ or ‘correct’.
Sajdah: The prostrating position in the Ṣalāt.
Ṣalāt: The five daily prayers prescribed for Muslims as their primary form of worship.
Samūm: A powerful hot wind resulting in a phenomenon similar to that of a sandstorm. This wind would result in significant damage to land and property.
Siqāyah: The responsibility of providing water to pilgrims during the time of Ḥajj.
Shādh: A type of Ḥadīth which is narrated by a trustworthy person, but contradicts a narration by one more reliable.
Shaqq-e-Ṣadr: A divinely inspirational sight in which an incision was made into the breast of Prophet Muḥammadsa, whereby his heart was cleansed by two angels, and literally means ‘Incision of the Heart’.
Shirk: Associating partners with Allāh.
Sidratul-Muntahā’: The furthest lote-tree. No creation of God the Almighty has surpassed this point, except the Prophet Muhammadsa. During the Mi‘rāj the Holy Prophetsa proceeded past this point to meet God, while Angel Gabrielas waited behind.
Ṣiḥāḥ Sittah: Refers to the six authentic books of Ḥadith: Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhāri, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Jam‘i Tirmidhī, Sunan Abū Dā‘wūd, Sunan Nasa’ī and Sunan Ibni Mājah.
Sīrat: A term used to describe ‘prophetic disposition’ – particularly the life and character of the Holy Prophetsa.
Ṣudā: Arabs believed that until retribution had been acquired for the murder of their relative, the deceased person would take on the form of an animal and move about here and there in the sky lamenting and wailing. The term used to refer to this ideological animal was Sudā.
Sunnat: The actions, deeds or customs practiced by the Holy Prophetsa, which were followed by his companions and thus transferred from generation to generation.
Syed: Refers to the descendants of the Holy Prophetsa through his daughter Fāṭimahra.
Taba‘ Tābi‘īn: Such people as were fortunate to have seen and met such people who had seen or met Companions of the Holy Prophetsa.
Tābi‘īn: Such people who were fortunate enough to have seen and met Companions of the Holy Prophetsa.
Ṭāhirah: A title given to Ḥaḍrat Khadījahra, the wife of the Holy Prophetsa, which literally means ‘The Pure’.
Taḥmīd: Expressing thanks to Allāh by reciting Alḥamdulillāh (All Praise belongs to Allāh).
Taqrīrī: Refers to a type of Ḥadīth where a certain action was performed before the Holy Prophetsa and he remained silent.
Tasbīḥ: Glorification of Allāh by reciting Subḥānallāh (Holy is Allāh),
Ṭawāf: A fundamental rite to be performed during the Ḥajj or ‘Umrah in which 7 circuits are made around the Holy Ka‘bah in Makkah.
Thār: Refers to the Arab concept of retribution or seeking revenge for their murdered tribesmen.
Tharīd: An Arab dish in which pieces of bread were dipped in soup.
Ummul-Alsinah: A term used to refer to the Arabic language, and literally means ‘Mother of Tongues’.
‘Umrah: A lesser Pilgrimage to the Holy Ka‘bah in which some of the rites of the Ḥajj are left out. ‘Umrah can be performed at any time during the year.
Waḥī: Revelation sent by God the Almighty to his righteous servants.
Waḥī-e-Khafī: For God the Almighty to instill something in to the heart of his servant.
Waṣīlah: A she-goat that gave birth to ten female children consecutively.
Wuḍū: The Arabic term for ablution in Islām as preparation for the offering of Ṣalāt.
Zakāt: The fourth pillar in Islām known as obligatory almsgiving, which constitutes the social support system in Islām for the distribution of wealth. The poor and needy are provided for by the contributions of the rich and affluent. Literally means, ‘increase’ or ‘purification’.
Zamzam: A fountain located within the Masjid-e-Ḥarām, which miraculously came into existence through the Divine command of God, as Hagaras desperately ran between the two hills of Ṣafā and Marwā, in search of water for her son Ishmaelas in his infancy.