Aḥādīth: Traditions pertinent to the sayings or deeds of the Holy Prophet(sa) as recorded by his faithful companions. Ḥadith is the singular form of this word.
Amīr: A term in Islāmic phraseology, which refers to a leader or commander. Islām has put great emphasis in obeying the Amīr in order to maintain unity.
Allāh: The personal name of God in Islām.
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 Prophet(sa) and his companions of Makkah, when they migrated to Madīnah. ‘Anṣārī’ is the singular form of this word.
Anṣārī: Refer to ‘Anṣār’
Aṣḥābul-Fīl: Refers to Abraḥah and his armies who marched forward to destroy the Ka‘bah astride elephants prior to the birth of the Holy Prophet(sa) and literally means, ‘People of the Elephant’.
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, Rajab, Dhul-Qa‘dah and Dhul-Ḥijjah.
Bai‘at: Oath of allegiance to a religious leader; initiation at the hands of a prophet or his caliph. Literally means ‘to be sold’.
Baitullāh: Refers to the Holy Ka‘bah originally erected by Abraham(as) and his eldest son Ishmael(as) in the Valley of Becca and literally means ‘House of Allāh’.
Dhul-Ḥijjah: The twelfth month of the Islāmic calendar and the last of the ‘Four Sacred Months.’
Ghazwah: A military expedition, campaign or war in which the Holy Prophet(sa) participated himself. The plural is Ghazwāt.
Ḥadith: A tradition, saying or narration of the Holy Prophet(sa) as recorded by his faithful companions. Aḥādīth is the plural form of this word.
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.
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.
Hijrah: Literally means ‘migration’ and refers to the migration of the Holy Prophet(sa) from Makkah to Madīnah. The Islāmic calendar is also referred to as Hijrah which commences from the time of the Holy Prophet’s(sa) migration to Madīnah.
Ihram: A sacred state which a Muslim must enter in order to perform Ḥajj or ‘Umrah. In the general sense this also refers to the two cloths that are worn by the pilgrim during the Ḥajj or ‘Umrah.
Imām: Literally means ‘Leader’, and is used to refer to the one who leads a group of people.
Imāmuṣ-Ṣalāt: Literally means ‘Leader of Ṣalāt’, and is used to refer to the one who leads a congregation of Muslims in Ṣalāt.
Jāhiliyyah: Refers to a famous period in Ancient Arab History, prior to the prophethood of the Holy Prophet(sa), and literally means ‘The Ignorance’.
Jihād: Is an arabic word which means ‘to strive’ in the cause of something. As per the Holy Prophet(sa), 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.
Ka‘bah: A cube-like structure situated within Masjid-e-Ḥarām, erected by Abraham(as) and his son Ishmael(as). Muslims undertake a pilgrimage to this sacred house every year. This literally means ‘cube’ or ‘square’.
Kalimah Shahādah: An Islāmic creed: ‘There is none worthy of worship except Allāh and Muḥammad(sa) is His Messenger.’
Khalīfah: Caliph is derived from the Arabic word Khalīfah, which means ‘successor’.
Khātamun-Nabiyyīn: A title of veneration endowed to the Holy Prophet(sa), by God Almighty in the Holy Qur’ān, which literally means, ‘Seal of the Prophets’.
Khulafā’ur-Rāshidīn: A term used to refer to one of the first four Caliphs of the Holy Prophet(sa) who continued his mission and literally means ‘Rightly Guided Successors’.
Masjidun-Nabawī: The famous mosque built by the Holy Prophet(sa) when he migrated to Madīnah, and literally means ‘The Prophet’s Mosque’.
Muḥaddithīn: A title used to refer to those who possess profound knowledge of the traditions of the Holy Prophet(sa) 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’.
Nikāḥ: The formal announcement of marriage in Islam.
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.
Qiblah: Direction to be faced during the Ṣalāt.
Rajab: The seventh month of the Islāmic Calendar and the second of the ‘Four Sacred Months’.
Sariyyah: A military campaign, expedition or war in which the Holy Prophet(sa) did not participate.
Ṣalāt: The prescribed formal prayers offered by Muslims as their primary form of worship.
Ṣalātul-Istisqā: The special prayer offerred to seek rain from Allāh in times of drought.
Sharī‘at: Religious law of Islam. The term is also used in the general sense to refer to any revealed law.
Sīrat: A term used to describe ‘prophetic disposition’ – particularly the life and character of the Holy Prophet(sa).
Sunnat: The actions, deeds or customs practiced by the Holy Prophet(sa), which were followed by his companions and thus transferred from generation to generation.
Sūrah: A chapter of the Holy Qur’ān.
Sayyid: Refers to the descendants of the Holy Prophet(sa) through his daughter Fāṭimah(ra).
Takbīr: Glorification of Allāh by saying, Allāhu Akbar, which means, ‘Allah is the Greatest.’
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.
‘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.
Walī: A guardian of the bride.
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’.