Many of the Arabic terms used in this translation are found in The Oxford English Dictionary, including, Islam, Quran, Hadith, Sunnah, etc. Such words have not been italicised in the text, and generally, are not glossed here. In various places, the Promised Messiah (as) has explained various words in a linguistic context or expounded their deeper spiritual meaning, as is the case, for example, with ilah, ansar, laqq, aws, among others. Such words, though italicised in the text, have not been included in the glossary. Similarly, foreign terms which can adequately be translated into English—though given in the text on certain occasions—have not been elaborated here. Therefore, please note that only such terms are included in this glossary which require an explanation above and beyond a simple translation in English.
alhamdulillah — literally, ‘all praise belongs to Allah’, which is an expression in Islam for showing gratitude to God.
Asr — the third of the five daily prayers, which is offered in the late afternoon.
aqiqah — a tradition of the Holy Prophet observed by Muslims on the birth of a baby, in which the newborn’s head is shaved, charity is given to the poor, and animal sacrifice is made. The aqiqah is performed on the seventh day after the child’s birth.
Badr — the second official organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community established on 31 October 1902. This weekly newspaper was published from Qadian, District Gurdaspur, in the Urdu language.
bast — or ‘expansion’ refers to a state in which the seeker experiences a high in their spiritual condition and communion with God.
baqa — literally, ‘subsistence’ or ‘life.’ See fana.
Bukhari — also referred to as Sahih Bukhari is the most authentic book of Hadith tradition among the sihah sittah i.e. the six authentic books of Hadith.
dhikr-e-arra — literally, the ‘invocation of the saw’. A Sufi invocation, commonly found among the Yasavi order and others. The sound that comes from the throat of those performing this chant aloud resemble the grinding of a saw and is symbolic for the Sufi ‘sawing their desires.’
Eid-ul-Adha — literally, ‘the festival of sacrifices’ is celebrated by Muslims to mark the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah. Animals are slaughtered throughout the Muslim world in remembrance of the sacrifice of Abraham (as), and this meat is distributed amongst the poor. It is also referred to as ‘the Greater Eid.’
Eid-ul-Fitr — a festival celebrated at the end of Ramadan with the sighting of the new moon, to offer gratitude to Allah for the blessings of Ramadan.
Fajr — the first of the five daily prayers, which is offered at dawn before sunrise.
fana — literally, ‘annihilation’ or ‘to cease to exist’. The Sufis speak of three stages in man’s spiritual journey to God. The first stage is fana, or the complete denial of the self and the realisation that only when a person imposes a death upon their own soul can they be truly united with God. The second stage is baqa (subsistence or life) and the third stage is liqa (meeting), which is the state of union with God. The state of fana fillah means to be lost or absorbed completely in the love of Allah.
fayj-e-a’waj — literally, ‘a crooked group’ refers to a dark period destined to dawn upon the Muslims after the first three golden centuries of Islam. According to the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sas), this would be an era in which the Muslims would lose their spirituality and be misguided.
Futuhat — refers to Al-Futuhat-ul-Makkiyyah (The Meccan Openings) is a well-known book in the field of Islamic mysticism by Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Arabi.
Gulistan — literally, ‘The Garden’ is a famous work of Persian literature by the renowned poet Sheikh Sa’di comprising deep points of wisdom and insight.
Al-Hakam — the first official organ of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community established on 8 October 1897. The first editor of Al-Hakam was Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani (ra). This weekly newspaper was published from Qadian, District Gurdaspur.
halalah — a practice among certain Muslims in which a female divorcee marries another man, consumates the marriage, and then gets a divorce, so that it becomes permissible for her to remarry a previous husband. Such pre-planned marriages of convenience are forbidden in Islam and the Holy Prophet (sas) has sent curse on those who engage in this unlawful practice.
ihsan — a favour, but in the context of worship, the Holy Prophet (sas) has expounded that ihsan means to worship God as though one can see Him, and if this is not possible, then at least to stand before Him in worship knowing that He can see you.
Ihya-ul-Ulum — refers to Ihya Ulum-ud-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences) by Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad Al-Ghazali. It is widely regarded by Muslims as a major work in religious philosophy and spirituality.
Isha — the last of the five daily prayers, which is offered in the evening, shortly after nightfall.
Ishraq — is an optional Prayer consisting of two phases: two rak’ats are offered when the sun has risen for a while but not enough to have heated up the environment. Once the latter has occurred, this is the second phase, in which one may offer four or eight rak’ats. The first phase is known as salat-ul-ishraq and the second salat-ud-duha. It has been named salat-ul-awwabin as well. In some Traditions, however, the Prayer offered between Maghrib and Isha consisting of six rak’ats is called salat-ul-awwabin.
khatm-e-nubuwwat — is a term in Islamic literature that refers to the rank of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas) as the Seal of Prophets. Please see ‘Seal of Prophets’ for further details.
Maghrib — the fourth of the five daily prayers and offered right after sunset.
Mahdi — literally ‘the guided one’ and also refers to the Imam Mahdi—a title meaning ‘Guided Leader’, given to the Reformer of the Latter Days prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas).
Malfuzat — written records of sayings, discourses and audiences of pious men, Sufis and religious divines.
maulvi — a Muslim cleric
mi’raj — literally, ‘the ascension’ was a spiritual experience of the Holy Prophet (sas) in which he travelled into the heavens, met various Prophets and ultimately Allah Himself.
Munkar — and Nakeer are the names of the two angels appointed by Allah the Exalted to question a person in their grave after death. Those who are able to answer correctly will rest in ease, while those who are not will suffer until they are raised from their grave by Allah Almighty.
nafi-o-asbat — a meditative practice among the Sufis, in which they recite, as a formula, the Muslim creed la ilaha illallahu muhammadur-rasulullah, and direct the energy of these words throughout their body, whilst holding their breath. First they recite la ilaha (there is no God) and this constitutes a negation (nafi) of all that is besides God. Then they recite illallah, (except for Allah) which is an affirmation (asbat) of the One True God.
Nakir — see Munkar.
Nusherwan — surnamed Adil or the Just ascended the throne on the death of his father Qubad as the Chosroes or king of Persia in 531 AD. He died after a reign of 48 years and was succeeded by his son Hurmuz IV in 579 AD. Nusherwan was famed for his exemplary adherence to principles of equity and justice irrespective of religion or creed.
qabz — or ‘contraction’ refers to a state in which the seeker experiences a low ebb in their spiritual condition.
qawwali — a style of music employed by certain sufi sects within Islam as a form of devotion and worship.
qiblah — the direction in which a Muslim should face when observing the formal Islamic Prayer. The qiblah of the Muslims is the Holy Ka’bah in Mecca.
rak’at — a single unit in the formal Islamic Prayer, consisting of the standing and bowing positions, as well as two prostrations.
salahiyyat — a higher level of virtue. Please see muttaqi and salih.
sati — a Hindu tradition in which a widow would burn herself to death on her husband’s pyre as an expression of loyalty to her to him. This was done by the widow voluntarily and, as if, demonstrated that she was a dutiful wife who followed her husband to the afterlife.
Seal of the Prophets — is Khatam-un-Nabiyyin in Arabic. The Arabic word khatam means, a signet ring, a seal, a stamp or a mark; the end or last part or portion and result or issue of a thing. The word also signifies embellishment or ornament; the best and most perfect. Therefore, the expression Khatam-un-Nabiyyin or Seal of the Prophets would mean, the best and most perfect of the Prophets; the embellishment, ornament or crown of the Prophets. It also means the ‘last’ of the law-bearing Prophets.
Seal of the Books — is Khatam-ul-Kutub in Arabic and refers to the Holy Quran, which is the best and most perfect book of all divine scriptures. It is also the last of all divine laws revealed by Allah the Exalted. See ‘Seal of the Prophets.’
Seal of the Book — or Khatam-ul-Kitab is one of the names of Surah Fatihah, the first chapter of the Holy Quran. This chapter encompasses, all the divine insights and verities expounded in the Holy Quran and is the best of all prayers.
Shaykhayn — literally, ‘The Two Chiefs’ is a title of honour that refers to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra), the first and second Caliphs of the Holy Prophet (sas) respectively.
Syed — a descendant of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas).
Tahajjud — the voluntary prayer offered in the middle of the night, before the obligatory Prayer at dawn.
Tirmidhi — also referred to as Jami at-Tirmidhi is the fourth authentic compilation of Hadith tradition among the sihah sittah i.e. the six authentic books of Hadith.
wahdat-ul-wujud — literally, ‘Oneness of Being’ is a Sufi doctrine generally attributed to Ibni Arabi, which suggests that God and His creation are one in the same thing. Those who believe in this doctrine are referred to as Wujudis.
Zuhr — the second of the five daily prayers, which is offered in the afternoon after the sun begins to decline from its zenith.