Ahadith see Hadith
Ahmadiyya The Divinely appointed name for the Muslim Community established by the Prophet of the Latter Days. The root, Ahmad, is based on a proper name of the Holy Prophet(saw).
Amin A term which literally means, ‘so be it’ and is used at the end of a supplication to pray that God may accept it. It is similar in meaning to ‘amen’.
Amir Governor, president, or leader. Title for the national head of a chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. (also Emir)
Ansar Lit. ‘Helpers’. Title accorded to the Muslims of Madinah who welcomed the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw) upon his migration; pl. of Nasir.
Auliya’ A shorter version of Auliya’-ullah, which means, ‘Friends of Allah’; pl. of Wali.
Ayyam see Yaum
Buruz Title applied to a person who is the spiritual reflection of an earlier holy personage and his qualities. The Promised Messiah(as) was the reflection of the Holy Prophet(saw).
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).
Fitrah Human nature. The name given to those qualities invested in a child from its birth.
Hadith A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw). The plural is ahadith.
Hazrat A term of respect used to show honour and reverence for a person of established righteousness and piety. Meaning include his/her Holiness, Worship, Eminence. It is also used for God in the superlative sense.
Jama‘at ‘Community’. Refers here to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Khalifah Caliph is derived from the Arabic word khalifah, which means ‘successor’. In Islamic terminology, the term righteous khalifah is applied to each of the first four khulafa’ who continued the mission of Hazrat Muhammad(saw), the Holy Prophet of Islam. Ahmadi Muslims refer to a successor of the Promised Messiah(as) as Khalifatul-Masih. pl. Khulafa’.
Khalifatul-Masih see Khalifah.
Khatamun-Nabiyyin ‘The Seal of the Prophets’. A title specific to the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw), signifying his superiority to all his fellow Prophets.
Masih ‘Messiah’. Used here in reference to Hazrat ‘Isa [ Jesus] Son or Mary.
Maulavi ‘My master’. Used for Muslim religious clerics.
Muhajirin ‘Emigrants’. Refers to the people of Makkah who fled the city after more than ten years of persecution by the Quraish. pl. of Muhajir.
Mujaddid ‘Reformer’. Each century after the Holy Prophet(saw), Allah raised a reformer(s) to revive the faith. The reformer of the 14th Islamic century was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as).
Quraish The leading tribe in Makkah during the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw), who also belonged to the Quraish. They were also the most bitter in opposition to the Holy Prophet(saw).
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(saw) over a period of twenty-three years.
Sufi A practitioner of tasawwuf [i.e. Sufism], concerned with the inner, mystical dimension of Islam.
Sulaha’ Plural of Salih which means good, just, and honest person or action. The term Sulaha’ is used in Islamic termonology to denote the first grade of righteousness. The higher grades are the Shuahada’ (martyrs) Siddiquin (the truthful) and Nabiyyin (the prophets).
Surah A chapter of the Holy Quran.
Yaum Day, age, epoch.
Zakat ‘That which purifies’. One of the five pillars of Islam; also referred to as almsgiving.
Zill Title applied to a person who is the spiritual shadow of an earlier holy personage, following in their footsteps. The Promised Messiah(as) was the spiritual shadow of the Holy Prophet(saw).