Azan - The formal call for Islamic daily Prayers.
Aameen - A term which literally means, ‘so let it be’ and is used at the end of a supplication to pray that God may accept it. It is similar in meaning to ‘amen’.
Aryah Samaaj - A Hindu sect founded by Pundit Dayanand in 1875. Their first and foremost belief is that Parmeshwar [God] is not the Creator of matter and souls. Rather, that all of these things are eternal and self-subsisting like Parmeshwar.
Dajjaal - An Arabic word literally meaning the ‘great deceiver’. In Islamic terminology Dajjaal refers to those satanic forces which would be unleashed in the Latter Days to oppose the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi(as).
Eid - Literally, ‘Happiness that is often renewed’. Eid-ul Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid-ul Adha is celebrated to commemorate Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God.
Fathah - In Arabic script, the vowel mark for ‘a’ sound, appearing as a diagonal line placed above a letter and designating a short ‘a’: ___َ if the Arabic letter ا (alif ) immediately follows, it indicates a long ‘a’.
Hadith - A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa). The plural is ahaadeeth.
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.
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.
Iblees - An attributive name meaning ‘he turned away’. The Holy Quran reports that Iblis, inflamed by his own arrogance, refused to submit to the Prophet Adamas.
Imam Mahdi - A title meaning ‘Guided Leader’, given to the Re-former of the Latter Days proph-esied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa); see also section ‘About Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)’.
Jama’aat - Jama’aat means community. Although the word Jama’aat itself may refer to any community, in this book, Jama’aat specifically refers to the Ahmadiyyah Muslim Jama’aat.
Ka‘bah - The first house built for the worship of God. Located in Mecca. Muslims face Ka‘bah while performing their daily prayers and make circuits of it as an act of devotion.
Khalifah - Caliph is derived from the Arabic word khalifah, which means ‘successor’. In Islamic terminology, the word righteous khalifah is applied to one of the four Khulafaa’ who continued the mission of Hazrat Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of Islam. Ahmadi Muslims refer to a successor of the Promised Messiah(as) as Khalifatul-Masih. Khulafaa’ is the plural of khalifah.
Khalifatul-Masih - see Khalifah.
Mahdi - Literally means ‘Guided’. see Imam Mahdi.
Maulawi - A Muslim religious cleric.
Muazzin - A person who calls the azan at the appointed times of Prayers.
Muhammad(sa) - Founder of Islam. see Holy Prophet(sa).
Promised Messiah(as) - A title given to the Reformer prophesied to appear during the Latter Days, by the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa); see also section ‘About Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as)’.
Rabb - Lord, Master, Creator; One who sustains and develops; One who brings to perfection by degrees.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the lunar calendar of Islam, in which fasting is prescribed for all adult, able-bodied Muslims, except those traveling, ill, pregnant, or nursing.
Ruboobiyyat - Providence—the quality of sustaining or nurturing.
Tauheed - The Oneness of God—the fundamental Islamic belief that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.
Sahib - A title of respect similar to diverse English terms like Mister, Honourable, and Revered.
Surah - A chapter of the Holy Quran.
Wali - Literally means ‘friend’. In the terminology of Islamic mysticism, it refers to a very pious person or a friend of Allah. The singular form is wali [friend] or waliyyullaah [friend of Allah], the plural form is auliyaa’ullaah which is sometimes abbreviated as auliyaa’.