For the benefit of readers, some important Islamic terms are explained below.
Adhan Call for formal Islamic Prayer.
Ahadith Plural of hadith. Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas).
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Community of Muslims who have accepted the claims of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian as the Promised Messiah. The Community was established by the Promised Messiah (as) in 1889, and is now under the leadership of his fifth Khalifah, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah strengthen him). The Community is also known as Jama‘at Ahmadiyya. A member of the Community is called an Ahmadi Muslim or an Ahmadi.
‘Alim An attribute of Allah, which means the All-Knowing.
Allah Allah is the personal name of God in Islam. To show proper reverence for Him, the Muslims often add Ta‘ala, the Exalted, when saying His Holy name.
Amin 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’.
Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) A conference held annually and attended by Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi Muslims and other people throughout the world in large numbers. The annual conference was initiated by the Promised Messiah (as) in 1891. It is known by its original Urdu name, Jalsa Salana.
Ayatul-Kursi The Throne Verse of the Holy Quran, Chapter 2, verse 256.
Dhikr and Dhikr-e-Ilahi Dhikr is an Arabic word meaning remembrance. Dhikr-e-Ilahi means the remembrance of Allah. See also Prayer and Prayers.
Fard Lit. compulsory or obligatory. Refers to the units of the five daily Prayers that must be performed, shortened while traveling. Contrast with sunnah, nafl, etc.
Hadith A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). The plural is ahadith.
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 (sas) A term used exclusively for Hazrat Muhammad, the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).
Holy Quran The Book sent by Allah for the guidance of all mankind. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet (sas), over a period of twenty-three years.
Huzoor Your Honour/Holiness, His Honour/Holiness.
‘Isha’ Lit. evening. Refers to the night Prayer before going to bed (one of the five daily Prayers in Islam).
Jalsa Salana Annual Convention, Conference, or gathering. See Annual Convention.
Jama‘at Jama‘at means community. Although the word Jama‘at itself may refer to any community, in this book, Jama‘at specifically refers to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at.
Khabir An attribute of Allah, which means the All-Aware.
Khalifah Caliph is derived from the Arabic word Khalifah, which means ‘successor’. (Pl. Khulafa’.) In many divine revelations someone commissioned by God Almighty is referred to as His Khalifah. In Islamic terminology, the title ‘Khalifa-e-Rashid’ [righteous Khalifah] is applied to each of the first four Khulafa’ who continued the mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). Ahmadi Muslims refer to each successor of the Promised Messiah (as) as Khalifatul-Masih.
Khalifatul-Masih see Khalifah.
Khaliq An attribute of Allah, which means the Creator.
Maghrib Refers to the evening Prayer, immediately after sunset (one of the five daily Prayers in Islam).
Makkah The ancient Arabian city, birthplace of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas), settled by Prophet Abraham (as), and home to the Ka‘bah, the holiest site in Islam.
Maulawi A Muslim religious cleric.
Muhammad (sas) Founder of Islam. See Holy Prophet (sas).
Musleh Mau‘ud A term, meaning Promised Reformer, applied to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II, Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad (ra). He is called Musleh Mau‘ud because he was born in accordance with a prophecy made by the Promised Messiah (as) in 1886 about the birth of a righteous son who would be endowed with special abilities, attributes and powers. The life and works of Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad (ra) are a testimony to the fulfillment of the prophecy.
Nafl/Nawafil See Prayer and Prayers.
Pir(s) Literally, ‘old’ (in Persian). Generally refers to a spiritual leader at whose hands students have taken an oath of allegiance. Title is commonly used for leaders of Sufi orders.
Prayer and Prayers Three Islamic terms, all sometimes translated as prayer, should be distinguished.
The first term is Du’a prayers or supplications made to God Almighty. Du’a can be made at any time and in any language. It does not require any formal prescribed posture. Du’a is translated in the text as ‘prayer’ or ‘supplications’.
Secondly, Salat refers to the five daily Prayer services prescribed for all Muslims. Unlike Du’a, Salat has fixed timings and modes of performance. We have retained the term Salat in the translation or have used the term ‘prescribed Prayer’, or ‘Prayer’. Each Prayer is divided into Rak‘a. Each rak‘at includes several postures—standing Qiyam, bowing Ruku‘, sitting Qa’dah, and prostration Sajdah. The prescribed Prayers have three components:
Fard, those enjoined by Allah; Sunnah, those offered regularly by the Holy Prophet (sas) and enjoined by him; and Nafl, the voluntary components (discussed below).
Nafl means to do more than is required by duty or obligation i.e. voluntary. Nawafil is the plural of Nafl. Nawafil, which are similar in form to Salat, may be offered independently or in conjunction with a prescribed Prayer. Performance of Nawafil, though not obligatory, is highly meritorious. One Nafl Prayer of great merit is Tahajjud, the late night Prayer. See also Sunnah.
Promised Messiah This term refers to the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian. He claimed that he had been sent by Allah in accordance with prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sas) about the coming, in latter days of a Mahdi (the Guided One) and Messiah from among the Muslims.
Qadir An attribute of Allah, which means the All Powerful.
Qiblah Direction of the Ka‘bah in Makkah, toward which Muslims face to offer formal Prayers. The first Qiblah in Islam was Baitul-Muqaddas in Jerusalem.
Quddus An attribute of Allah, which means the Holy.
Ruku‘ The bowing down position in the Prayer.
Sahib A title of respect similar to diverse English terms like Mister, Honourable, and Reverend.
Sajdah The prostration position in the Prayer.
Shariah Religious law of Islam. The term is also used in the general sense for any revealed law.
Sunnah In the context of the formal Prayer, refers to those rak‘at that the Holy Prophet (sas) offered but are not prescribed as obligatory and are dropped while travelling. Sunnah rak‘at are offered regularly by practicing Muslims.
Surah A chapter of the Holy Quran.
Tahmid Praising Allah by reciting Alhamdulillah (All praise belongs to Allah).
Takbir Proclaiming the Greatness of Allah by reciting, AllahuAkbar (Allah is the Greatest).
Tirmidhi A book which contains collections of ahadith.
Zakat The fourth pillar in Islam known as obligatory almsgiving, which constitutes the social support system in Islam 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.’
Zuhr Lit. midday, noon. Refers to the early afternoon Prayer (one of the five daily Prayers in Islam).