Allah—Allah is the personal name of God in Islam. To show proper reverence to Him, Muslims often add Ta‘ala, ‘the Most High’, when saying His Holy name.
Ahmadi Muslim or Ahmadi—A member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at—(Also Ahmadiyya) The Community of Muslims who accept the claims of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi. The Jama‘at established by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), now lead by his fifth Khalifah, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad [may Allah be his help].
Ahrar—An organisation of Muslims known for its opposition to the creation of Pakistan and to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Dajjal—A term in Arabic that literally means, ‘the great deceiver.’ In Islamic terminology ‘dajjal’ refers to those satanic forces that would be unleashed in the Latter Days to oppose the Promised Messiah (as) and al-Imam al-Mahdi. A similar prophecy in the Christian faith about the appearance of the anti-Christ refers to the same phenomenon, and we have therefore translated the term ‘dajjal’ as ‘antichrist’.
Fakir—A Muslim religious mendicant.
Hadith—A saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). The plural is ahadith.
Hazrat—A term of respect used for a person of established righteousness and piety.
Huzoor—Your Holiness; His Holiness.
Holy Prophet (sas)—A term used exclusively for Hazrat Muhammad (sas), the Prophet of Islam.
Holy Qur’an—The Book sent by Allah for the guidance of mankind. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet (sas) over a period of 23 years.
Imam—The Arabic word for a leader. The head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at is also referred to as the Imam.
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.
Khalifatul-Masih II—Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II (1889– 1965), Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra). He is also called Musleh-e-Mau‘ud (the Promised Reformer) because he was born in accordance with the prophecy made by the Promised Messiah (as) in 1886 regarding the birth of a righteous son who would be endowed with special abilities, attributes, and powers.
Khalifatul-Masih IV—Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV, Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rta) (1928–2003) was the fourth successor and a grandson of the Promised Messiah (as), the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
Khilafat—The institution of successorship in Islam.
Mahdi— ‘The Guided One’. This is the title given by the Holy Prophet (sas) to the awaited Reformer of Latter Days.
Maulavi, Mullah or Maulana—A Muslim re lig i ous cleric.
Mi‘raj—The Spiritual journey of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas) of Islam.
Promised Messiah—The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, India, who made his claim in fulfilment of the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sas) regarding the coming of a Mahdi and Messiah from among the Muslims.
Sahib—A term of respect, similar to the diversity of English terms like mister or sir.
Surah—Arabic word for designating the chapters of the Holy Qur’an.
Ulema—A class of Muslim scholars.
Ummah—The larger community of Muslims.
Zakat—A term in Arabic that literally means ‘increase’ or ‘purification’; technically signifies the obligatory alms prescribed in Islam.