Glossary of Islam

Glossary Of Islam

The following list consists of notable concepts that are derived from both Islamic and Arab tradition, which are expressed as words in the Arabic language. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Islam all in one place.

Separating concepts in Islam from concepts specific to Arab culture, or from the language itself, can be difficult. Many Arabic concepts have an Arabic secular meaning as well as an Islamic meaning. One example is the concept of dawah. Arabic, like all languages, contains words whose meanings differ across various contexts. The word Islam is itself a good example.

Arabic is written in its own alphabet, with letters, symbols, and orthographic conventions that do not have exact equivalents in the Latin alphabet (see Arabic alphabet). The following list contains transliterations of Arabic terms and phrases; variations exist, e.g. din instead of deen and aqidah instead of aqeedah. Most items in the list also contain their actual Arabic spelling.

‘Abd (عبد)

servant, worshipper, slave. Muslims consider themselves servants and slaves of God. Common Muslim names such as Abdullah (Servant of God), Abdul-Malik (Slave of the King), Abdur-Rahmān (Slave of the most Beneficent), Abdus-Salām (Slave of Peace), all refer to names of Allah.

Adab (أدب)

Traditionally describes good manners, as in etiquette. For example, being courteous is good adab. However, the term can be used very broadly, and the proper translation would be "the proper way to go about something," as in the example, Aadaab al Qitaal, or, "The Proper Way of Fighting in War," (Qitaal in Arabic means mortal combat) in which the word "etiquette" does not befit the context. Literally meaning literature.

Adhān (أذان)

call to salat (prayer), sometimes alternatively spelled and pronounced Azan, Athan and Adhan.

‘Adl (عدل)

justice, especially distributive justice: social, economic, political, environmental.

AH

anno hegirae The Islamic calendar starts counting years starting from the time when Muhammad had to leave Mecca and go to Medina, an event known as the Hijra: July 16, 622.

Aḥad (أحد)

literally "one." Islamically, ahad means One Alone, unique, none like God. Al-Wahid is one of the names of God.

Aḥkām (أحكام)

rulings and orders of the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Five kinds of orders: Wajib, Mustahab, Muharram, Makruh, and Halal. Singular Ḥukm.

Ahl al-Bayt (أهل البيت )

members of Muhammad's Household. Also known among Shia as the Ma'sumin (infallibles; spiritually pure).

Ahl al-Faṭrah ( أهل الفطرة)

people who live in ignorance of the teachings of a revealed religion, but according to the "Fitra", the "Natural Religion" innate to human nature as created by God.

Ahl al-Kitāb (أهل الكتاب )

"People of the Book", or followers of pre-Islamic monotheistic religions with some form of scripture believed to be of divine origin which were mentioned in Quran: Jews, Christians.

Ākhirah (الآخرة)

hereafter or eternal life

Akhlāq (أخلاق)

The practice of virtue. Morals.

Al-Ikhlās (إخلاص)- Sincerety

Genuine in religious beliefs.

Al-Birr (البر)

Piety and righteousness and every act of obedience to Allah.

‘Ālamīn (عالمين)

Literally "worlds", humankind, jinn, angels and all that exists

Alayhis Salam (عليه السلام)

"Peace be upon him" This expression normally follows after naming a prophet (other than Muhammad), or one of the noble Angels (i.e. Jibreel, Mikaeel, etc.)

Al-Ḥamdu Lillāh or Hamdellah (الحمد لله)

"Praise be to God!" Qur'anic exclamation and also same meaning as hallelujah.

Allāh (الله)

The Arabic name of God.

Allāhumma (اللَّهُمَّ)

"O God."

Allāhu Akbar (الله أكبر)

"Allah is the Greatest." Islamic expression.

‘Ālim (عالِم)

One who knows. A scholar (in any field of knowledge); a scientist (who knows science) or a theologian (who knows religion); similar to Japanese sensei, "teacher".

Amānah (أمانة)

the trust. Of all creation, only human beings & jinns carry the "trust", which is free will.

Āmīn (آمين)

Amen, a supplication meaning, "O God, accept our invocation!".

Amīrul-Mu’minīn (أمير المؤمنين)

In some countries like Morocco, a Amīrul-Mu’minīn or Commander of the faithful is the religious chief.

Āminah (آمنة)

Muhammad's mother. Aminah fell sick and died in Abwa, near Madina (then Yathrib) when Muhammad was six years old.

Al Amr Bi'l Maruf (الأمر بالمعروف)

Islamic doctrine of enjoining right. There exists in Islam the (obligatory) principle of encouraging other people to do the right thing.

anfal (انفال)

Property of the Imam

Anṣār (أنصار)

"Helpers." The Muslim converts at Medina who helped the Muslims from Mecca after the Hijrah.

‘Aqīdah (عقيدة)

The Islamic creed, or the six article of faith, which consists of the belief in God, Angels, Messengers and Prophets, Scriptures, the Day of Judgment, and Destiny.

Aqīqah (عقيقة)

Islamic practice of shaving the head of the newborn male and contributing the weight in silver for charity as well as 2 lambs. One lamb is slaughtered for a baby girl.

‘Aql (عقل)

Intelligence, intellect, mind, understanding

Arkān singular rukn (ركن/أركان)

The five rukn "pillars" of Islam. (See rukn)

A.S. ('Alayhis-salām)

This acronym evokes a blessing and is appended to the names of the prophets who came before Muhammad. It will also be applied to the mothers of those prophets. When following a woman's name, the feminine form is 'Alayhas-salaam.

Aṣl ( أصل ) (pl. usool)

Root, origin, source; principle.

Aslim Taslam (أسلِم تسلَم)

"Submit to Islam" (See dawah) (See: lan astaslem)

Asmā’ Allah al-Ḥusnā (أسماء الله الحسنى)

List of God's 99 names. According to a hadith, the one who enumerates them all will enter Paradise.

‘Aṣr (العصر)

The third salat prayer. The time of the day before sunset and after noon. also means "era".

Aṣ-Ṣirāṭ (الصراط)

The bridge by crossing which it is determined (judged) whether a person would go to heaven or hell. How a person crosses the Sirat depends on what they have done in their life and what they have believed in.

al-Asharatu Mubashsharun bil-Jannah or just Asharatu Mubashsharah (Arabic

العشرة المبشّرون بالجنة or عشرة المبشّر, Transliteration: ‘Asharatul-mubashshirūn or ‘Asharatul-mubashshirūne bil Jannah): The ten companions of Muhammad who were promised paradise (only in Sunni Islam)

‘Āshūrā’ (عاشوراء)

Tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is the day God saved Moses and the children of Israel from the Pharaoh. The grandson of the prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussayn sacrificed his life along with 72 of his companions on the sand dunes of Karbala. Sunni Scholars recommended to fast during this day. To the Shias, it is also a day on which they mourn the death of the third Shia Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, along with his family and companions, who were killed in the famous battle in Karbala. They cry and weep and organize lamentating programmes where they not only learn how to live a proper Islamic life and improve their Spiritual Self but also cry at the end of the ritual to show their true love and faith towards imam Hussayn.

As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum (السلام عليكم)

The Islamic greeting; literally "Peace be upon you"; In addition, wa-Raḥmatullāhi wa-Barakātuhu (ورحمة الله وبركاته) means "and the Mercy of God and His blessing". The response to this greeting is wa-‘Alaykum us-Salām wa-Raḥmatullāhi wa-Barakātuhu (و عليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته) --"And on you be the Peace and Mercy of God and His Blessing".

Astaghfirullāh (أستغفر الله)

"I seek forgiveness from God." Islamic expression.

A'udhu billah (أعوذ بالله ’A‘ūdhu billāh)

"I seek refuge in God". This is a paraphrase on the beginnings of the two last suras in the Qur'an.

Awliyā’ (أولياء)

Friends, protectors, helpers, caretaker, maintainer. (singular: wali)

‘Awrah (عورة)

The parts of the body, male or female, must be covered in public but not between spouses, such as, body parts must be concealed of a woman before non-related men.(non-related men means she can marry those men lawfully).

Āyah (آية), plural āyāt (آيات)

A sign. More specifically, a verse in the Qur'an.

Āyatullāh (آية الله, also spelled Ayatollah)

Sign of God Title given to highly ranked religious scholars in Sh'ia sect.