Glossary of Islam - S

S

Sabb

blasphemy: insulting God (sabb Allah) or Muhammad (sabb al-rasul or sabb al-nabī).

Ṣabr

patience, endurance, self-restraint

Sadaqah (صدقة)

charity; voluntary alms above the amount for zakat.

Sahabah (الصحابه) (sing. Sahābi)

companions of Muhammad. A list of the best-known Companions can be found at List of companions of Muhammad.

Sahih

"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith.

Sakina

divine "tranquility" or "peace" which descends upon a person when the Qur'an is recited.

Salaf (السلف الصالح)

(righteous) predecessors/ancestors. In Islam, Salaf is generally used to refer to the first three generations of Muslims. Anyone who died after this is one of the khalaf or "latter-day Muslims".

Ṣalah (صلاة) sala(t)

any one of the daily five obligatory prayers. Sunnis regard this as the second Pillar of Islam

Salaat al-Istikharah

Prayer for guidance is done in conjunction with two rakaahs of supererogatory prayer.

Salām (سلام)

peace (see sulh)

Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

"May Allah bless him and grant him peace." The expression should be used after stating Prophet Muhammad's name. See abbreviation: S.A.W. or S.A.W.S. also P.B.U.H.

Samad

eternal, absolute; Muslims believe Allah is "The Eternal."

Salsabil

a river in heaven (al-firdaus)

Sawa

awakening, revival

S.A.W. (or S.A.W.S.)

Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (صلى الله عليه و سلم). See P.B.U.H.

Ṣawm (صَوم)

fasting during the month of Ramadhan. The word sawm is derived from Syriac sawmo.

Sayyid (سيّد)

(in everyday usage, equivalent to 'Mr.') a descendant of a relative of Muhammad, usually via Husayn.

Sema

refer to some of the ceremonies used by various sufi orders

Shahādah (الشهادة)

The testimony of faith: La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammadun rasulullah. ("There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah."). Sunnis regard this as the first Pillar of Islam. Also may be used as a synonym for the term Istish'hād meaning martyrdom.

Shahīd (شهيد) pl. shuhada (شهداء)

witness, martyr. Usually refers to a person killed whilst fighting in "jihad fee sybil Allah" (jihad for the sake of Allah). Often used in modern times for deaths in a political cause (including victims of soldiers, deaths in battle, et cetera) which are viewed by some Muslims as a spiritual cause not just a political cause. But the real meaning of Jihad is to defend Islam in any way; thus, it could be in an economic way or could refer to fighting for the rights of the oppressed or the believers; most often it refers to mastering one's own inclination for evil and shirk.

Shaykh (شيخ)

a spiritual master, Muslim clergy

Sharī‘ah (الشريعة)

"the path to a watering hole"; the eternal ethical code and moral code based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; basis of fiqh

Sharīf (شريف)

a title bestowed upon the descendants of Muhammad through Hasan, son of his daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib

Shaytan (شيطان)

Satan, the Devil; also known as Iblis

Shī‘ah (الشيعة)

A branch of Islam who believe in Imam Ali and his sons (Hassan and Hussayn) as custodians of Islam by the will of the Prophet Mohammed.

Shirk (شرك)

idolatry; polytheism; the sin of believing in any divinity except God and of associating other gods with God.

Shūrā (شورى)

consultation

Majlis ash-shūrā (مجلس الشورى)

advisory council in a Caliphate

Sidrat al-Muntaha (سدرة المنتهى )

a lotus tree that marks the end of the seventh heaven, the boundary where no creation can pass.

Sirah (السيرة)

life or biography of the Prophet Muhammad; his moral example - with hadith this comprises the sunnah

Sirat al-Mustaqim

the Straight Path

Subah Sadiq

true dawn

Subhanahu wa ta'ala (abbreviated S.W.T.)

expression used following written name or vocalization of Allah in Arabic meaning highly praised and glorified is He.

Subhan'allah

"Glory to God" -- this phrase is often used when praising God or exclaiming awe at His attributes, bounties, or creation.

Ṣūfī (صوفي)

a Muslim mystic; See: Sufism (tasawwuf).

Suhūr

the meal eaten by fasting Muslims just before dawn.

Sujud(سجود)

kneeling down, a position of salat.

Sukuk (صكوك)

bond that generates revenue from sales, profits, or leases rather than interest.

Sulh (صلح)

is derived from the Arabic word musalaha it is a tool at the disposal of an Islamic commander to be offered to the enemy as a respite from military Jihad. (see hudna)

Sunnah (السنّة) or sunnah al-Nabi (سنّة النبي)

the "path" or "example" of the Prophet Muhammad, i.e., what the Prophet did or said or agreed to during his life. He is considered by Muslims to be the best human moral example, the best man to follow.

Sunnat

an act which the Prophets performed; not required but carries much reward

Sunni (سنّي)

the largest denomination of Islam. The word Sunni comes from the word Sunnah (Arabic: سنة), which means the words and actions or example of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.

Sūrah (سورة)

chapter; the Qur'an is composed of 114 suras