Islamic Terminology

Assalamu Alaykum brothers and sisters,

In this blog, I would like to share few arabic terms which a new muslim should include in his day-to-day life. You can use it as a small little dictionary of commonly used terms.  If you ever come across a term you don’t know and isn’t in the list, please let me know so I can include it for others.

~A~
Alhamdulillah – ‘Praise be to Allah’; a phrase said in thanks to Allah
Allah – the Arabic term for God.
Ameen – a supplication meaning ‘O Allah, respond to (or answer) what we have said’
Assalamu alaykum – a greeting, ‘Peace be unto you’; recommended for use among Muslims only
Astaghfirullah – an Arabic phrase meaning ‘I ask Allah forgiveness’

~B~
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim – ‘In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful’; said as a blessing before eating food and other actions that are worthy of giving thanks to Allah or asking of His support

 ~C~

~D~
Dhuhr – the fardh prayer performed in the afternoon
Dhikr – remembrance of Allah
Du’a – supplication and invocation to Allah

~E~

~F~
Fajr – the morning fardh ritual prayer, performed before the sunrise
Fardh – an obligatory act of worship; relates to the validity of an action
Fiqh – Islamic jurisprudence

~G~
Ghusl – the ritual bath one takes to remove major impurities

~H~
Hadith – refers to that which is attributed to the Prophet as regards words, actions or approvals, physical features and characteristics
Halal – permissible, lawful; usually used in reference to food
Haram – impermissible, illegal; used for something that is sinful

~I~
‘Ibada – Arabic term for ‘worship’
Iman – Arabic for ‘faith’
Insha’Allah – ‘Allah willing’
Isha – the evening fardh ritual prayer, performed at night

~J~
Jazakallah khair – ‘May Allah grant you goodness’

~K~

~L~

~M~
Ma’asalama – ‘(farewell) with peace’; used like the English ‘goodbye’
Maghrib – a fardh prayer performed between sunset and ‘isha
Mosque – an Islamic house of worship
Muhammad (peace be upon him) – the name of the final prophet of Islam

~N~
Namaz – the Urdu word for the ritual prayer
Nasheed – a religiously themed song, much like a song of praise, but usually sung without any musical instruments accompanying the performance

~O~

~P~

~Q~
Qur’an – an Islamic scripture believed by Muslims to be Allah's revelation to the Prophet Muhammed; believed to be the exact, unadulterated words of Allah

~R~
Rak’a – a single unit of prayer (plural: rak’at)
Ruku – a form of prostration done in prayer

~S~
Salam – a shortened version of ‘Assalamu alaykum’; Arabic term for ‘peace’
Salallahu alayhi wassalam – used whenever the name of Muhammad is used; translates to ‘Allah’s praise and peace be upon him’
Shari’ah – Islamic law concerning the community
Subhana wa ta'ala – translates to 'Pure is He and He is exalted' and it is placed after the name of Allah
Sunnah – the ways, teachings and activities of Prophet Muhammed
Surah – a chapter of the Qur’an (plural: surat)

~T~
Tawbah – repentance
Tawfiq – God-given success

~U~
Urdu – a South Asian language, spoken mainly in Pakistan and India

~V~

~W~
Wa alaykum assalam – the reply to the greeting of ‘Assalamu alaykum’; translates to ‘And upon you be peace’
Wajib – a necessary act of worship; unlike the term fardh, wajib relates to the soundness of an action
Wassalam – the reply to the greeting of ‘Salam’
Witr – a wajib prayer of three units performed between ‘isha and fajr
Wudu’ – ablution; the ritual cleansing done before praying or touching the text of the Qur’an

~X~

~Y~

~Z~
Zina – unlawful sexual intercourse

May Allah subhana-wa-tala show you the correct path and help you here and hereafter.

Ameen.

Jazakallah Khair.

Jazakallah Khair.