Vocabulary of Islaamic Terms and Sayings

Here are some words to help you when you are browsing Islaamic sites. All of the words may have different ways of translitteration eventhough only one way is mentioned in this list. Many words have several meanings and all the meanings are not necessarily mentioned in this list.

If you would like to learn how to read Arabic - please refer to the following:
Arabic Language Resources

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |


A

Abd Servant. Example:  Abd-Allaah (servant of Allaah)
Aakhirah The Here-After.
Aashura The tenth day of Muharram. It is a sunnah to fast on the ninth and tenth days of Muharram.
Aalim A knowledgeable person or (religious) scholar
Adhaan Call to prayer.
Adhkar Plural of dhikr
Ahl-ul-Kitaab "People of the Book" - meaning Jews and Christians
Alhamdulillaah All praise belongs to Allaah.
Allaah God in Arabic. This word is singular, it has no plural.
Allaahu akbar Allaah is the Most Great.
Ansaar Supporters. The Muslims of Madeenah who helped and supported the Muslim migrants from Makkah.
'Aqeedah Belief, doctrine
As-Salaamu 'alayfrkum Peace be upon you. Islamic greeting.
'Asr Afternoon (prayer)
Astaghfirullaah I seek forgiveness of Allaah.
A'uudhu bi-Llaahi min ash-Shaytaani ar-Rajiim I seek refuge from Allah from the outcast Satan.
Ayah
 sign, proof, evidence, lesson (singular form). Used to refer to the verses of Quraan.
Awrah Parts of the body that should be covered.

 
  B                 

Baatil Falsehood
Barakah Blessings
Barzakh The barrier between the life on earth and the life after
Bid'ah Innovation
Birr Righteousness, kindness, good treatment.
Bismillaah In the name of God
Bismillaahi ar-Rahmaani ar-Rahiim In the name of God, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful


  C


  D

Dajjaal (literally "liar") Antichrist
Daleel Evidence
Da'wah Call. Inviting people to Islaam.
Dhikr Remembrance of Allaah. (by reciting Qur'aan, making du'aa..)
Deen Religion
Du'aa Supplication
Duha Forenoon (optional prayer performed at midmorning)
Dunya This world


 E
       
Eid Festival. Muslims have two occasions of Eid: Eid al-Fitr after Ramadaan and Eid al-Adhaa 10th of Dhul-Hijjah.


 F

Faqiih a person who is an expert on Islamic jurisprudence, fiqh.
Fajr Dawn.
Fard Obligatory
Fatwa Ruling given by a scholar. 
Fiqh Islamic jurisprudence
Fitnah Temptation, civil strife, riots
Fitrah The natural state of man, which is Islaam.


 G
Ghusl Greater ablution.


 H

Haafidh Person who has memorized the Quraan by heart.
Hadeeth Report of a saying or action of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. Examples of hadeeth collections: 
Saheeh al-Bukhaari, Saheeh Muslimsahih muslim
Hadeeth Qudsi (literally scared hadeeth) A hadeeth containing words of Allaah that were narrated by the Prophet, sallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, but which do not form part of the Qur'aan
Hajj Pilgrimage to Makkah.
Halaal Any action that is permitted, lawful.
Haraam Anything forbidden, unlawful.
Hijaab Often used to mean the headscarf of a Muslim Woman yet it refers to all of the covering clothing.
Hijrah Emigration.
Hira The cave in which Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam received the first revelation.


 I

Ibaadah All acts of worship.
Iblees Satan.
Iddah "Waiting period", usually three menstrual cycles, which a divorced woman must observe before she is free to remarry. Purpose is to find out possible pregnancy.
Iftaar Breaking the fast
Ihraam State or condition entered when going to Hajj. Refers also to the clothing worn during Hajj.
Ijmaa Consensus of scholars.
Imaam Leader of prayer.
Imaan Faith.
Iqaamah Call to prayer; similar to the adhaan but iqaamah is given immediately before the prayer.
Ishaa Evening (prayer).
Isnaad Chain of transmitters (of a hadeeth)
Itikaaf Seclusion or spiritual retreat. It was the custom of the Prophet, sallaahu alayhi wa sallam, to spend the last ten days of Ramadaan in seclusion, concentrating on prayer and worship.
Izaar A sheet worn below the waist to cover the lower-half of the body.


J

J
Jaahiliyyah Time of ignorance (in the pre-Islamic era in Arabia)
Jahannam Hell
Jama'aah Group or congregation.
Janaazah Funeral
Jannah Paradise
Jazaak Allaahu khayran May Allaah reward you with good (used instead of thank you)
Jibreel Angel Gabriel
Jihaad Struggling
Jinn What is a jinn?
Jumu'ah Friday (prayer)


 K

 
Kaabah A cube-shaped structure in the center of masjid al-haraam in Makkah.
Kaafir Disbeliever
Khimar A piece of cloth with which a woman covers her head and neck area.
Khuff leather socks
Khushoo' Humility before Allaah.
Khutbah Speech / sermon.
Kufr Disbelief, rejection of the truth.
Kunyah Calling someone "father of so-and-so" or "mother of so-and-so"

 
L

Laylat al-Qadr The "Night of Power", one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadaan. It is not known precisely which night it is. The Quraan describes it as "better than a thousand months"
 
 M

MaashaAllaah "What Allaah wills"
Maghrib Sunset (prayer)
Mahr Bridal money given by the husband to the wife at the time of marriage
Mahram A person with whom a woman cannot marry and she does not need to wear hijaab in front of him.
Makkah City where Kaabah is located. Muslims pray five times a day towards Kaabah.
Makrooh Disliked.
Masjid Mosque
Miswaak A tooth brush made of Arak-tree roots.
Mu'adhin Caller to prayer. The first caller to prayer was Bilaal.
Muhaajir One of the early Muslims who migrated to Madeenah in the lifetime of the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Mu'min Believer
Munaafiq Hypocrite, one who pretends to believe in Islaam, but does not.
Mushrik Polytheist, one who associates others in worship with Allaah.
Muslim One who has submitted himself/herself to God.
Mustahabb Recommended.


 N

Nabi Prophet
Neeyah Intention
Niqaab Veil that covers the face of a woman.


 O
 P

 Q

Qadi A muslim judge.
Qawwaam Protector, maintainer.
Qadr Divine pre-decree
Qiblah Prayer direction.
Qur'aan The divine book revealed to Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam

 
R

Ramadaan The month of fasting, ninth month of Islaamic Calendar.
Rasuulullaah Messenger of Allaah
Riba Interest (forbidden in Islaam)


 S
 

Sabr Patience
Sadaqah Voluntary charity.
Sahaabah Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Saheeh With reference to hadiths: sound, authentic.
Salaah Prayer (see Prophet's Prayer Described prophet's prayer)
Salaf Predecessors (as-Salafus as-Saalih - the Righteous Predecessors)
Sawm Fasting
Seerah Biography; specifically that of the Prophet, sallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Shahaadah Testimony of faith
Sharee'ah Islaamic Law
Shaytaan Satan, Devil.
Shirk Associating partners to Allaah (worst sin in Islaam)
Siwaak A small stick which comes from a specific tree and is used as a toothbrush.
SubhaanaAllaah "Glorified is Allaah"
Sunnah Model of practices, customs and traditions found in the ahadeeth.
Suurah Chapter in the Qur'aan


 T

Tabarruj Wanton display, flaunting oneself in contradiction to the Islaamic rulings on dress and modest behaviour.
Tafsiir Explanation (of the Qur'aan). See Tafseer ibn Katheer
tafsir ibn kathir
Tahajjud Voluntary prayer that is performed at night between the times of Ishaa and Fajr.
Tajweed Correct recitation of Quraan, following precise rules of pronunciation and articulation.
Takbir Saying "Allaahu akbar".
Tawheed Monotheism - Oneness of Allaah.


 U
 

Ulamaa Scholars (plural)
Ummah Community.
Umrah Lesser pilgrimage, can be performed any time of the year - greatest reward during Ramadaan.


 V

 W

Waajib Obligatory, compulsory.
Wali Legal guardian. Protector.
Wudhu Ablution (before prayer).

X

Y
Yawm 'Arafaah The 9th day of the Islaamic month of Dhul-Hijjah. In the most essential part of hajj, the pilgrims spend this day standing and praying at Arafaah, a mountain and plain outside Makkah. Muslims who are not on Hajj may observe this sacred day by fasting (optional but encouraged).

 Z 

Zakat Obligatory alms/charity.
Zam-Zam The sacred well inside the Haram (grand mosque) at Makkah.