A
Allah - One Truly God
Aameen - May Allah accept
Adhaan - The Muslim call to prayer
Ahadeeth - The sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him - PBUH) - Singular - Hadith
Alhumdulillah - Praise be to Allah
Allahu Akbar - Allah is the Greatest
Ansar - Helpers (The Prophet’s companions who were citizens of Madinah)
Aqeedah - Belief (The articles of faith)
Arafat - A mountain east of Mecca
Asr - The afternoon prayer
As-Salaamu 'Alaykum - Peace be on you
Astagfirullah - I seek forgiveness of Allah
Ayah - A verse of the Holy Qur’an - Plural – Ayat
B
Barzakh - Life in the grave
Bid’a - An innovative practice
Bismillah - In the name of Allah
D
Dajjal - The False Messiah
Dawah - Propagation of Islam
Deen - Islamic way of life
Dhikr - Remembrance of Allah
Du’a - Supplication
Dhuhr - Noon prayer
E
Eid Al-Adha - The feast of the sacrifice (Commemorating the obedience of Abraham to Allah to sacrifice his son Ishmael)
Eid Al-Fitr - Marking the end of Ramadan
F
Fajr - The dawn prayer
Faqeeh - An Islamic scholar who can give a legal opinion or judgement
Fardh - Obligatory
Fatihah - The opening chapter of the Qur’an
Fatwa - Ruling/Verdict
Firdaus - The middle and highest part of Paradise
Fitna - Corruption
G
Gheebah - Talking evil about someone in his or her absence (Backbiting)
Ghusl - Washing of the body to be pure
H
Hadith - Narrations/Reports of the deeds and sayings of the Prophet (PBUH)
Hadith Qudsi - Sayings of Allah narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah
Halaal - The lawful
Haraam - The prohibited
Hijaab - A covering (i.e. covering of the head for Muslim women)
Hijrah - Migration in the path of Allah
I
Ibaadah - Worship
Iblis - Satan - also known as - Shaytaan
Iftar - Breaking of the fast immediately after sunset
Ihsan - Highest level of obedience in worship - The worship of Allah as if you see Him knowing that although you do not see Him but He sees you
Imam - A leader in the community (also leads prayer)
Imaan - Faith
Insha Allah - If Allah wills
Iqamaa - The call of prayer which announces the congregational prayer is about to begin
Isha - The night prayer
Islam - Submission to the Will of Allah
Istighfar - Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness for One’s Own Misdeeds
J
Jahannam - Hell
Jahiliyah - Ignorance
Jama’ah - Congregation
Jannah - Paradise
Jazak Allah Khaira - May Allah reward you
Jibreel - The angel Gabriel
Jihad - A struggle in Allah’s cause
Jinn - Allah’s creation made of smokeless fire
Jum’ah - Friday
Juz’ - A part of the Holy Qur’an
K
Ka’aba - The holiest mosque where all Muslims face when praying
Kaafir - Unbeliever - Plural - Kuffar
Khalifa - The ruler of the Muslim nation
Khutba - Sermon
Kufr - Disbelief in Allah’s Commands
L
Lailatul-Qadr - The Night of Power - one of the last 10 nights of the holy month of Ramadan
La Ilaha Ill Allah - There is none worthy of worship except Allah
M
Maghrib - Prayer after sunset
Mahram - A man whom a woman can never marry because of closeness of relationship (i.e. father, brother, uncle, son) - her husband is also her mahram
Mahr - Dowry given by a husband to his wife
Malaikah - Angels - Singular - Malak
Masjid - Mosque - Plural - Masajid
Mubarak - Blessed
Mujahid - One who takes active part in a Jihad - Plural - Mujahideen
Munafiq - Hypocrite - Plural - Munafiqeen
Mushrik - People who associate partners with Allah - Plural - Mushrikeen
Muslim - One who submits his will (to Allah)
Mustahab - Recommended but not obligatory
N
Nabi - Prophet - Plural - Anbiya
Nafilah - Optional prayer - Plural - Nawafil
Nikah - Marriage
Nisaa - Women
Niyaah - Intention of the heart
Q
Qari - One who memorizes the Qur’an by heart and constantly recites it - Plural - Qurra
Qiblah - Direction in which all Muslim pray towards Mecca - (The Ka’aba)
Qur’an - The Word of Allah - The final revelation from Allah
R
RA - Radi Allahu 'Anhu/'Anha - May Allah be pleased with him/her - Plural - Radi Allahu 'Anhum - May Allah be pleased with them
Rabb - Lord
Rak’ah- A unit of prayer - Plural - Rak’at
Ramadan - The fasting month in the Islamic calender
Rasool - Messenger - Plural - Rusul
Riba - Usury
Rooh - Spirit
Rukn - Pillar - Singular - Arkan
S
Sadaqa - Anything given away in charity for the pleasure of Allah
Sahabi - Companion of Prophet Muhammad - Plural - Sahabah
Sahih - Healthy and sound with no defects
Salaam - Peace
Salat - Prayers
SAWS - Salallahu 'Alayhee Wa Sallam (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
Shahada - To bear witness
Shaheed - Martyr - Plural - Shuhadaa
Shariah - The Islamic Law
Shaytaan - Satan - also known as - Iblis
Shura - Consultation
Sirat-ul-Mustaqeem - The straight path
Subhan Allah - Glory be to Allah
Sunnah - The traditions and practices of Muhammad - Plural - Sunnan
Surah - A chapter of the Holy Qur’an
T
Tafseer - A commentary (also the interpretation of the Qur’an)
Tahara - Purification
Tajweed - Recitation of the Holy Qur’an with precise articulation and exact intonation
Taqwa - Fear of Allah (Fear to do anything that would displease Allah)
Taubah - Repenting after committing a sin
Tawheed - Monotheism
Thawab - Spiritual reward given by Allah
U
Ummah - The body of Muslims as one distinct integrated community
Umrah - Minor pilgramage to Mecca
W
Wa-'Alaykum As-Salaam - And on you be peace (Reply to the Muslim greeting of - As-Salaamu 'Alaykum - Peace be upon you)
Walee - A guardian (also intimate friend) - Plural - Awliyaa
Walima - Marriage banquet
Witr - A prayer with an odd amount of unit
Wudu - Ritual washing with water to be pure for prayer
Y
Yarhamuka’llah - May Allah’s Mercy be upon you (A response to a sneezer when he/she says - Alhumdulillah - Praise to Allah)
Z
Zakat - The Muslim’s wealth tax - It is compulsory on all able Muslims
