Glossary of Islamic Terms

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Adab (أدب)

Good manners, as in etiquette. For example, being courteous is good adab.

Abd (عبد)

servant, worshipper, slave. Muslims consider themselves servants and slaves of Allah. A common Muslim name is Abd'allah, Abdullah, or Servant of Allah.

Adhan (أذان)

Call to salat (prayer) pronounced loudly to indicate that the time of praying is due. See Salaat page

Adl (عدل)

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

Ahl al Kitab (أهل الكتاب)

"People of the Book", or followers of pre-Islamic monotheistic religions with some form of scripture believed to be of divine origin: Jews, Christians, "Sabians" (probably Mandaeans), and sometimes Zoroastrians.

Ahad (أحد)

literally "only." In Islam ahad means One Alone, unique, none like Allah. Al-Wahid is one of the names of Allah.

Ahkam (أحكام)

'Legal status'. According to islamic law, there are five kinds of ahkam;

Ahlul Bayt (أهل البيت)

Members of Prophet Muhammad's Household.

Akhlaq (أخلاق)

The practice of virtue. Morals.

Alamin (عالمين)

Literally "worlds", humankind, jinn, angels and all that exists, also translated as other inhabited worlds, which are yet to be known.

Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله)

"Praise to God!" Qur`aanic exclamation

Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر)

"Allah is the Most Greatest." Islamic expression.

Al-isra (الإسراء)

"Night journey" of the prophet. Me`raj (ascension)

Akhirah (آلآخرة)

The afterlife, and accountability for present deeds.

Alim (عالم)

One who knows. A scholar (in any field of knowledge); a scientist, who knows science or a theologian, who knows religion.

Al-Amanah (الأمانة)

The trust or the moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained.

Ameen (آمين)

Amen, a supplication meaning, "O Allah, accept our invocation.

Ansar (أنصار)

The Companions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم form the inhabitants of Al-Madinah, who embraced Islam and supported it and who received and entertained the Muslim emigrants from Makkah and other places.

Aqidah (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.

Aql (عقل)

Intelligence, intellect, mind, understanding.

Arba'in (اربعين)

The number forty (40).

Asr (العصر)

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

Ashab As-Suffah

They were about 80 or more men who used to stay and have religious teaching in the Prophet's masjid in Madinah and they were very poor people. Abu Hurarah رضي الله عنه was among the Ashab As-Suffah.

Ashara-e-Mubashshirun (العشرة المبشّرون)

The Ten companions of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم who were the glad tiding of paradise in this world. They were;

Assalamu Alaikum (السلام عليكم)

Universal Muslim greeting, meaning 'Peace be upon you' in return one says Wa'Alaikum Assalam, 'And Peace be upon you too'

Ashurah (عاشوراء),

Tenth day of the first month in Islamic calendar.

Astaghfirullah (أستغفر الله)

"I ask God's forgiveness." Islamic expression.

Auliya'a (أولياء)

friends, protectors, helpers, caretaker, maintainer . (singular: Wali)

Awrah (عورة)

the part of a person's body that must be covered before everybody but a spouse. It may also be used to refer to what must be concealed of a woman before non-related men.

Ayah (آية) (plural ayat, آيات)

Proofs, evidences, verses of the Qur`aan, lessons, signs, revelations.

'Azl (عزل)

Coitus interruptus, Intercourse characterized by withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation of semen for the purpose of birth control.