Glossary of Islamic Terms
-: S :-
Sabr
Patience, endurance, self-restraint
Sadaqah
Charity; voluntary alms
Sahabah
Companions of Prophet Muhammad
Sahih
"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute
applied to the "isnad" of a Hadith.
Salaf (السلف الصالح)
Righteous - predecessors,
ancestors. In Islam, Salaf is generally used to refer to the first three
generations of Muslims.
Salah (صلاة) or salat
Any one of the 5 daily obligatory prayers. The second Pillar of Islam
Salaam (سلام)
Peace
Sallallahu alaihi wa
sallam
"May the blessings and the peace of Allah
be upon him." Expression typically used
after stating the names of prophets and messengers.
Sawm (صَوم)
Fasting during the month of Ramadhan.
Sayyid (سيّد)
A descendent of a relative (because all his sons Qasim, Abdullah, and Ibraheem
died before having children) to Muhammad
Shahadah (الشهادة)
The expression of faith: La ilaha illa Allah.
Muhammadun rasulullah. ("There is no god but God. Muhammad
is the messenger of God."). The first Pillar of Islam
Shaheed (شهيد)
"witness".
More specifically refers to a person killed whilst striving in Islam,
a martyr.
Shaikh (شيخ)
A spiritual master
Shariah (الشريعة)
Tthe eternal ethical code and moral code based
on the Qur'aan and Sunnah; basis of fiqh
Shaytan
Satan, the Devil; also known as Iblis
Shi'at (الشيعة)
A follower of Prophet Muhammad and his successors (the twelve Imams), the
first being Ali. Shi'as constitute the second
largest sect in Islam.
Shirk (شرك)
Polytheism.
Shura (شورى)
Consultation.
Majlis ash-shura (مجلس الشورى)
Advisory council.
Sira (السيرة)
Life or biography of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله
عليه و سلم
; his moral example - with hadith this comprises the sunnah
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.
Sunni (سنّي)
The largest sect in Islam.
Surah (سورة)
Chapter; the Qur'aan is comprised of 114 suras