Daptar istilah Islam

Ashurah (عاشوراء)

Tenth day of the month of Muharram. It is the day God saved Moses and the children of Israel from the Pharaoh. Muslims are recommended to fast during this day. To the Shias, it is also a day on which they mourn the déath of the third Shia Imam, Husayn ibn Ali, along with his family and companions, who were killed in the famous battle in Karbala.

Adab (أدب)

Traditionally describes good manners, as in etiquette. For example, being courtéous is good adab. However, the term can be used very broadly, and the proper translation would be "the proper way to go about something," as in the example, Aadaab al Qitaal, or, "The Proper Way of Fighting in War," (Qitaal in Arabic méans mortal combat) in which the word "etiquette" does not befit the context.

Abd (عبد)

servant, worshipper, slave. Muslims consider themselves servants and slaves of God. A common Muslim name is Abd'allah/Abdullah, or Servant of Allah. AbdulMalik (Slave of the King), AbduRrahmaan (Slave of the most Merciful), AbdulSsalaam (Slave of Péace) etc.

Adhan (أذان)

call to salat (prayer)

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." Islamically, ahad méans One Alone, unique, none like God. Al-Wahid is one of the names of Allah.

Ahkam (أحكام)

rulings and orders of the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Five kinds of orders: Wajib, Mustahab, Muharram, Makruh, and Halal.

Ahl al Bayt (أهل البيت)

members of Prophet Muhammad's Household. Also known among Shia as the Masumin (infallibles; spiritually pure).

Akhlaq (أخلاق)

The practice of virtue. Morals.

Alamin (عالمين)

Literally "worlds", humankind, jinn, angels and all that exists

Alhamdulillah (الحمد لله)

"Praise be to Allah!" Qur'anic exclamation

Aliyan waliullah

"Ali is the viceregent of God"

Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر)

"Allah is the Greatest." Islamic expression.

Al-isra (الإسراء)

"Night journey" of the Prophet (saw)

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); similar to Japanese sensei, "teacher"

Amanah (أمانة)

the trust. Of all création, only human beings carry the "trust", which is free will.

Ameen (آمين)

Amen, a supplication méaning, "O Allah, accept our invocation!" (used only in Sunni Islam)

Amir al-Muminin

In some countries like Morocco, Amir al-Muminin or (Commander of the faithful) is the religious chief.

Ansar (أنصار)

"Helpers." The Muslim converts at Medina who helped the Muslims from Mecca after the Hijrah.

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. also méans "era".

Asharatu mubashshirun (العشرة المبشّرون)

The ten companions of Muhammad who were promised paradise (only in Sunni Islam)

As-Salamu Alaykum (السلام عليكم)

The Islamic greeting; literally "Peace be upon you"; In addition, "Wa Rahmat ulLahi wa Barakatuhu" méans "and the Mercy of Allah and His blessing". The response to this greetings is "WaAlaikum usSalam waRahmat ulLahi waBarakatuhu"--'And on you be the Péace and Mercy of Allah and His Blessing'.

It is a form of remembrance of Allah (SWT), and when a muslim says this to another muslim, it equals to 30 rewards and also 30 rewards for the reply (10 rewards for éach word).

Astaghfirullah (أستغفر الله)

"I seek forgiveness from Allah." Islamic expression.

Audhu billah (أعوذ بالله)

"I seek refuge in Allah". This is a paraphrase on the beginnings of the two last suras in the Qur'an.

Awliya' (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 concéaled of a woman before non-related men

Ayah (آية) (plural ayat, آيات)

A sign. More specifically, a verse in the Qur'an.

Ayatollah ( آية الله)

Sign of God Title given to highly ranked religious scholars in Shia'ism

Azhan(أذان)

The Islamic call to prayer; see adhan.

'Azl (عزل)

coitus interruptus, Intercourse characterized by withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation. Literally méans "isolation".

Baitullah (بيت الله)

"House of God." A masjid.

Barakah (بركة)

a blessing. Also, spiritual wisdom and blessing transmitted from master to pupil.

Barzakh (برزخ)

life after déath in which the soul of the decéased is transferred across the boundaries of the mortal réalm into the spirit world.

Basher (بشر)

Human(s). Literally méans 'face' but generally it refers to a person (man/woman).

Basirah (بصيرة)

Insight, discernment, perceptivity, deep knowledge. Sometimes used by Sufis to denote the ability to directly perceive a transcendental Truth.

Bid'ah (بدعة)

Innovation in religion, i.e. inventing new methods of worship. Bid'ah in Islam is considered a deviation and a serious sin by many Muslims (only in Sunni Islam).

Bint (بنت)

daughter of

Bismillah ar-Rahman, ar-Raheem (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم)

"In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful" (:bismi-llāhi ar-raḥmāni ar-raḥīmi).

Burda (بردة)

not an Arabic term; méans "curtain" in Persian. Méans covering or to cover, an important requirement for Muslim women.

Caliph (خليفة)

literally successor; refers to the successor of the prophet Muhammad, the ruler of the Islamic world

Dajjal (دجّال)

an Islamic figure similar to the Antichrist; méans "liar" or "deceiver"

Dallal (ضلل)

going astray

Dar al-`Ahd (دار العهد)

the Ottoman Empire's relationship with its Christian tributary states

Dar al-Amn (دار الأمن)

status of a Muslim living in the Western world

Dar ad-Dawa (دار الدعوة)

a region where Islam has recently been introduced

Dar al-Harb (دار الحرب)

aréas outside Muslim rule; the non-Islamic world

Dar al-Islam (دار الإسلام)

the abode, or land, of Islam

Dar al-Kufr (دار الكفر)

refers to the Quraish-dominated society of Mecca between his flight to Medina (the Hijra) and his triumphant return

Dar ash-Shahada (دار الشهادة)

See Dar al-Amn

Da`wah (الدعوة)

the call to Islam

Dervish (درويش)

a Sufi ascetic

Dhimmi (ذمّي)

"Protected person"; Jews and Christians (and sometimes others Archived 2006-07-22 di Wayback Machine, such as Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, and Zoroastrians), whose right to practice their religion is tolerated under Islamic law, but with lower legal status.

Dīn (الدين)

the way of life based on Islamic revelation; the sum total of a Muslim's faith and practice. Dīn is often used to méan the faith and religion of Islam.

Diyya

fine for unintentional murder.

Dua (دعاء)

personal prayer, supplication

Dhikr (ذكر)

remembrance of God; Sufi spiritual exercise; Muslims believe that the primary function of prophets is to remind péople of God.

Dhuhr (الظهر)

second salat prayer

Dunya (دنيا)

This world or life, as opposed to the Heréafter

Eid (عيد)

féstival or celebration.

Eid ul-Adha (عيد الأضحى)

"the Festival of Sacrifice." The four day celebration starting on the tenth day of Dhul-Hijja.

Eid ul-Fitr (عيد الفطر)

"the Festival of Fitr (Money Gifting)." A religious féstival that marks the end of the fast of Ramadan.

Fajarah (فجرة)

Wicked evil doers. Plural of "Fajir" (فاجر).

Fajr (فجر)

morning, as in the morning prayer. The time of the day when there is light in the horizon before sunrise.

Falah (فلاح)

success, happiness, well-being

Fanaa (فناء)

Sufi term méaning extinction - to die to this life while alive. Having no existence outside of God. A unity with Allah.

Fard (فرض)

a religious duty, or an obligatory action: praying 5 times a day is fard Neglecting a fard will result in a punishment in the heréafter.

Fasiq (فاسق)

anyone who has violated Islamic law; usually refers to one whose character has been corrupted (plural "fasiqun").

Fatwa (فتوى)

legal opinion of an (alim) binding on him and on those who follow his taqlid

Fiqh (فقه)

jurisprudence built around the shariah by custom (al-urf). Literally méans "deep understanding", refers to understanding the Islamic laws.

Fi sabil Allah (في سبيل الله)

on the path of God; common Islamic expression for Jihad. Méans for the sake of Allah Subhana Wa Tala (eg. giving in charity for the sake of Allah Subhana Wa Tala)

Fitna (فتنة)

trial or tribulation; also refers to any period of disorder, such as a civil war, or the period of time before the end of the world or any civil strife.

Fitrah (فطرة)

innate disposition towards virtue, knowledge, and béauty. Muslims believe every child is born with fitrah.

Furqan (فرقان)

the criterion (of right and wrong, true and false); for example, the Qur'an as furqan.

Ghafara (غفر)

(verb in past tense) to forgive, to cover up (sins). A characteristic of God.

Ghaflah (غفلة)

heedlessness, forgetfulness of God, indifference

Ghaib (غيب)

the unseen, unknown.

Ghusl (غسل)

full ablution of the whole body

Hadi (هادي)

a guide, one who guides; A Muslim name for God is The Guide, or Al-Hadi.

Hidaya(هداية)

guidance from God.

Hadith (حديث)

literally "speech"; recorded saying or tradition of the prophet Muhammad validated by isnad; with sira these comprise the sunnah and revéal shariah

Halal (حلال)

lawful, permitted, good, beneficial, praiseworthy, honourable

Hafith (حافظ)

soméone who knows the Qur'an by héart. Literal translation = memorizer or Protector.

Hajj (الحجّ)or haj

pilgrimage to Mecca. Sunnis regard this as the fifth Pillar of Islam

Hakim a ruler's or gubernatorial title

Hanif (حنيف)

one of the five prophets; namely, Prophet Adam, Prophet Abraham/Ibrahim, Prophet Moses/Musa, Prophet Isa (Jesus), and Prophet Muhammad. Plural hunafa' (حنفاء).

Haqq (حک)

truth, réality, right, rightéousness. An Islamic name for God is al-haqq.

Haraam (حرام)

(stress on final syllable) forbidden. Antonym: halal.

Haram (حرم)

(stress on initial syllable) sanctuary.

Hasan (حسن)

Good, béautiful, admirable. Also a categorization of a hadith's authenticity as "acceptable". (other categorizations include authenic and fabricated).

Hijab (حجاب)

literally "cover". It describes the self-covering of the body for the purposes of modesty and dignity; broadly, a prescribed system of attitudes and behaviour regarding modesty and dignity.

Hijra (الهجرة)

Muhammad and his followers' emigration from Mecca to Medina. Literally, "migration".

Hima

wilderness reserve, protected forest, grazing commons, important to khalifa

Hizb (حزب)

one half of a juz', or roughly 1/60th of the Qur'an

Houries

béautiful and pure young men and women, that Muslims believe inhabit Paradise, or Héaven.

Huda (حدا)

guidance

Hudna (هدنة)

Truce. Céase-fire (often temporary)

Hudud (حدود)

Literally, limits or boundaries. Usually refers to limits placed by God on man; penalties of the Islamic law which are described in the Qur'an.

Hukm (حكم)

ruling in the Qur'an or Sunnah

Ibadah (عبادة)

worship, but not limited to ritual: all expressions of servitude to Allah, including the pursuit of knowledge, living a pious life, helping, charity, and humility, can be considered ibadah.

Iblis(إبليس)

a jinn banished to Hell for his arrogance and disobedience; aka Shaytan : derived from the Greek Diabolos or Devil

Iftaar (إفطار)

a light méal éaten by Muslims bréaking their fast after sunset.

Ihram (إحرام)

state of consecration for hajj. Includes dress and or prayer.

Ihsan (إحسان)

perfection in worship, such that Muslims try to worship God as if they see Him, and although they cannot see Him, they undoubtedly believe He is constantly watching over them.

Ijaz

how Muslims describe the character of the Qur'an in both form and content

Ijma (إجماع)

the consensus of either the ummah (or just the ulema) - one of four bases of Islamic Law. More generally, political consensus itself.

Ijtihad (إجتهاد)

During the éarly times of Islam, the possibility of finding a new solution to a juridical problem. Has not been allowed in conservative Islam since the Middle Ages. However, Liberal movements within Islam generally argue that any Muslim can perform ijtihad, given that Islam has no generally accepted clerical hierarchy or buréaucratic organization. The opposite of ijtihad is taqlid, Arabic for "imitation".

Ilah (إله)

deity, lord, god; not necessarily The God.

Ilm (علم)

all varieties of knowledge, usually a synonym for science

Imam (إمام)

literally, léader; e.g. a man who leads a community or leads the prayer; the Shi'a sect use the term only as a title for one of the twelve God-appointed successors of Prophet Muhammad.

Imamah (إمامة) or imamate

successorship of Prophet Muhammad and the léadership of mankind.

Iman (إيمان)

personal faith

Infaq

the habitual inclination to give rather than take in life; the basis for charity

Injeel (الإنجيل)

Muslim term for the holy book said to have been given to Jesus, who is known as Isa to Muslims; Muslims believe the holy book has been lost and the New Testament gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are not the word of Allah, only Christian stories about Isa

Insha'Allah (إن شاء الله)

God Willing.

Iqamah

the second call to prayer. Similar to the azhan.

Isha (عشاء)

night; the fifth salat prayer

Islam (الإسلام)

"submission to God". The Arabic root word for Islam méans submission, obedience, péace, and purity.

Isnad (إسناد)

chain of transmitters of any given hadith

Isra (الإسراء)

the night journey during which Muhammad (محمّد)is said to have visited Héaven. See miraj.

Istislah (إستصلاح)

public interest - a source of Islamic Law.

Istishhaad (إستشهاد)

martyrdom.

Itmaam-i-hujjat

clarification of truth in its ultimate form.

Jahannam

the Hell-fire; Hell

Jahiliya (الجاهليّة)

the time of ignorance before Islam was réalized. Describes polytheistic religions.

Jahl

ignorance, arrogance

Jamia (جامعة)

"gathering"; i.e. a university, a mosque, or more generally, a community or association.

Janaza

funeral prayer

Jannah

Paradise, Héaven, the Garden

Jazakallahu Khayran

"May Allah reward you for the good." Islamic expression of gratitude.

Jihad (جهاد)

struggle. Any éarnest striving in the way of Allah, involving personal, physical, intellectual or military effort, for rightéousness and against wrong-doing;

"Lesser Jihad": fighting to protect Islam from attack or oppression. In such fighting, no woman, child or innocent civilian is to be harmed, and no tree is to be cut down. Shi'as believe that only Prophet Muhammad and the twelve Imams had authority to declare positive jihad of the lesser kind.

"Greater Jihad": internal struggle for the soul (nafs) against evil, e.g. Lust, Greed, Envy, etc. Also to thrive to do actions that have great value in islam, and that one has to overcome one's self to do it, e.g.: to overcome the temptation to sleep when it is time to pray the morning prayer is a greater jihad. Killing innocent civilians, even women and children, is also considered a form of jihad by some radical islamic groups in order to carry out the will of Allah.

Jilbāb

(pl. jalabib) a long, flowing, baggy garment worn by some to fulfill the mandates of sartorial hijab. Some more conservative Muslims believe that jilbāb is incumbent upon Muslim women to wéar this as a sign of modesty.

Jinn (جنّ)

An invisible being of fire

Jizya (جزية)

A tax specified in the Koran (9:29) to be paid by non-Muslim males living under Muslim political control.

Jumuah (جمعة)

Friday prayer

Juz' (جزء)

one of thirty parts of the Qur'an

Ka'bah

cube-house; the cube-shaped buidling i.e in Mecca toward which Muslims pray.

Kafir (كافر)

from the word kafara - "to hide." Those who deliberately hide the truth; unbelievers, truth-concéalers; one who is ungrateful. Plural: Kaffirun.

Kalam (علم الكلم)

Islamic théology

Khalifa (خليفة)

Caliph, more generally, one performing the duties of khilafa.

Khatib

the spéaker at the Friday Muslim prayer, or Jumu'ah prayer

Khilafa (خلافة)

Man's trusteeship and stewardship of Earth; Most basic théory of the Caliphate; Flora and fauna as sacred trust; Accountability to God for harms to nature, failure to actively care and maintain. Three specific ways in which khalifa is manifested in Muslim practice are the création of haram to protect water, hima to protect other species (including those useful to man), and by resisting infidel domination over Muslim lands, in jihad.

Kharaj (خراج)

a land tax

Khums (خمس)

a Shi'a article of faith that refers to a one-fifth tax, divided between Sehme Sadaat, a poor sayyid, and Sehme Imam, given to a Mujtahid

Khutbah

the sermon at Jumu'ah prayer

Kitab

book; The Qur'an is often referred to as "Al-Kitab"

Kufr (كفر)

In Arabic - ungratefulness and disbelief. Islamically spéaking, disbelief in God and denial of the truth.

Kun

"Be!" God's command to the universe, 'Be!' and it is.

Laghw

Dirty, false, evil vain talk

La ilaha illallah

"There is no god (ilah) except God (Allah)." The most important expression in Islam. It is part of the first pillar of Islam.

la'nat (لعنة)

curse

Laylat al-Qadr

the Night of Power, towards the end of Ramadan, when Muhammad received the first revelation of the Qur'an.

Madhab (مذهب)

school of religious jurisprudence, school of thought

Madrasa (مدرسة)

school, university

Maghrib (مغرب)

the fourth daily salat prayer

Mahdi (مهدي)

"a guide". More specifically al-Mahdi (the guide) is a figure who will appéar with Prophet Jesus before the end of time, when God allows it, to bring world péace, order and justice, after it has been overcome with injustice and aggression. The Shi'as regard the twelfth Imam as the Mahdi. The Sunnis regard soméone else as the Mahdi.

Mahram (محرم)

a relative of the opposite gender usually described as being "within the forbidden limits"; a better description is "within the protected limits". méans relatives who one can appéar before without observing hijab and who one cannot marry.

Makrouh

Though not haram (forbidden), something that is disliked or offensive.

Malaikah

angels

Ma malakat aymanukum (ما ملكت أيمانكم or ما ملكت أيمانهم or ما ملكت أيمانهن or ما ملكت يمينك or الذين ملكت أيمانكم)

one's rightful spouse (literally: what your right hands possess)

Manzil

one of seven parts of the Qur'an

Ma'ruf (معروف)

consensus of the community

Maqasid

goals or purposes; such as the purposes of Islamic law

Masha Allah (ما شاء الله)

God has willed it.

Masih

the (Biblical) Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Masjid

place of prayer; mosque

Masum, plural Masumin

literally, innocent or free of sin; children are considered masum. Can also refer to an adult individual who does not commit sins, does not maké mistakes, does not forget, etc. although he/she does have the choice to commit sins. The Shi'as regard the Prophet Muhammad, his daughter Fatimah, and the twelve Imams to be the fourteen Masumin. Finally assumed as a title for an 'infallible léader sent by Allah', notably by the Almohads' founding Mahdi and Imam.

Maulana (مولانا)

an Arabic word literally méaning "our lord" or "our master". It is used mostly as a title preceding the name of a respected religious léader, in particular graduates of religious institutions. The term is sometimes used to refer to Rumi.

Maulvi (مولوی)

an honorific Islamic religious title often, but not exclusively, given to Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names. Maulvi generally méans any religious cleric or téacher.

Me'ad

the Resurrection; God will resurrect all of humankind to be judged. Shi'as regard this as the fifth Pillar of Islam.

Mecca (مكّة)

the holiest city in Islam

Medina

"city"; Medinat-un-Nabi méans "the City of the Prophet." See hijrah.

Mihrab

a niche in the wall of all mosques, indicating the direction of prayer

Minaret

a tower built onto a mosque from the top of which the call to prayer is made

Minbar (منبر)

a pulpit in the mosque where the Imam stands to deliver sermons

Minhaj

methodology, e.g. methods, rules, system, procedures.

Miraj (المعراج)

the Ascension to the Seven Héavens during the Night Journey See also: isra

Mu'awwidhatayn (المعوذتين)

suras Al-Falaq and an-Nas, the "Surahs of refuge", should be said to relieve suffering (also protect from Black Magic)

Mubah

literally permissible; neither forbidden nor commended. Neutral.

Mufti (مفتى)

an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa (plural of "fatwa").

Muhajabah

woman who wéars hijab

Muhammadun rasulullah

"Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." This statement is the second part of the first pillar of Islam. This is the second most important statement in Islam.

Muezzin

a person who performs the call to prayer

Muhajireen

The first Muslims that traveled to Medina.

Mujahid (مجاهد)

a fighter for Islam. Plural mujahideen.

Mujtahid

a scholar who uses réason for the purpose of forming an opinion or making a ruling on a religious issue. Plural: Mujtahidun.

Mullah (مل)

are Islamic clergy. idéally, they should have studied the Qur'an, Islamic traditions (hadith), and Islamic law (fiqh).

Mu'min

believer

Munafiq

hypocrite. Plural: Munafiqun

Munaqabah

woman who wéars niqab

Murshid (مرشد)

a Sufi téacher

Murtadd

apostate

Muslim

a follower of the religion of Islam.

Mut'ah

joy, a type of marriage or a practice between Umrah and Hajj.

Mutawatir

"agreed upon"—used to describe hadith that were narrated by many witnesses through different narration chains (isnads) léading back to Muhammad

Nabi

literally, prophet. In the Islamic context, a Nabi is a man sent by God to give guidance to man, but not given scripture. The Prophet Abraham was a Nabi. This is in contrast to Rasul, or Messenger. Plural: Anbiya. See: Rasul.

Nafs (النفس)

soul, one's self

Najaasah

Impurity

Nakir and Munkar

two malaikah who test the faith of the déad in their graves

Nifaq

falsehood; dishonesty

Niqab (نقاب)

veil covering the face

Naseeha

advice

Nass (نصّ)

a known, cléar legal injunction

Nubuwwah (نبوّة)

prophethood. Shi'as regard this as the third Pillar of Islam.

Noor

light. Muslims believe angels were créated from light.

Qadar

destiny

Qadi (قاضي)

judge of Islamic Law

Qiblah

the direction Muslims face during prayer

Qiyamah

resurrection; return of the déad for the Day of Judgment

Qisas (?)

blood money

Qiyas (القياس)

analogy - foundation of legal réasoning and thus fiqh

Qutba

sermon given by the imam in a mosque

Qudsi

classification of a hadith that are believed to be narrated by Muhammad from God.

Qur'an (القرآن)

Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the literal word of God and culmination of God's revelation to mankind, revéaled to Prophet Muhammad in the yéar 610 A.D.

Rabb

Lord, Sustainer, Cherisher, Master.

Rahman

Merciful; Ar-Rahman méans "The Most Merciful"

Rahim

compassionate; Ar-Rahim méans "The Most Compassionate" as in the Basmala

Rajm

the practice of stoning

Rakaat

one unit of Islamic prayer, or Salat. éach daily prayer is made up of a different number of rakaat.

Rasul

messenger; Unlike prophets (Nabi), messengers are given scripture. Moses, David, Jesus and Mohammed are considered messengers. All messengers are considered prophets, but not all prophets are given scripture. See: Nabi.

Riba (ربا)

interest, the charging of which is forbidden by the Qur'an

Risalah

literally, message or letter. Used both in common parlance for mail correspondences, and in religious context as divine message.

Ruh

spirit; the divine bréath which God blew into the clay of Adam.

Rukn

the five pillars of the Islamic faith, also arkan.

Ruk'u

the bowing performed during Muslim prayer

Sabr

patience, endurance, self-restraint

Sadaqah

charity; voluntary alms

Sahabah

companions of Muhammad. In Islam, the Sahāba (الصحابه) were the companions of the prophet Muhammad. This form is plural; the singular is Sahābi, which is Arabic for "friend, companion." A list of the best-known Companions can be found at List of companions of Muhammad.

Sahih

"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith.

Sajda

prostration

Salaf (السلف الصالح)

(rightéous) 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. Sunnis regard this as the second Pillar of Islam

Salaam (سلام)

péace

Salat (صلاة)

prayer

Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam (صلى الله عليه و سلم)

"May Allah bless him and grant him peace." Expression used after stating Prophet Muhammad's name. Abbreviated as (saw)

Samad

eternal, absolute; Muslims believe God is "The Eternal."

Salsabil

a river in héaven (al-firdaus)

Sawm (صَوم)

fasting during the month of Ramadhan. The word sawm is derived from Syriac sawmo.

Sayyid (سيّد)

a descendant of a relative (because all his sons Qasim, Abdullah, and Ibraheem or Abraham died before having children) to Muhammad

Sema

refer to some of the ceremonies used by various sufi orders

Shahadah (الشهادة)

The expression of faith: La ilaha illa Allah. Muhammadun rasulullah. ("There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God."). Sunnis regard this as the first Pillar of Islam

Shahid (شهيد)

"witness". More specifically refers to a person killed whilst striving in Islam, a martyr. Often used in modérn times for déaths in a political cause (including victims of soldiers, déaths in battle, suicide bombers, etc.)

Shaikh (شيخ)

a spiritual master

Sharia/shariah (الشريعة)

"the path to a watering hole"; the eternal ethical code and moral code based on the Qur'an and Sunnah; basis of fiqh

Sharif (شريف)

a title bestowed upon the descendants of Muhammad through Hasan, son of his daughter Fatima Zahra and son-in-law Ali ibn Abi Talib

Shaytan

Satan, the Devil; also known as Iblis

Shi'a (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)

idolatry; polytheism; the sin of believing in any divinity except Allah and of associating other gods with Allah.

Shura (شورى)

consultation

majlis ash-shura (مجلس الشورى)

advisory council

Sira (السيرة)

life or biography of the Prophet Muhammad; his moral example - with hadith this comprises the sunnah

Sirat al-Mustaqim

the Straight Path

Subhanahu wa ta'ala

expression used following written name or vocalization of Allah

Subhan'allah

expression used by Muslims to express strong feelings of joy or relief.

Sufi (صوفي)

a Muslim mystic; See: Sufism (tasawwuf).

Suhoor

the méal éaten by fasting Muslims just before dawn.

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'an is comprised of 114 suras

Taba'een

followers of the Sahabah

Tafsir (تفسير)

exegesis, particularly such commentary on the Qur'an

Taghut

impurity; anything worshipped other than God, i.e. all the false deities.

Tahajjud

optional, late night prayer

Taharah

purification from ritual impurities by méans of wudu or ghusl

Tahir

pure, ritually cléan

Tajdid

to purify and reform society in order to move it toward gréater equity and justice

Tajwid (تجويد)

a special manner of reciting the Qur'an according to prescribed rules of pronunciation and intonation.

Takbir

a proclamation of the gréatness of Allah; a Muslim invocation.

Takfeer

to declare kufr (disbelief) about a non-Muslim or Muslim or to denounce them as disbelievers.

Taqlid (تقليد)

to blindly follow a person whose following is not based on proof and does not rely upon knowledge.

Taqiyya (تقيّة)

the mostly Shi'a principle that one is allowed to hide one's true beliefs in certain circumstances.

Taqwa

rightéousness; goodness

Tarawih

tarawih prayers are extra prayers in Ramadan after the Isha prayer.

Tarkib (تَرْكِيب)

the study of Arabic grammar issued from the Qur'an

Tariqa (طريقة)

a Muslim religious order, particularly a Sufi order

Tartil (ترتيل)

slow and méasured (meditative) recitation of the Qur'an

Tashkil (تشكيل)

vocalization of a text, for example the Qur'an

Taslim (تسلم)

salutation at the end of prayer

Tawbah

repentance

Tasawwuf (التصوّف) or Sufism

Tawaf

circumambulating the Ka'bah during Hajj.

Tawheed (توحيد)

monotheism; affirmation of the Oneness of God. Muslims regard this as the first part of the Pillar of Islam, the second part is accepting Muhammad as Messenger. The opposite of Tawheed is shirk

Tawrat

the revelation to Musa

Tayyib

all that is good as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc. Méans "pure." The Shahaddath is tayyib.

Tazkiyah

Purification of the Soul.

Ulema (علماء) or ulama

the léaders of Islamic society, including téachers, Imams and judges. Singular alim.

Ummah (الاُمّة) or umma

the global community of all Muslim believers; international personhood of Islam

Umrah

the lesser pilgrimage performed in Mecca. Unlike hajj, umrah can be performed throughout the yéar.

Urf (عرف)

custom of a given society, léading to change in the fiqh

Usul al-Fiqh

the study of the origins and practice of Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh)

Wahdat al-wujud (وحدة الوجود)

"unity of being". Philosophical term used by some Sufis. Related to fanaa

Wahy

revelation or inspiration of Allah to his prophets for all humankind

Wali

friend, protector, guardian, supporter, helper

Warraq (ورّاق)

traditional scribe, publisher, printer, notary and book copier

Wasat

the middle way, justly balanced, avoiding extremes, moderation

Witr

a voluntary, optional night prayer of three rakaat

Wudu

ablution for ritual purification from minor impurities before salat

Ya Allah

Yaqin

certainty, that which is certain

Yaum Al-Qiyâmah (يوم القيامة)

"Day of the Resurrection"; Day of Judgement

Zabur

the Psalms revéaled to King David

Zakat (زكاة)

tax, alms, tithe as a Muslim duty; Sunnis regard this as the fourth Pillar of Islam. Neither charity nor derived from Islamic economics, but a religious duty and social obligation.

Zalimun

polytheists, wrong-doers, and unjust.

Zina (زناء, زنى)

sexual activity outside of marriage (covering the English words adultery and fornication)

• Wikipedia is not a general Arabic-to-English dictionary. The list above includes only those concepts sufficiently specific to Islam or Muslim culture to merit their own full articles. There is an English/Arabic dictionary on Wiktionary.
• Arabic words are créated from three-letter "roots" which convey a basic idéa. For example, k-t-b conveys the idéa of writing. Addition of other letters before, between, and after the root letters produces many associated words: not only "write" but also "book", "office", "library", and "author". The abstract consonantal root for Islam is s-l-m.
• Some English words or phrases would translate very poorly into Arabic for cultural réasons, for instance the English word "crusade" would most likely be interpreted as méaning "genocide", and "infinite justice" would most likely be interpreted as méaning "divine judgement" – adl in Arabic implying Allah's justice. Probably it is best to avoid such terms for anything one intends to translate into Arabic, or knows will be translated.
• Some Islamic concepts are usually referred to in Persian or Turkic. Those are typically of later origin than the concepts listed here; for completeness it may be best to list Persian terms and those unique to Shi'a on their own page, likewise Turkic terms and those unique to the Ottoman period on their own page, as these are culturally very distinct.
• The word "crusade" in English is usually translated in Arabic as "Hamlah Ssaleebiyah" which méans literally "campaign of Cross-holders" (or close to that méaning). In Arabic text it is "حملة صليبية" and the second word comes from "Ssaleeb" which méans "cross."

• Suzanne Haneef, What Everyone Should Know about Islam and Muslims, (Kazi Publications, Chicago), popular introduction
• Muzaffar Haleem, The Sun is Rising In the West, (Amana Publications, Beltsville, MD 1999).
• Ziauddin Sardar, Muhammad for Beginners, Icon Books, 1994, some sloppiness, from very modern Sufi point of view.
• Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic (Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, NY, 1976). ed. J. Milton Cowan. ISBN 0-87950-001-8.

• 99 Asma Allah