Aabid

One who preoccupies himself with ibaadah and shows relatively less interest towards knowledge.

Aalim

One who has attained a considerable amount of Islamic knowledge. He could also be referred to as an Islamic scholar.

Allah

Almighty God. The most well-known of His many names. Allah refers to the one and only being who is worthy of worship.

Auliya

Plural of wali. Literally means friend. But in Islamic terminology it refers to the close friends of Allah.

Baitul Maqdis

Also known as Masjidul Aqsa or the furthest musjid. It is situated in Jerusalem and is the third most sacred place in Islam. It is popularly referred to as Baitul Muqaddas.

Banu Isra'eel

Literally means the children of Isra'eel. It refers to the progeny of Hadrat Ya'qub alayhis salaam.

Barakah

Literally means "blessings". Also used to refer to the experiencing of abundance even in things which are little.

Bid'ah

Literally means an "innovation". In Islam it refers to introducing new things into religion which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah. In addition to this, to regard these new things as acts of ibaadah. A bid'ah is a major sin in Islam.

Dajjal

Also known as the one-eyed Dajjal. He will be from among the Jews and will appear before Qiyamat. He will cause a lot of corruption in the world and will eventually be killed by Hadrat Isa alayhis salaam.

Deen

Literally means "religion". Here it refers to the religion of Islam.

Dua

Supplication, prayer or devotional phrases.

Durood

Salutations to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Eid

Literally means "feast, festival". In Islam it refers to that day which is celebrated after the month of Ramadaan and also on the 10th day of Zil Hijjah.

Eid-gah

That place where the Eid salaat is performed.

Fardh

Literally means "compulsory". In Islam it refers to those acts and things which are compulsory on a Muslim. Abandoning or abstaining from a fardh act is a major sin. To reject a fardh act amounts to kufr.

Fatwa

A formal legal opinion or verdict in Islamic law.

Ghayb

Literally means "the unseen". In Islam it refers to all those things that are unseen by man and at the same time believing in them is essential. Examples of the unseen are  hell, heaven, angels, etc. A Muslim has to believe that no one has the knowledge of the unseen except Allah.

Ghayr-mahram

Refers to all those people with whom marriage is permissible.

Ghusl

Literally means "bath, wash". In Islam it refers to the washing of the entire body from head to toe without leaving a single place dry.

Hadith

Hadith literally means "speech". In Islam it refers to the sayings and actions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Those sayings and actions that have been endorsed or approved by him also fall under the purview of Hadith.

Haidh

Monthly periods or menstruation experienced by a woman.

Hajj

Literally means "pilgrimage". In Islam it refers to the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam.

Halaal

That which is lawful or permissible in Islam.

Haraam

That which is unlawful or prohibited in Islam.

Haud-e-Kauthar

The fountain of abundance. This is the fountain from which the believers will be given water on the day of judgement.

Hijaab

See Purdah.

Ibaadah

Literally means "worship". In Islam it refers to all those acts with which one renders worship to Allah Ta'ala.

Iblis

This is the name of shaytaan, or the cursed devil.

Ihraam

Two pieces of unstitched cloth which are donned by the person performing Hajj or Umrah.

Ilhaam

Literally means "inspiration". Here it refers to those things or ideas which Allah puts into the minds of His pious servants.

Imaan

Literally means "faith". Here it refers to believing in Allah Ta'ala as the one and only God and believing that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is His messenger.

Imam Mahdi

He will make his appearance when the Muslims will be at their weakest. With his advent, the greater signs of qiyamat will commence. He will be the leader of the Muslims. After his death, Hadrat Isa alayhis salaam will take over the reigns of leadership.

Istihaada

This refers to blood which flows from a woman out of her normal periods. This is irrespective of whether it flows out of her normal menstruation period or out of her normal nifaas period.

Istinja

Cleansing of one's private parts after having relieved oneself. A person can cleanse himself with water or clods of earth.

Jaahil

Literally means "an ignorant person". Here it refers to one who is ignorant of the knowledge of Islam irrespective of whether it is general knowledge of Islam, or knowledge of the rules and regulations of Islam.

Jahannam

Hell. A dweller of hell is called a jahannami.

Jannah

Heaven or paradise. A dweller of heaven or paradise is called a jannati.

Jinn

Refers to beings that have been created by fire. They take on different shapes and forms.

Ka'bah

The most sacred place in Islam situated in Makkah al-Mukarramah. Commonly referred to as the "House of Allah".

Kafir

Literally means "a disbeliever". In Islam it refers to one who rejects Allah and who does not believe in Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as the final messenger of Allah.

Kalimah

Refers to the basic tenet of Islam, i.e. bearing witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Karaamaat

Plural of karaamat. Literally means a miracle. But in Islam it refers to miracles performed by saints and other pious servants of Allah. These miracles are performed only through the will of Allah. Saints cannot perform any miracles of their own accord.

Kashf

Literally means "manifestation".

Khalifah

Literally means "successor". In Islamic political theory it refers to the Islamic head of state. Commonly spelt "caliph".

Khilaal

This term is generally used in the act of wudhu. It refers to the passing of fingers either through one's beard or passing of fingers of one hand through the fingers of the other hand, or even passing of the little finger through the toes.

Kuffar

Plural of kafir.

Kufr

The state of disbelief.

Makruh

That which is disliked or detestable. Makruh is of two types:
makruh-e-tahrimi and makruh-e-tanzihi. Makruh-e-tahrimi is that which has been established by a proof which is not absolute. The one who rejects it is regarded as a fasiq (open sinner). A person who does something that falls under this category without any valid reason will be committing a sin and will deserve punishment. Makruh-e-tanzihi is that which if left out, will be worthy of reward and if carried out, will not entail any punishment.

Mani

Semen or sperm.

Masah

The act of passing of wet hands over a particular part of the body.

Mas'ala

Literally means "an issue, problem or question". In Islamic jurisprudence, it refers to a rule, or regulation. The plural of mas'ala is masa'il.

Mazi

Pre-coital fluid. A thin fluid generally released by the private parts of both men and women at the time of passion.

Ma'zur

Literally means "one who is excused". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to that person who has certain sickness due to which he is excused or exempted from certain acts. For further details refer to the chapter concerning the ma'zur.

Mehr

Dowry which is given to the wife at the time of marriage.

Mi'raj

Literally means "ascension". In Islam it refers to the ascension of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to the seven heavens wherein he communicated with Allah.

Miswaak

A thin stick or twig which is used to clean the teeth.

Mu'aamalaat

Literally means "transactions". Generally refers to all those transactions and dealings wherein some money or other type of wealth is involved.

Mu'aasharat

Literally means "society". In Islamic terminology it refers to one's social relationships and social dealings.

Muharram

The first month of the Islamic calendar.

Mu'jizah

Literally means a "miracle". In Islam it refers to miracles performed by prophets. Prophets do not perform miracles out of their own accord but through the direction and will of Allah.

Musalli

One who is offering salaat.

Mushrikeen

Plural of mushrik. A polytheist or one who ascribes partners to Allah.

Mustahab

Literally means "preferable or desirable".Refers to that act which was done by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam or the Sahabah very occasionally. Carrying out these actions entails reward and leaving them out does not entail any punishment.

Nafl

Literally means "optional". According to the jurists it has a similar ruling to that of mustahab.

Najaasat

Refers to impurity. Najaasat is of two types:
najaasat-e-ghaleezah (heavy impurity) and najaasat-e-khafeefah (light impurity). The rules concerning najaasat have already been mentioned in the relevant chapters.

Najis

That which is impure.

Nifaas

Refers to the flowing of blood after child-birth.

Purdah

An Urdu word meaning "seclusion". It is an equivalent of the Arabic word "hijaab". Refers to the seclusion of women from strangers. There are different stages of purdah, the highest of which is that the woman should not come out of her home except for some valid Islamic reason.

Qada

Literally means "carrying out or fulfilling". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to fulfilling or completing those duties that one may have missed due to some reason or other.

Qiblah

The direction in which one faces when offering salaat.

Qiyaamat

The day of resurrection.

Sahabah

The companions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. They are those who saw him while they were Muslims and also died in a state of Islam.

Sahabi

Singular of sahabah.

Sajdah

The act of prostrating.

Salaat

Literally means "prayer". In Islam it refers to a specific act in which one prays to Allah. It is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Shariah

The Islamic Law.

Shayateen

Plural of shaytaan.

Shaytaan

The accursed devil, Iblis. He was from among the jinn.

Shirk

Polytheism or ascribing partners to Allah.

Sunnat

Sunnat is that action which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did or sanctioned. Sunnat is of two types:
sunnat-e-mu'akkadah and sunnat-e-ghayr-mu'akkadah. Sunnat-e-mu'akkadah is that which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continuously carried out. To leave out such a type of sunnat is a sin and one is punished for this. However, there is no harm if one leaves it out because of some valid excuse. Sunnat-e-ghayr-mu'akkadah is that which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam carried out, but also left out at times without any reason. To follow such a type of sunnat entails reward and to leave it out does not necessitate any punishment.

Tafsir

Literally means "commentary or explanation". In Islamic terminology it refers to the commentary or exegesis of the Quran.

Taqdir

Predestination. That is, whatever befalls a person, whether good or bad, has been predestined by Allah.

Tawaaf

Literally means "circumambulation". In Islam it refers to the act of walking around the Ka'bah. It is not permissible to make tawaaf of any other place irrespective of how sacred it may be.

Ta'wiz

An amulet which is generally suspended around the neck.

Tayammum

The act of purifying oneself with pure sand in the absence of water.

Ta'zias

Structures portraying the tomb of Hadrat Husayn (R.A) which are generally carried in processions during Muharram. This is an innovation and should be totally rejected.

Ulama

Plural of Aalim.

Ummat

Literally means "community or nation". Here it refers to the Muslim community or nation.

Umrah

Commonly referred to as the "lesser pilgrimage". It is similar to Hajj with the exception that many rites of Hajj are left out and that it could be performed throughout the year.

Wahi

Literally means "revelation". In Islam it refers to the revelations that were sent down to the different prophets from time to time.

Wajib

Literally means "obligatory". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to that act which has not been established by an absolute proof. Leaving out a wajib without any valid reason makes one a fasiq and entails punishment.

Wali

Singular of auliya.

Waqf

Endowment. In Islamic law it refers to endowing a place or thing in the name of Allah.

Wudhu

Literally means "purity or cleanliness". In Islamic terminology it refers to the act of washing oneself before offering salaat.

Zakaat

Literally means "purity". In Islam it refers to alms-giving or charity of a stipulated amount. It is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Zam zam

Name of a well in Makkah. The water that comes out from this well is called zam zam water. Drinking of zam zam water is included in the rites of Hajj.