Glossary

A.H.: After Hijrah (see Hijrah).

‘Aad: Rebellious people of Erum. Community to which Hûd was sent.

‘Aalem: Religious scholar. Plural is ‘Ulema.

Al-Hamdu Lillah: Praise God.

Allah: God.

Allahu Akbar: God is the greatest.

Allat: Idol of pre-Muhammad Arabia; alleged daughter of God.

Arafat: Knoll near Mecca where pilgrims must spend one day of meditation.

Ansaar: Residents of Medina who supported and hosted the believers who immigrated from Mecca (see Hijra).

Ayah: Verse, or sign, or miracle.

Ayaat: Plural of Ayah.

Ayyoub: Job; God’s messenger.

Azan: Call to prayer.

B.H.: Before Hijrah (see Hijrah).

Badr: A place between Mecca and Medina where the first battle between the idol worshipers and the Muslims took place. The Muslims won despite overwhelming odds.

Basmalah: First Verse of the Quran.

Gematria: The ancient practice of assigning numbers to alphabet letters.

Hadith: Utterances attributed falsely to the prophet Muhammad.

Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Halal: Lawful.

Haraam   Unlawful. Also sacred (Al-Masjid Al-Haraam is the Sacred Mosque of Mecca).

Hijrah: Immigration of Muhammad and the persecuted believers from Mecca to Medina. Beginning of Calendar.

Hijrah Calendar: Lunar calendar starting from the Prophet’s Hijrah. Months are Muharram, Safar, Rabi I, Rabi II, Jumada I, Jumada II, Rajab, Sha’ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Zul- Qi‘dah, and Zul-Hijjah.

Iblis: Satan (see Shaytan).

Imam: Leader. One who leads the prayers.

In Shaa Allah: God willing.

Injeel: Scripture delivered by Jesus. Gospel.

Islam: Arabic word meaning “submission.”

Jannah: Paradise.

Jinns: Invisible creatures. Descendants of Satan.

Jum‘ah: Friday. Friday Prayer.

Ka‘bah: Cubic shaped shrine originally built by Abraham in Mecca. Focal point towards whichsubmitters pray.

Kaafer:  Heathen. Disbeliever.

Kitab: Book. Scripture.

Laa Elaaha Ellaa Allah: No other god besides God. Profession of God’s oneness. First pillar of Submission.

Laylat Al-Qadr: Night of destiny.

Maa Shaa Allah: This is God’s will.

Manaat: Idol of ancient Arabia.

Mu’azzin: Caller to the Contact Prayers.

Muhajireen: Immigrants from Mecca to Medina in 1 A.H.

Mulla: Teacher. Imam.

Mu’men: Believer.

Munafeq: Hypocrite.

Mushrik: Idolater.

Muslim: Arabic word meaning “Submitter.”

Nabi: Message-delivering messenger.

Qarun:  Hebrew slave driver who enslaved his own people to serve Pharaoh.

Qiblah: Direction submitters face during the Contact Prayers (Salat).

Rak‘ah: One unit of Contact Prayer. Rasool:  Messenger (see Nabi).

Sacred Months: Months during which Haj pilgrimage may be observed; Zul- Hijjah, Muharram, Safar, & Rabi I.

Sacred Mosque: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam of Mecca, where the Ka‘aba is located.

Salaam: Greetings. Peace.

Salamun ‘Alaikum: Peace be upon you.

Salat:  The five daily Contact Prayers.

Seyam: Fasting.

Shaikh: Old man. Head of tribe. Imam.

Shaytan: Satan, devil.

Shirk: Idolatry. Associating any name with the name of God. Believing that any creatures possesses any power.

Subhan Allah: God be glorified.

Sunna: Practices falsely attributed to the prophet Muhammad and used by the idol worshipers as a source of religious guidance.

Sura: Chapter in the Quran.

Tayammum: The dry ablution (5:6).

‘Ulema: Plural of ‘Aalem. Scholars.

Umrah: Part of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Wudu’: Ablution.

Zakat: Obligatory charity (2.5% of net).