Islamic Terminology, Definitions of Islamic terms, abbreviations and phrases we often use. Options

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a.s. - English abbreviation of the transliteration of the Arabic phrase, "Alayhi wa sallam"; meaning: The blessing of God be upon him.

(PBUH) - Peace be upon him.

s.a.w. - English abbreviation of the transliteration of the Arabic phrase, "Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam"; meaning: The peace and blessing of God be upon him.

(SWT) - English abbreviation of the transliteration of the Arabic phrase, "Subhannah wa t'ala"; meaning: Glory be to the Mighty God.

Ahl al-Kitab - People of the Book who hold special high status in Islam; ie Jews and Christians.

Ahl al-Bayt - Word commonly used by the Shia to reference the chosen People of the House of the Prophet: The household of the Prophet, consisting of Ali, Fatima, al-Hasan, al-Husayn and the 9 Imams descending from al-Husayn.

Alhamdulillah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: All praise be to God.

Asalaamu 'alaikum - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: Peace be upon you.

Ashaddu an la illaha ilallah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: I bear witness that there is no god except God.

Ashaddu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: I bear witness that Muhammad is the [last] Messenger of God.

Allah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: The One God. The God of Abraham (a.s.), Ishmael (a.s.), Isaac (a.s.), Jacob (a.s.) and all the Prophets and the entire Universe. The One God of all things created, visible and invisible. The One God who was not conceived nor begotten nor ever will be. He has no beginning and no end. The Almighty God of everything and everyone, who governs the righteous and the unrighteous. He is not like anything but unique.

Ayah - (or Ayat pl.) English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: verse; as in chapter and "verse."

Biddah - Arabic word meaning to "innovate" or "innovation". Usually the word is used to reference an innovation that goes against Shariah.

Dua' - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: Non-obligatory free form prayer or supplication that can be done by anyone at any time without rules and regulation pertaining.

Eid - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: holiday or celebration.

Fardh Kifaya - It is the Fard, that if performed by some (a sufficient number), the obligation falls from the rest. Example: A group of Muslim brothers meet another group on the way to the masjid. It is their duty to convey the 'Salaam' to the other, and so if "one" brother amongst them was to convey the 'Salaam' then insha'allah ta'ala the rest will be relieved of this duty.

Fardh 'Ayn - It is the Fard that is a compulsory duty on every single Muslim to perform, [just] like praying and fasting.

Fasiq - Muslim who is rebellion against Islam

Fatwah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: ruling (as in, to make a ruling or judgment. Plural: Fatawah.

Fitnah - Arabic meaning; trial or trouble

Hadith - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: The written collection of the teachings and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), which are verified by authentic sources and compiled in reputable books of the collections of Hadith, such as in the books of Sahih Muslim or Sahih Bukhari, etc.

Hafiz - One who has memorized the entire Quran with correct pronunciation, rules and regulations.

Hajj - Pilgrimage (i.e. to Makkah)

Halal - Permissible.

Haram - Forbidden.

Hijab - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning: covering. Most commonly associated with the covering a woman wears but not particular to a woman. May, also, be used in the case of a man's modesty.

Imam - Typically any leader of Salat (formal prayer). In popular Islamic lingo, can also refer to scholar or leaders of a community.

Injeel - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: The original gospel given by God to Jesus (a.s.) which was lost by the last quarter of the first century. The gospel (Injeel) is not to be confused with the written stories of Jesus (a.s.) life that we see today in the Bible, but rather the sayings or teachings of Jesus when he was on earth.

Isa' - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning: Jesus; i.e. Jesus the Messiah (Christ) son of Mary.

Islam - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning : peace through submission of the will to the One true God.

Isma - Arabic word meaning" Infallible.

Jazaku Allahu Khair - (or Jazakallah khyrun) English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: May God reward you for [the] good.

Jihad - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning: struggle; as in to struggle against. Jihad can take on many forms. One can Jihad against the temptations in his/her heart. One can Jihad against the philosophies of a society through discourse. One can Jihad to protect their families against an invading army. Jihad does not initiate an attack in any of these three areas but is a defensive action.

Ka'aba - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: the cube-shaped stone building whose foundations were built by the angels and completed by Prophet Abraham (a.s.), and his son (Prophet Ishmael (a.s.)), in Makkah.

Kafir - Disbeliever who conceals the truth he knows intentionally.

khabaa'ith - Arabic meaning: Female Jinn

Khamr - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: intoxicant.

Khimar - Arabic meaning: Woman's head covering. Commonly confused for hijab.

khubth - Arabic meaning: Male Jinn.

La illaha ilallah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: There is no god except "the God."

La3na - A Curse. Such as, a curse on someone.

Madhab - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: "School of thought." Particularly in reference to the Madhab of Imams Shafi, Maliki, Hanbali or Hanafi.

Makruh - Detestible, hated, strongly discouraged.

Mashallah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: God has willed it.

Masih - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning: Messiah or Christ. Used in reference to Jesus (a.s.) son of Mary.

Masjid - A Muslim place of worship. Plural: Masajid. Known by people in the west incorrectly as a mosque.

Masum - Arabic word meaning: Sinless.

Mirtaad - A former Muslim who has both left Islam in faith and is actively working to destroy Islam or the Islamic community; ie Apostate.

Muslim - English transliteration of the Arabic; meaning: believer (i.e. believer in God). Also, the name of a book of the collections of Hadith, "Sahih Muslim."

Mustahab - Favorable or recommended.

Najas - Arabic; meaning: impure.

Nasibi - Arabic; is a derogatory Islamic term among Muslims, particularly Shia, for someone who hates Ali and his followers. Today the term is used by most Shia to refer to the Salafi sect.

Niqab - Face veil worn by Muslim women as an extension of the hijab, which covers their face and sometimes eyes.

Riba - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: interest; as in interest on a loan, etc.

Ruh - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: spirit; Hebrew, Ruach.

Salah - (or Salat, pl.) English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: "Peace, submission and prayer." It is the organized formal method of submitting to Allah in prayer. Particularly the obligatory second pillar of Islam which are the 5 daily prayers in Islam.

Sawm - Fasting. The forth pillar of Islam.

Shahaddah - First pillar of Islam. Ashaddu an la illaha ilallah wa ashaddu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: I bear witness that there is no god except God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the [last] Messenger of God.

Shirk - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: to ascribe partners to God in worship; to ascribe form to God who has no form; idol worship.

Subhanallah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: Glory be to God.

Sunnah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: The traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) that are not only recorded in the books of Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari but have been in practice since the day of the Prophet (s.a.w.) until the present.

Surah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: chapter; as in, "chapter" and verse.

Tasawwuf - Arabic word referring to the branch of Islamic knowledge which focuses on the spiritual development of the Muslim. Although not specific to Sufis, it has greater importance for the practitioner of Sufism.

Tasleem - Salutations of Peace.

Torah - English transliteration for the Hebrew; meaning: The Law; (i.e. the first five books of Moses (a.s.)); part of the Tanakh'.

Qur'an - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: The Reading; the collection into one book of the Revelations of God given to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) via the angel Gabriel; The Revelations memorized and written down by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) as taught to him by God through the angel Gabriel.

Ummah - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: All of the Muslims collectively.

Wa 'alaikum asalaam - English transliteration for the Arabic; meaning: And upon you be peace.

Zakat - Mandatory charity. The third pillar of Islam.