Glossary of Terms
Words Definitions
Al-Asmaul Husna Most excellent (beautiful) names of Allah
Allah Is the proper name of God
Allahu Akbar Allah (God) is the Greatest
Amina Muhammad’s (PBUH) mother
Ansar Helpers - Muslims from Medina
Asr The Third of the five daily Prayer services, offered any time between when the sun starts declining and sunset
Adhan The Islamic call for prayer
Dua-e-Qunoot Arabic name of the special Prayer recited in the last Rakat of Vitr Prayer
Durood (Assalat-u-Alannabi) Invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet of Islam, (PBUH)
Eid-ul-Adhia Islamic Festival commemorating the obedience to God of Prophet Ibrahim (or Abraham), peace be upon him, and his son and Prophet Ishmael (PBUH)
Eid-ul-Fitr The Islamic festival concluding the fasting of the month of Ramadhan
Fajr The first of five daily Prayer services, offered any time during the period starting from dawn and ending a few minutes before sunrise
Faraidh Plural form of Fardh (compulsory Prayer)
Fitrana Money contributed by Muslims before the Eid-ul-Fitr so that the needy and poor also join the festivities
Ghazwa Battle in which Muhammad (PBUH) himself lead the Muslims
Ghazwa (Battle) of Tabuk The last great battle lead by the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him
Hadrat Abdul-Muttalib Muhammad’s (PBUH) Grandfather
Hadrat Fatima Muhammad’s (PBUH) youngest daughter
Hadrat Khadija Muhammad’s first wife, one of the first people to accept Islam.
Hadrat Safiyya Wife of Muhammad (PBUH)
Hadrat Zainab Bint Khazima Wife of Muhammad (PBUH)
Hajj Pilgrimage to the Ka’aba in Mecca Arabia - The fifth pillar of Islam - Performed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijja
Hajjatul-Wida Farewell Pilgrimage. Last Hajj performed by Mohammad (PBUH)
Hajr-I-Aswad Black Stone in Ka’aba
Hazrat Abu Bakr Muhammad’s (PBUH) the best friend and the first person to accept Islam who also became the first Caliph or Khalifah
Hazrat Aisha Wife of Muhammad (PBUH) and the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr
Hazrat Ali The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) dearest cousin and son-in-law who was the first child to accept Islam
Hazrat Fatima The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) fourth daughter, may Allah be pleased with her
Hazrat Habiba Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Hafsa Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Halima Sadiyya The Holy Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) wet nurse
Hazrat Hamza The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) maternal uncle
Hazrat Ibrahim The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) second son, may Allah be pleased with him
Hazrat Jawariya bint Harith Wife of Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Jibrail The Arc Angel Gabriel who brought the First Revelation in Cave of Hira to Muhammad’s (PBUH)
Hazrat Maimuna Wife of Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Ruqayya The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) second daughter, may Allah be pleased with her
Hazrat Salman Farsi Companion of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who migrated from Faris (Iran)
Hazrat Sauda Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Umar The second of the four Khulafa-e-Rashideen
Hazrat Um-e-Kalthum The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) third daughter, may Allah be pleased with her
Hazrat Um-e-Salma Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Zaid The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) freed slave and his adopted son - one of the first people to accept Islam
Hazrat Zainab The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) first daughter, may Allah be pleased with her
Hazrat Zainab bint Hajash Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hazrat Zainab bint Hajash Wife of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
Hijrat Migration from Mecca to Medina
Hira Cave where the Holy Propeht Muhammad (PBUH) received the first revelation from Allah
Imam The person who leads the prayer or service
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. To Allah we belong to Him we must return
Iqamah (Iqamat) A shorten verse of the Adhan, which is recited loudly to indicate that a congregational Prayer is about to start
Isha The fifth and last of the five daily Prayer services, offered any time between nightfall and midnight, or before going to bed
Janaza The funeral prayer
Jilsa The sitting position which occurs in between two prostrations during Prayer
Ka’aba The first house of worship ever built on the face of the earth for the worship of One and Only Allah - re-constructed by Hazrat Ibrahim and his son for worship of Allah - All daily prayers are offered facing in the direction of Ka’aba from all over the world
Kalimah The credo of Islam, “There is none worthy of worship save Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah"
Kalimah Shahadah (Kalima) The deceleration of Islamic faith
Khusoof Eclipse of the moon, during which a special Prayer is to be offered
Kusoof Eclipse of the Sun during which a special Prayer is to be offered
Madina Second Holiest place after Mecca - City where the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) settled after the migration from Mecca
Maghrib The fourth of the five daily Prayer services, which can be offered any time in the period starting from immediately after sunset and ending when there is still some light left on the horizon
Makroohat Acts which are considered inappropriate during Prayer
Malikis One of the sects of Islam
Muadhin The person who says the Adhan, or call to Prayer
Muhajirin Immigrants from Mecca
Muhammad The Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH)
Mustahab (plural Mustahabbat) Preferable or praiseworthy things, when referring to the style or manner of performing Prayer
Nawafil Optional category of Prayer
Nikah Contract of marriage
Niyyah (Niyyat) The formal intention which one makes in one’s mind before starting a Prayer
Ordinance of Jizya Tax on non-believers seeking protection from Muslims and exemption from military service in defense of the country they were living in as its citizens
PBUH Peace be upon him
Q'ad b> Sitting position adopted towards the end of the second Rakat in Prayer
Qadhaa Offering a missed Prayer
Q The Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) first son, may Allah be pleased with him
Qasr The act of shortening ones Prayer, especially during long distance travel
Qauma The Posture of standing erect after Ruku
Qibla Revelation and change of direction to face for Formal Prayers, (Salat) towards Ka’aba
Q The standing position in Prayer
Quba Town near Medina
Quba Mosque Location of first Mosque of Islam
Rakaat Plural form of Rakat
Ra One complete unit within a Prayer
Ramadan Name of a month in Islamic Calendar - Fasting in the month of Ramadan is obligatory for all stationed adult and healthy Muslims
Ruku' The bowing down position in Prayer
Sadqa Charity
Sajdah The position of Prostration in Prayer
Salat Prayer
Salat-ul-Zohr The second phase of Salat-ul-Ishraq
Salat-ul-Hajaat Prayer offered when one is in need or difficulty
Salat-ul-Tasbih Optional prayer of four Rakaat to be offered at least once in one’s lifetime
Saum Fasting in the month of Ramadhan also known as the forth pillar of Islam
Shias One of the sects of Islam
Sujood (Sajdah) The posture of Prostration in Prayer
Sujood-us-Sahv Prostrations of atonement preformed when a mistake has been committed during Prayer and which may affect its validity
Sunan Plural of Sunnat
Sunnah (Sunnat) One type of category of Prayer, compulsory but not Fardh (obligatory), more important than a Nafl (voluntary) prayer
Sunnis One of the sects of Islam
Sura (Surah) Arabic word for a chapter - used for designating the chapters of the Holy Quran
Sutra An object which a worshipper places before him to mark the physical boundary of his Prayer
Tahajjud Optional Prayer of great merit offered in the latter part of the night
Tahmeed The prescribed words recited by the congregation in response to the Tasmee' of the Imam, also words of praise and remembrance of God
Taif Town 40 miles from Mecca
Takbeer A set formula, recited loudly in order to indicate that a congregational Prayer is about to start
Takbir-I-Tahreema The Arabic expression Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) proclaimed by the Imam while he raises his two hands to his earlobes at the very beginning of a congregational Prayer service
Taraveeh Special Prayer offered after Isha Prayer during the month of Ramadhan
Tashahhud A prayer recited at the beginning of the Qadah (second sitting position) in Prayer
Tawwudh Set words for seeking the protection of God against Satan, recited at the beginning of a prayer
Thaur The cave where Prophet (PBUH) took refuge with Hazrat Abu Bakr from the people of Mecca on their way to Medina
Ummul-Muminin Mother of the believers - A title for the wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
Umra (Umratul-Qada) A pilgrimage to Mecca that can be performed during any time of the year except when Hajj is being performed
Zakat Mandatory offering of alms
Zakat-ul-Fitr Alms at the Eid-ul-Fitr
Zuhr The second of the five daily Prayer services offered
Home 
