Glossary of Islamic Terms

ahlul-bayt

The holy family of Prophet Muhammad (p).

baligh

One who attains the age of puberty.

barzakh

A place where those who die stay until the Resurrection. The Purgatory.

eid

A religious festival.

fiqh

Islamic law in jurisprudence.

ghusl

A ritual ablution. Washing of the entire body to achieve a state of ritual purity.

hadith

A saying by the Prophet (p) or his progeny (p). Tradition.

hadd

A punishment for certain violations as prescribed from Quran or Sunna textual sources.

haddul tarakhkhus

The point in distance away from a city boundary at which its inhabitants and landmarks can no longer be seen, or where its call to prayers (adhan) can no longer be heard.

hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca when performed during its prescribed Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah.

hakim shar'e

Religious authority or Mujtahid.

hayd

Bleeding of the menstrual cycle.

hijab

A statutory Islamic dress code of modesty.

hilal

Crescent.

ihram

A ritual state of religious consecration during which the pilgrimage (hajj) is performed.

istihadah

The irregular bleeding other than the menstrual cycle.

istihalah

Transformation. A chemical change.

istinqadh

Rescue. Salvage.

janabah

The state after having sexual intercourse or ejaculation.

joumo'ah

Friday.

kaffarah

Expiation. Compensation. Penalty.

kafir

Unbeliever.

khums

20% tax levied on annual savings (money & certain goods).

majlis

Congregation (assembly) to commemorate religious events.

majalis

Plural or majlis.

makruh

Discouraged. Reprehensible.

marja'a

A high-ranking religious authority whose guidance is sought by the laymen.

mukallaf

One who is competent to undertake religious obligations. Religiously accountable.

mou'min

Believer.

nadhr

A solemn vow or a pledge.

najasah

Ritual impurity.

najis

Ritually impure - other than hygienically unclean. Opp. of tahir.

nifas

Bleeding after giving birth to a child.

qada'a

Lapsed or due prayers, fasts, etc.

qasr

Shortened prayers of a traveller. Opposite of tamam.

qiblah

The direction to Ka'abah for prayers. Direction for burial.

Ramadan

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The holy month of fasting.

riba

Interest. Usury.

Risalah Amaliyyah

The practical treatise prepared by the jurist for the laymen.

salat

Ritual prayer. Formal worship.

shar-ey

Lawful. Legitimate.

shari-ah

The universal Islamic values and norms - commonly known as Islamic law.

siyam

Fasting.

tahir

Ritually pure - other than hygienically clean. Opp. of najis.

tamm or tamam

Complete prayers. Opposite of qasr.

taqlid

Emulating the opinions of a religious authority by the laymen.

tathir

Ritual purification.

tawaf

Circumambulation (or walk) around the Ka'abah.

tayammum

Substitution for woudo'a or ghusl to attain ritual purity.

ulama

Religious scholars.

ourf

Convention. Customary law.

woudo'a

A ritual ablution. Washing of certain body parts to achieve a state of ritual purity.