Islamic Words

Alhamdu lillah

Praise be to Allah

Allah

God

Allahu Akbar

Allah is Most Great

Amanah

Trust

Assalamu Alaikum

Peace be upon you--the "official" Islamic greeting.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh

"Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon you" Extended form of the above.

Astaghfir Allah

I seek forgiveness from Allah (used when mentioning something that goes against the standards of Islam)

Ayah/Ayat

Qur'anic verse

Bid`ah

Innovation, addition to the religion's essentials

Bukhari

One of the most noted compilers of hadith. His collection is known as Sahih Bukhari

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Da'wa

Invitation (for humankind to Islam)

Du`aa

Supplication

Eid

Islamic holiday

Fatwa

Islamic legal ruling

Fiqh

Islamic law as interpreted by scholars

Fitnah

Corruption and disorder, also temptation

Hadith

A report of a saying or deed of the Prophet

Haj

Pilgrimage

Halal

Allowed (per Islamic law)

Haram

Forbidden (per Islamic law)

Hazrat/Hadrat

Honorable

Hijab

Modest way of behavior and dress (including head scarf for women)

Imam

Leader

Iman

Faith

In Shaa Allah

If God wills. (Used when talking about a future event)

Injeel

The scripture sent down to Prophet Issa (Jesus)

Isnad

Chain of transmitters, the list of people who successively narrated a given hadith

Jannah

Paradise

Jazakallah Khair

May God grant you what is good. (Often used instead of "Thank you")

Jihad

Striving for Islam, whether by peaceful or violent means (NOT holy war!)

Jinn

Unseen beings, who, like humans, are given the power to choose between right and wrong

Kafir

One who denies the truth. Literally, one who "covers" the truth (sometimes applied to non-Muslims).

Khalifah

Caliph: Leader of Muslim nation

Khilafah

Caliphate

Khutba

Sermon

Kufr

Denial of the Truth, rebellion against God

La Ilaha Illa Allah

There is no deity but God

Ma Shaa Allah

What God has willed! (Usually used to express wonder at Allah's creation)

Madhhab

School of jurisprudential thought

Makruh

Detested, but not forbidden (per Islamic law)

Mandoub

Recommended, but not required (per Islamic law)

Mubah

Neither forbidden nor commended. Neutral (per Islamic law)

Mushrik

One who commits Shirk

Muslim

One who submits to Allah and is a follower of Islam; also, name of one of the most notable hadith scholars. His collection is known as Sahih Muslim

Nabi

Prophet

Qur'an

The Words of Allah conveyed to us by the Prophet

PBUH

Peace Be Upon Him. Same as SAW

RAA

(Radia Allahu Anhu/Anha.) May Allah be please with him/her

Rasool

Messenger (Prophet to whom a scripture is revealed)

Rasool Allah

Messenger of God (used to refer to Prophet Muhammad)

Sahaba

Companions of Prophet. Singular is "Sahabi"

Sahih

"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith

Salaam

Peace. An abbreviated version of the Islamic greeting

Salaat

Prayer

SAW

(Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.) Peace Be Upon Him

Sawm/Siyam

Fasting

Seerah/Sirah

History of the Prophet's life

Shahadah

Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.

Shari'ah

Divine Law

Sheikh

Scholar (or any elder and/or respected man)

Shirk

Associating partners (e.g. helpers, other gods) with Allah

Shura

Consultation among Muslims

Subhan Allah

"Glory be to God"

Sunna/Sunnah

Tradition of the Prophet

Surah/Sura

A Chapter in the Qur'an

SWT

(SubHanahu Wa Ta`ala.) Glory be to Him. Used only in reference to Allah

Tafsir

Interpretation

Tawraat

The scripture sent down to Prophet Musa (Moses).

Ulama

Religious scholars

Umma

Nation, community.

Ustadh

Teacher

Wassalaam

And peace. It means "goodbye"

Zakat

Required charity

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10/31/98

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