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Islamic glossary

Simple explanations of the Arabic words you meet in Islam, from adhan to zakat.

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Prayer and purity

أذان Adhan Call to prayer: The call that tells Muslims a prayer time has begun. It is called out from the mosque, usually by the muadhin. Learn more →
إقامة Iqamah Second call: A shorter call said just before the prayer starts, telling people to stand in rows.
وضوء Wudu Ablution: The washing of the face, arms, head and feet in a set order before prayer and some other acts of worship. Learn more →
غُسل Ghusl Full ritual wash: Washing the whole body with the intention of purification, for example after sexual intercourse or at the end of menstruation.
تيمّم Tayammum Dry ablution: Touching clean earth and wiping the face and hands instead of wudu or ghusl when water is not available or cannot be used.
صلاة Salah Prayer: The five daily prayers, the second pillar of Islam, made of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting with recitation. Learn more →
ركعة Rak'ah Unit of prayer: One complete cycle of the prayer: standing, bowing, two prostrations and sitting. Each prayer has a set number of rak'ahs.
ركوع Ruku' Bowing: The position in prayer where you bend forward with your hands on your knees and glorify Allah.
سجود Sujud Prostration: The position in prayer where the forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes touch the ground. It is the moment of greatest nearness to Allah.
تكبير Takbir Saying Allahu Akbar: Saying 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Greatest), which opens the prayer and marks each change of position.
تشهّد Tashahhud Testimony in prayer: The words said while sitting in prayer that include the declaration of faith and blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.
قِبلة Qibla Direction of prayer: The direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, which Muslims face when they pray. Learn more →
إمام Imam Prayer leader: The person who leads the congregation in prayer. The word is also used for a respected scholar.
مسجد Masjid Mosque: A place of prostration: the building where Muslims pray together and gather for learning and community.
جمعة Jumu'ah Friday prayer: The weekly congregational prayer held at midday on Friday, which replaces Dhuhr and includes a sermon. Learn more →
خطبة Khutbah Sermon: The talk given by the imam before the Friday prayer and on Eid, reminding people of Allah and good conduct.
وتر Witr Odd-numbered prayer: A prayer of an odd number of rak'ahs prayed after Isha, which closes the night prayers.
تراويح Taraweeh Ramadan night prayer: The extra prayers offered in congregation after Isha during Ramadan.
تهجّد Tahajjud Night prayer: Voluntary prayer offered after sleeping, in the last part of the night.

Belief and character

شهادة Shahadah Declaration of faith: The statement that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger. It is the first pillar of Islam and the way a person enters Islam. Learn more →
توحيد Tawhid Oneness of Allah: The belief that Allah is One, with no partner, and that He alone deserves worship.
شرك Shirk Associating partners with Allah: Worshipping or giving to anything else a right that belongs only to Allah. It is the greatest sin in Islam.
إيمان Iman Faith: Belief in the heart, spoken by the tongue and shown in actions, in Allah, the angels, the books, the messengers, the Last Day and the divine decree. Learn more →
إحسان Ihsan Excellence: Worshipping Allah as if you see Him, and knowing that even if you do not see Him, He sees you.
تقوى Taqwa God-consciousness: Being aware of Allah and careful to follow His commands and avoid what He forbids, out of love and respect.
توبة Tawbah Repentance: Turning back to Allah: stopping the sin, feeling regret, and promising not to return to it.
استغفار Istighfar Asking forgiveness: Asking Allah to forgive, for example by saying 'Astaghfirullah' (I ask Allah for forgiveness).
صبر Sabr Patience: Staying steady and calm in hardship, in obeying Allah and in avoiding sin.
شكر Shukr Gratitude: Thanking Allah for His blessings by words, by the heart and by using His gifts in good ways.
توكّل Tawakkul Trust in Allah: Relying on Allah after doing your best, knowing that the outcome is in His hands.
نيّة Niyyah Intention: The decision in the heart to do an act for Allah. Acts of worship are judged by their intention.
إخلاص Ikhlas Sincerity: Doing deeds purely for the sake of Allah, not to be seen or praised.
رياء Riya' Showing off: Doing a good deed to be seen and praised by people rather than for Allah. It spoils the reward of the deed.
ذكر Dhikr Remembrance of Allah: Remembering Allah by repeating phrases of praise, such as SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah, or by reciting the Quran. Learn more →
دعاء Dua Supplication: Asking Allah for what you need, in your own words or with words taught by the Prophet ﷺ. Learn more →

Rulings and knowledge

فقه Fiqh Islamic jurisprudence: The science of understanding the practical rulings of Islam from the Quran, the Sunnah and the methods scholars use. Learn more →
فتوى Fatwa Religious opinion: A ruling given by a qualified scholar in answer to a question. It applies to the case that was asked.
مذهب Madhhab School of fiqh: One of the established schools of Islamic law. The four main Sunni schools are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali.
إجماع Ijma' Scholarly consensus: The agreement of qualified scholars of a time on a ruling.
قياس Qiyas Analogy: Applying the ruling of a case found in the texts to a new case that shares the same reason.
فرض Fard Obligatory: An act that Muslims must do, such as the five daily prayers. Leaving it without excuse is a sin.
واجب Wajib Required: An act that is required. In the Hanafi school it ranks just below fard; in other schools the word is often used the same as fard.
مستحب Mustahabb Recommended: An act that earns reward when done, but is not sinful to leave.
مكروه Makruh Disliked: An act that is better to avoid. Avoiding it is rewarded, but doing it is not a sin.
حرام Haram Forbidden: What Allah has forbidden. Doing it is a sin and avoiding it for Allah's sake is rewarded. Learn more →
حلال Halal Permitted: What is allowed in Islam. The word is most often used for food and drink, but it covers everything allowed. Learn more →
مباح Mubah Allowed: An act that is neither rewarded nor punished. A permitted matter of daily life.
بدعة Bid'ah Innovation: A new practice added to religion as an act of worship that has no basis in the Quran or the Sunnah.
اجتهاد Ijtihad Scholarly reasoning: The effort of a qualified scholar to reach a ruling on a question that the texts do not state directly.

Quran and hadith

قرآن Quran The Holy Quran: The word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibril, recited and preserved in Arabic. Learn more →
سورة Surah Chapter of the Quran: One of the 114 chapters of the Quran.
آية Ayah Verse: One verse of the Quran. The word also means a sign of Allah.
جزء Juz' One of thirty parts: One of the thirty equal parts of the Quran, which makes it easy to read it in a month.
مصحف Mushaf Written copy of the Quran: A book that contains the whole text of the Quran.
تفسير Tafsir Explanation of the Quran: The science and the books that explain the meanings of the Quran.
تجويد Tajweed Rules of recitation: The rules for pronouncing the letters of the Quran correctly and reciting it beautifully. Learn more →
حافظ Hafiz One who has memorised the Quran: A person who knows the whole Quran by heart.
حديث Hadith Report of the Prophet ﷺ: A report of what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, did or approved. Hadith are the main source of the Sunnah. Learn more →
صحيح Sahih Authentic: The highest grade of a hadith: it has a connected chain of trustworthy narrators and no hidden defect.
إسناد Isnad Chain of narrators: The chain of people who passed a hadith from one to the next back to the Prophet ﷺ.
سُنّة Sunnah The way of the Prophet ﷺ: The teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In fiqh it can also mean a recommended act.
وحي Wahy Revelation: The message that Allah sent to His prophets, including the Quran to Muhammad ﷺ.

Fasting, charity and Hajj

زكاة Zakat Obligatory charity: The third pillar of Islam: a set share of wealth, usually 2.5%, paid each year by Muslims who own more than the nisab, to those in need. Learn more →
نصاب Nisab Minimum wealth for zakat: The least amount of wealth a person must own, for a full lunar year, before zakat becomes due. Learn more →
صدقة Sadaqah Voluntary charity: Anything given for the sake of Allah, from money to a kind word, beyond the obligatory zakat. Learn more →
وقف Waqf Endowment: Property given for ever for a good purpose, such as a mosque, a well or a school, so that its benefit continues.
ربا Riba Interest and usury: Extra gain taken on a loan or in an unequal exchange, which Islam forbids.
صوم Sawm Fasting: Staying away from food, drink and marital relations from dawn to sunset. Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam. Learn more →
سحور Suhoor Pre-dawn meal: The meal eaten before dawn when you plan to fast. The Prophet ﷺ said there is blessing in it. Learn more →
إفطار Iftar Breaking the fast: The meal at sunset that ends the day's fast, often begun with dates and water. Learn more →
اعتكاف I'tikaf Retreat in the mosque: Staying in the mosque for a period to worship Allah, especially in the last ten days of Ramadan.
ليلة القدر Laylat al-Qadr Night of Power: The night in Ramadan in which the Quran began to be revealed. Worship on it is better than a thousand months. Learn more →
عيد Eid Festival: One of the two Muslim festivals: Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan and Eid al-Adha after the day of Arafah. Learn more →
حج Hajj Pilgrimage to Makkah: The fifth pillar of Islam: a pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhul Hijjah, required once in a lifetime for those who are able. Learn more →
عمرة Umrah Lesser pilgrimage: A visit to the Kaaba with tawaf and sa'i that can be done at any time of the year. Learn more →
إحرام Ihram Sacred state of the pilgrim: The state a pilgrim enters for Hajj or Umrah, with the intention, simple clothes for men and certain restrictions. Learn more →
طواف Tawaf Circling the Kaaba: Walking seven times around the Kaaba, anticlockwise, as an act of worship. Learn more →
سعي Sa'i Walking between Safa and Marwa: Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, remembering Hajar's search for water for her son. Learn more →
زمزم Zamzam The well of Zamzam: The blessed spring in Makkah, beside the Kaaba, whose water pilgrims drink.
ميقات Miqat Boundary for ihram: A set place that pilgrims coming to Makkah must not pass without entering the state of ihram.

Community and the hereafter

أمّة Ummah The Muslim community: The worldwide community of Muslims, joined by faith.
هجرة Hijrah Migration: The migration of the Prophet ﷺ and his companions from Makkah to Madinah, which begins the Islamic calendar. Learn more →
جنّة Jannah Paradise: The eternal home of reward that Allah has prepared for the believers.
جهنّم Jahannam Hellfire: The place of punishment in the next life for those who reject Allah and persist in wrongdoing.
برزخ Barzakh The life between death and resurrection: The stage between a person's death and the Day of Judgement.
قدر Qadar Divine decree: The belief that Allah knows, has written and wills all that happens, while people still choose and are responsible for their actions.
ملائكة Malaikah Angels: Beings created from light who obey Allah fully. Jibril and Mikail are among them.
بركة Barakah Blessing: Goodness and increase that Allah places in things, time or effort.
صدقة جارية Sadaqah jariyah Ongoing charity: A good deed whose reward keeps flowing after death, such as a well, useful knowledge or a good child who prays for you.
آخرة Akhirah The hereafter: The life after death, including the grave, the Day of Judgement and the final home in Paradise or Hellfire.
قيامة Qiyamah Day of Resurrection: The day when all people will be raised and judged by Allah.
نبي ورسول Nabi and Rasul Prophet and messenger: A nabi is a prophet who receives revelation. A rasul is a messenger who brings a new law or message. Every rasul is a nabi.
جنّ Jinn Jinn: Unseen beings created from smokeless fire who, like humans, have free will.