Islam101 - Terms

Most Islamic terms are derived from Arabic, being the language of the Quran, and considered to be the official language of Islam.

Thus, the more eloquence in Arabic one develops, the more helpful it would be to relate to the Quran and to Islam.

Only some of the major Islamic terms are referenced here. More terms may be found in other glossary sources, such as these 2 links:

https://pluralism.org/islam-glossary-terms

 http://www.islam101.com/selections/glossaryA.html 

A-I

• Adhan: the call to prayer
• AH: after Hijra (after migration), also: Hijri. (the Islamic calendar based on the 12 lunar months and stemming from the date the prophet migrated from Mecca to Medinah
• Allah: = God, the one and only creator, worshiped deity. Has many attributes, referred to as “beautiful names” such as Al-Rahman (the beneficent, merciful)
• Allahu- Akbar: Allah is great/ greater (used to express positive excitement / great achievement, wonderful experience)
• Assalmu-Alaikum: peace be upon you (standard Muslim greeting)
• Ayah: verse (in the Quran), sign
• Da'wah: invitation to / propagation of Islam
• Dua’: supplication
• Eid: holiday (there are 2 main Muslim Holidays: Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr)
• Fatwa: legal verdict / decree based on Sharia’ (Islamic Law)
• Fiqh: Islamic jurisprudence
• Hadith: prophet’s saying, tradition
• Hajj: pilgrimage (to Mecca), one of the 5 pillars of Islam
• Halal: lawful, allowed, permissible 
• Haram: unlawful, prohibited
. Hijrah: migration (of the prophet) from Mecca to Medina
• Ibadah: worship, submission, obedience, service and subjection
• Iftar: breaking the fast
• Ihsan: excelling, doing the best
• Ijtihad: scholarly conclusion, deriving new laws
• Insha- Allah: God willing
• Islam: lietrally derived from the Arabic triroot: S-L-M which denotes several words / meanings: submit, peace, safe, among others. It is the name of Allah’s religion

J-Z

 • Jahannam: Hell
• Jahiliyah: ignorance, refers to the epoch prior to Islam in Mecca, where people practiced idol worshipping
• Janaza: Funeral
• Janna: heaven, paradise
• Jihad: strive, struggle. Has many subtypes and form in Islam
•Jum'a: Friday / Friday prayer (=Mass)
• Masjid: mosque (plural: masajid)
• Muslim: a person who accepts Islam as his/her religion / way of life
• PBUH (peace be upon him), PPBUH (prayers and peace be upon him): used as a greeting or supplication following the mention of any prophet, especially prophet Muammad. It is a translation of its Arabic equivalent that a Muslim actually uses.
• Quiblah: the direction to which Muslims turn / face when they perform prayers (salat)
• Rabb: lord, sustainer
• Riba: usery, interest
• Sadaqa: charity
• Salah /Salat: performing prayer, the Muslim ritual worship performed 5 times daily in addition to the optional ones
• Shaitan: Satan, also named Iblis
• Shari’ah: Islamic law
• Subhan- Allah: glory be to Allah (used to express amazement)
• Sunnah: the tradition of the prophet • Surah: a chapter in the Quran
• Takbir: saying “Allahu -Akbar”
•Taqwa: piety
• Ummah: community, nation
• Wadu: ablution, ritual purification prior to performing Salat
• Zakah: Alms, prescribed charity, one of the 5 pillars of Islam