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Aaron	see Harun
Abar Ali	the name of a place where Masjidu Shajarah is situated, 7 km. outside of Medinah.
Abu Dharr al-Ghiffari (Jundub b. Junada)	was a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.) who was loyal to Imam Ali (A.S.) He died in 32 (A.H.) 651 (A.D.) after being expilled by Uthman.
Abu Talib	the father of Ali (A.S.). He looked after the Prophet (S.A.W.) when the latter was a child.
Adhan	is the call for daily ritual prayers (Salat). The person who calls the Adhan is called a Mu'adhin.
Ahlul-Bayt	refers to the Household of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
Ahwat	is a precaution. This can be obligatory or optional as ruled by the Mujtahid.
Akhirah	is the Hereafter
A'lam	is the top ranking jurist
Ale Muhammad	Blood kin, descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin	This is a verse from the Qur'an that Muslims recite and say many times per day. Other than being recited daily during prayers, a Muslim reads this expression in every activity of his daily life. The meaning of it is: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds." A Muslim invokes the praises of Allah before he does his daily work; and when he finishes, he thanks Allah for His favors. A Muslim is grateful to Allah for all His blessings. It is a statement of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude from the creature to his Creator.
'Alim	is a scholar
Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.)	is the first Imam (A.S.), the cousin and son-in-law of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). He is referred to as Ameer al-Mu'mineen, the Leader of the Faithful. He was poisoned in 661 A.D.
Ali b. al-Husayn b. Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.)	is the fourth Imam.
Ali b. Muhammad b. Ali b. Musa al-Hadi, Abu al-Hasan (A.S.)	is the 10th Imam.
Ali b. Musa al-Rida, Abu al-Hasan (A.S.)	is the eighth Imam.
Allah	refers to God, glory be to Him, there is no god but He. Allah is a Divine name of God. It is the perfect name for God as it truly denotes the absolute Oneness of God. The name has no plural and no feminine form.
Allahu akbar	This statement is said by Muslims numerous times. During the call for prayer, during prayer, when they are happy, and wish to express their approval of what they hear, when they slaughter an animal, and when they want to praise a speaker, Muslims do say this expression of Allahu Akbar. Actually it is most said expression in the world. Its meaning: "Allah is the Greatest." Muslims praise Allah in every aspect of life; and as such they say Allahu Akbar.
A'maal	is an act of worship.
Amirul Mu'mineen	The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (A.S.).
Ansar	means helpers.****************
Arafah	is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
Arafat	is the area about 25 km. away from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
A.H.	refers to After Hijrah. It is the reference used in the Islamic calender, instead of A.D. which is used in the Christian calender.
A.S.	refers to 'Alayhis-salaam, (God's) peace be with him. It is said after the names of all previous prophets, their mothers (e.g. Bibi Maryam [Mary] A.S.), the twelve divine Imams from the household of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and Bibi Fatima (A.S.). It will change to 'Alayhas-salaam (peace be with her) if it follows a lady's name. After any two names we say 'Alayhimassalaam and after more than two names or when referring a group of people we say 'Alayhimus-salaam. Thus, we say Imams Hasan and Husayn (A.S.='alayhimas-salaam) and the Ahul-Bayt (A.S.'alayhimus-salaam).
'Asr	is the afternoon, and the prayer of the afternoon
Assalamu alaikum	This is an expression Muslims say whenever they meet one another. It is a statement of greeting with peace. The meaning of it is: "Peace be upon you." Muslims try to establish peace on earth even through the friendly relation of greeting and meeting one another. The other forms are: "Assalamu 'Alalikum Wa Rahmatullah," which means:"May the peace and the Mercy of Allah be upon you," and "Assalamu Alalikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh," which means :"May the peace, the mercy, and the blessings of Allah be upon you."
Ayah	is a sign of Allah or a verse of the Qur'an (pl. Ayat)
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Baab-al-Salaam	is one of the famous gates of Masjidul Haraam.
Baligh	is one who is an adult
Batil	is void
Bilal	was a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
Bulugh	is puberty
D	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
David	see Dawood
Dawood	a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
Deen	is religion
Dhikr	is remembrance, the recitation of special invocations during and after ritual prayers.
Dhuhr prayers	are the afternoon prayers
Dhul Hijjah	is the last month (12th) of the Islamic calendar.
Dhul Qidah	is the 11th month of the Islamic calendar.
Du'a	is supplication
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Ehtiaat	see Ahwat
Ehtiaat-Mustahabbi	is a preferable precaution
Ehtiaat-Waajib	means precautionarily obligatory. Its significance is the same as that of wajib with the difference that in the problems where a mujtahid says it is "precautionarily obligatory", one has the option of leaving his taqlid in this particular problem and following the rulings of the second-best mujtahid in that problem.
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Fajr	is dawn, and denotes Subhe-Sadiq, the prime time for prayer
Farsakh	is a distance of five and a half kilometers
Fatiha	is the opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an.
Fatima or Fatema (A.S.)	the Chief of the women of the worlds, is the daughter of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and the wife of Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.), the mother of Hasan and Hussein (A.S.)
Fatwa	is a verdict, especially of a Mujtahid
Fidyah	is a sacrifice of an animal for expiation
Fiqh	is a science of religious jurispudence
Fitrah	is the charity due on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, on the night after Ramadhan.
Foroo-e-Din	are the branches of Islam
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Ghadeer	is the name of a place near Mecca, and the great holiday named after the event that occurred at that place.
Ghasbi	Anything taken by force from others without their consent, or anything taken from others in normal transaction with an intention of not paying its price.
Ghusl	is a spiritual bath required after sexual intercourse, menstruation, seminal discharge, and other conditions. ...read more
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Hadath-Akbar	is something that needs wudhu or ghusl
Hadath-Asghar	is a minor hadath that needs wudhu
Hadeeth	is a narration/tradition reported from the Prophet (S) and the Imams (a.s.)
Hajarul Aswad	is the Black Stone.
Hajj	is the Islamic pilgrimage
Hajjatul Tamatu	is the secnod session of the Hajj for those who are not resident in Mecca or its vicinity.
Halal	is something that is lawful and permissible to use/consume in Islam
Halq	is to shave off the hair from the head (during Hajj)
Hamza	an uncle of the Prophet who became a Muslim and was martyred at the battle of Uhud.
Haq	is the right or claim to something
Haram	Deeds, doing of which is sinful and punishable and abstinence from them is rewardable.
Harun	the brother of Musa (Moses) and Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an.
Hasan b. Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.)	is the secnd Imam.
Hasan b. Ali b. Muhammad, Abu Muhammad al-Askari (A.S.)	is the 11th Imam.
Hijab	is the screening between non-mahram men and women
Hijra	is the day the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) left Mecca for Medina. In particular, it was the Prophet's (S.A.W.) abandoning Mecca because of its mounting hostility, and transferring himself and his followers to Yathrib (200 miles north) whose people had invited him. He arrived on the 20th of September 622 AD, and the city proudly changed its name to Medinatu'l-Nabi (the Prophet's (S.A.W.) city). On Imam Ali's (A.S.) advice, Omar, reproached for not dating documents, took this event as the start of the Muslim era, dubbing the year of the Hijrah year as Year 1 and starting it on the Lunar New Year's Day, the 1st of Muharram 622 AD. ...read more
Hijr-e-Ismaaeel	is a small wall in an arc shape adjoining the Ka'ba on one side
Hira	is the cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) sat for worshipping Allah
Husain b. Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S.)	is the third Imam.
I	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ibadah	is devotion or worship
Iftar	is the breaking of the fast
Ihram	is the state in which every pilgrim in Hajj has to perform his/her Hajj, consisting of two modest clothes and 25 restrictions.
Ihtiyat	is a precautionary action which usually requires repetition.
Ihteyat-e-Wajib	means precautionarily obligatory. Its significance is the same as that of wajib with the difference that in the problems where a mujtahid says it is "precautionarily obligatory", one has the option of leaving his taqlid in this particular problem and following the rulings of the second-best mujtahid in that problem.
Imam	means Leader in Arabic. The term is generally applied to religious leaders. However, there are 12 infallible and noble Imams, the descendants of Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Iman	is full, deep belief or faith.
Injil	is the New Testament.
Inshallah	means with the will of Allah
Iqamah	is the announcement of the beginning of prayer.
Isa	the son of Mariam (Mary). He is a prophet of Allah.
Isha	is the commencement of darkness, and the prayer of that time.
Ishmael	see Ismaeel
Islam	was revealed to the Prophet (Sura III: Ali-Imran--The Family of Imran, verse 19) "The Religion of Allah is Al-Islam," and again (Sura V: Ma'idah--The Table Spread, verse 3) "This day I have approved al-Islam for you as a religion." Islam is the verbal noun of "asalama"--to submit oneself to God.
Ismaeel	the son of Abraham, Prophet of Allah and the father of the Arabs.
Istighfar	is to seek the forgiveness of Allah
J	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ja'far b. Muhammad (A.S.)	Ja'far b. Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn, al-Sadiq, Abu Abd Allah (A.S.) was the 6th Imam.
Ja'iz	see Halal
Jacob	see Yaqub
Jama'at	is a group or a congregation
Jesus	see Isa.
Jihad	is a holy war (striving or fighting in the way of Allah) by the order of the Imam.
Jinn	is a type of creature having, like humans, free will
Joseph	see Yusuf
Jum'ah	is Friday
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Ka'bah	is the cubic house built by Prophet Ibrahim (A.S.) and his son Ismaeel (A.S.) more than 3000 years ago in Mecca, towards which all Muslims face for their Salat. It contains the Hajarul Aswad or the Black Stone.
Kaffarah	are alms to be given as penance on different occasions.
Khadija	the daughter of Khuwaylid and the wife of the Prophet (S.A.W.). She is the mother of Fatima (A.S.).
Khums	is "a fifth", obligatory tax-like charity
Kifie	is an obligatory Islamic rule. If one person performs the act, then it is not required for others to perform. For example, the burial of a deceased Muslim is obligatory on any one person to perform.
Kur	Kur = 384 Liters (Volume = 27" x 27" x 27") i.e. Min Volume = 27 inches each side
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Labbaik	literally means a response to the call
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Madina	is a city in Saudi Arabia, and Medinatu'l Nabi (the city of the Prophet) was the name taken by the citizens of Yathrib, the town to which the Prophet (S.A.W.) and his companions migrated during Hijrah.
Maghrib	is sun-down and the prayer associated with it
Mahram	is a person with whom marriage is forbidden
Makruh	those deeds, abstinence from which is rewarded, but committing them is not sinful.
Maqame-e-Ibrahim	is a place near the Ka'bah, where there is a stone bearing the footprint of Prophet Ibrahim (a)
Marwah	is a remnant of a mountain in Mecca.
Masjid	is a mosque, a place of Islamic worship.
Masjid-u-Shajarah	is a mosque outside Madinah, where most of the Hajis go there for wearing Ihram; a Meeqat
Masjid-ul-Haram	is the Grand mosque in Makkah, where the Holy Ka'ba is situated
Mayyit	is a corpse, a dead body of a human being
Mecca	is a holy city in Saudi Arabia
Medina	see Madina
Meeqat	are appointed places for wearing Ihram before entering Makkah
Mina	is an area about 12 km. from Mecca.
Moses	see Musa
Mubah	Those deeds which are allowed by the Shariah, but neither rewardable nor punishable for doing or neglecting them.
Muhammad (S.A.W.)	is the Last of the Messengers of Allah to mankind.
Muhammad b. Ali b. al-Husayn al Baqir, Abu Ja'far (A.S.)	is the 5th Imam.
Muhammad b. Ali b. Musa, al-Jawad (A.S.)	is the 9th Imam.
Muhammad b. al-Hasan al-Askari (A.S.)	is the 12th Imam.
Muharram	is the first month of the Islamic calendar.
Mujtahid	is s specialist on the deduction of the Islamic rules from four major sources: the Qur'an, Hadith, conscience of the community, and reasoning.
Mu'min	is a believer, one who has Iman (pl. Mu'mineen)
Muqallid	is a follower of a qualified specialist on religious matters.
Musa	was a Prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
Musa b. Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Kadhim, Abu al-Hasan (A.S.)	is the 7th Imam.
Muslim	is one who believes in Allah, his Prophet (S.A.W.), the day of Resurrection (Qiyamat), recites the Kalemah, and accepts the commandments of Allah and His Prophet (S.A.W.) as the Truth.
Mustahab	Mustahab or Sunnat means recommendable, desirable. The acts whose neglect is not punished, but whose performance is rewarded, e.g., the call for prayers (adhan).
Muzdalafah	(also called Mash'ar) is the area between Mina and Arafat, about 20 km. form Mecca.
N	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Nabi	is a Prophet
Nabuwwat	see Fundamentals of Islam
Nadhr	is one of the three types of vows to Almighty Allah.
Nafilah	are the recommended prayers after or before the daily obligatory Salat.
Najasat	is an impurity ...read more
Najis	is something that is impure
Naar	is the fire of Hell
Nikah	is a pronouncement of marriage according to Shari'ah
Niyyah	is an intention to perform an activity.
Noah	see Nuh
Non-mehram	is one with whom marriage is permitted
Nuh	a prophet of Allah mentioned in the Qur'and and the Old Testament
P	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Pak	is something that is clean, not najis
Prophet	refers to a Messenger sent by Allah to mankind, such as: Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus)(A.S.), and the Last Messenger, the Seal of the Prophethood, Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Q	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Qadha	is the duty that is required for a missed ritual activity, such as prayers or fasting.
Qamar	is the moon
Qiblah	is the direction of Salat (towards the Ka'bah).
Qira-at	is the reading of the prayer
Qiyam	is the standing during the Salat for recitation of Suratul Hamd and the second Surah, and the standing after the Ruku'.
Qiyamat	is the day of Resurrection ...read more Fundamentals of Islam
Qunut	is the act of raising both palms in fornt of the face while praying in the second Rakat of Salat.
Qur'an	is the Holy Book, the Living Miracle, revealed from Allah as a guidance to mankind.
Quraysh	is the tribe of Mecca to which Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) belonged. All his descendants are also called Qurayshi.
Qurbani	is a sacrifice
Qurbat	is the niyyah of nearness to Allah
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Rajab	is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar.
Ramadhan	is the ninth and the holiest month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month of fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Rukn	literally means a "pillar". It is also a basis of the prayer.
Ruku'	is the act of bowing in the Salat
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S.A.W.	stands for Sallal-lahu 'alayhi wa-alihi wa-sallam in Arabic, and means Blessings and peace of God be with him and his household. It is a prayer which is said after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).
Sadaqah	is the charity given to the poor.
Saee	means walking between the rocks of Safa and Marwah
Safa	is the part of a mountain in Mecca.
Saheefa-Kamila	is a collection of supplications by our 4th Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.).
Sajdah	is the act of prostration in the Salat, when seven portions of the body touch the earth: the forehead on pure ground, two palms, two knees, and the two big toes. The two Sajdahs together are called sajdatain.
Salam	is a salutation. It is also the last recitation at the end of Salat.
Salat	are the obligatory prayers
Salawat	are invocation of blessings, specifically the recitation of Allahumma Sali 'Ala Muhammadin Wa Aali Muhammad, meaning O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.
Salman	(al-Farsi) was the Persion Companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
Sawm	is the act of fasting
Sayyid	is a descendant of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
Shaabaan	is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar.
Shahadah	is declaration
Shaheed	is a martyr in the way of Islam (pl. Shuhada).
Shaitan	is Satan, the enemy of mankind
Shari'ah	are the rules and regulations of Islam, the divine Law. Shari'ah is the totality of of Allah's Commandments relating to man's activities.
Shams	is the Sun
Shawwal	is the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
Shi'a	is a follower of the twelve Imams (A.S.).
Sunnat	Sunnat or Mustahab means recommendable, desirable. The acts whose neglect is not punished, but whose performance is rewarded, e.g., the call for prayers (adhan).
Surah	is any chapter of the 114 in the Holy Qur'an. It literally means a sign, or a revelation. Each Surah in the Qur'an is named from some subject or word which is particularly striking.
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Tafseer	is a term used for a commentary of any book, specifically the Holy Qur'an.
Taharat	is the state of being clean and not impure
Tahur	is the cave wherein Prophet Muhammad (S) stayed before finally migrating to Madinah
Takbirah	is saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest).
Talbiyah	is the formula of response to the Call of Allah, which must be pronounced immediately after Niyyah of Ihram
Tartib	To perform every work in the same order as approved by the Shariah.
Tawaf	is part of the worship of Hajj and Umrah
Tawbah	is repentance
Tawheed	is Divine Unity
Tayammum	means spiritual cleansing which is sometimes a substitute for wudhu and ghusl ... read more
Thawab	is a Divine blessing
Turbah	is earth, especially from the shrines of the Holy Imams (A.S.), on which Muslims place their heads during Sajdah
U	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Umm Kulthum	see Zaynab
Umra	is the "little" pilgrimage, performed in ritual purity wearing the Ihram, the seamless ceremonial garments consisting of a white sheet from the navel to the knees and a white sheet covering the left shoulder, back and breast, knotted on the right.
Usule Din	are the principles of Islam.
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Wafat	is a death
Wajib	the religious duties performance of which is rewarded and neglect of which is punishable.
Wajib-e-Kifaee	is an obligatory Islamic rule. If one person performs the act, then it is not required for others to perform. For example, the burial of a deceased Muslim is obligatory on any one person to perform.
Wudhu	is a spiritual wash of the face and hands before Salat How to perform Wudhu
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Yaqub	a prophet of Allah, mentioned in the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
Yusuf	a prophet of Allah, mentioned the Qur'an and the Old Testament.
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Zakat	is an obligatory charity
Zamzam	is the name of a well at Makkah
Zaynab	(Umm Kulthum) was the younger daughter of Ali and Fatima (A.S.).
Ziyarat	is to visit and/or to recite special salutations for the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and his household (A.S.).