Part 26

We present below two important charts. The first defines the transliteration symbols that we employ in this book, The second defines terms that should be uttered at the mention of Allah or one of his righteous worshipers.

A number of Arabic terms are frequently used in Islamic discussions, and seem to constitute a basic vocabulary that needs to be available to the readers of books on Islim. We attempt to provide such terms, together with their definitions, in the following glossary. We follow the glossary with a list of the Arabic weekdays and the Islamic lunar months.

Other terms pertinent to the current book are included in the “Index” section at the end of this appendix, together with a page-reference indicating where they are defined in this book,

Arabic Terminology 172 Quest for Love & Mercy

Glossary of Common Terms

‘Abd Slave, servant, or worshiper. Plural: ‘ibad or ‘abid.

Adab Good characters or manners; etiquettes. Plural: Adab,

Al-Fatihah| The first chapter of the Quran.

‘Alim A scholar or learned man in Islam.

‘Allamah | Exaggerated form of “lim”.

Amin “O Allah, answer my supplication.”

Ansar Madinah residents who supported the Prophet (88).

‘Asr Afternoon. It is usually applied to the third daily obligatory prayer.

adhan Call to the prayer.

‘Awrah A weakness that requires protection, or body-parts that must be covered from others.

Ayah Miracle or sign. Also, the smallest subdivision of the Qur’inic text — usually one sentence in length. Plural: aya.

Bidah Unacceptable innovation in one of the Islamic teachings.

Da‘wah — |Call or mission.

Din Religion — usually used in reference to the religion of Islam.

Dinar An old golden currency.

Dirham | An old currency that was made of silver or copper.

Fajr Dawn. It usually applies to the first daily obligatory prayer.

Fard A communal obligation that must be performed by at least a few

Fard ‘Ayn | An obligation that must be performed by every Muslim.

Quest for Love & Mercy 173 Arabic Terminology Term Definition Fatwa A religious verdict; plural: fatawa or fatawi.

Figh Understanding. It is often applied to the subject of “Islamic jurisprudence” that deals with the practical regulations in Islam.

Fitnah Trial, test, temptation, or affliction.

Ghayb All knowledge that is beyond the reach of human perception.

Ghusl A ritual bath required after intercourse, ejaculation, and after a woman becomes clean from her menses.

Hadith Reports of the Prophet’s (#) sayings, actions, and tacit approvals.

Hajj Major pilgrimage to Makkah.

Halqah A circle or ring. It normally refers to a study circle.

Hasan Good or acceptable.

Hijab Cover. It usually refers to the Muslim woman’s proper clothing

Hijrah Migration — usually refers to the Prophet’s migration to al-Madinah.

‘Id Festival. Plural: a‘yad.

Tjtihad Striving to reach a right conclusion form available evidence.

Imam A leader or distinguished Islamic scholar, It is often applied to the leader of prayer.

Iman Faith or belief.

‘Isha Night. It is usually applied to the fifth daily obligatory prayer.

Isnad Chain of narrators of a hadith.

The era of ignorance (jahl) and disbelief prior to Islam.

Arabic Terminology 174 Quest for Love & Mercy

Jaméah | A Muslim congregation or community.

Janazah | A funeral, or a deceased’s prepared body.

Jannah The Garden (of paradise).

Jihad Striving or fighting for Allah’s cause.

Jinn A creation that Allah (8%) made from fire and smoke, sometimes translated as “demon”. Satan is one of the jinns.

Jumuah |Friday. It also applies to the Friday prayer.

Kafir A person who practices kufr. Plural: “kuffar”.

Khalifah | Successor. It commonly refers to a Muslim ruler who succeeded the Prophet (@) in leading the Muslims. Plural: khulafa’.

Khilafah | Successorship. It usually refers to the period of rule of a khalifah.

Kujfr Disbelief or rejection of faith.

Khutbah | Speech or sermon.

Maghrib | Sunset. It is usually applied to the fourth daily obligatory prayer.

Makrih | An act that is disapproved in Islam.

Mahram_ | A man closely related to a woman and permanently prohibited from marrying her, such as her father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, father-inlaw, son-in-law, suckling son, etc. Examples of non-mahrams: first cousins, step brothers, and brothers-in-law.

Masjid Place designated for sujiid; mosque.

Mathhab | Way or approach. It usually refers to one of the four Islamic schools of |figh: the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi't, and Hanbali.

Minbar __|Steps mounted by an imam in a masjid for delivering a khutbah.

Muhajir | A migrator — a person who undertakes hijrah. Plural: muhdjiran or muhdjirin. It usually refers to those who migrated to Madinah.

Mujahid |A person who performs jihad. Plural: mujahidan or mujahidin.

Quest for Love & Mercy 175 Arabic Terminology

Munkar | Disapproved; rejected.

Musalla | A place designated for prayer.

Mushrik | A person who practices shirk. Plural: mushrikiin or mushrikin.

Nafl Extra, voluntary, or supererogatory deeds.

Qadar Allah’s decree and measure.

Qiblah The direction of al-Ka’bah in Makkah.

Qiyam Literally means standing. It usually refers to the night prayer.

Qudust Holy, A qudust hadith is quoted by the Prophet (@) from Allah.

Rak‘ah A full prayer unit, containing one ruki. Plural: rak‘at.

Rukit The act of bowing in the prayer.

Sahabah |The Prophet's companions; singular: sahabt.

Sahih True or authentic.

Salaf The early righteous pioneers and scholars of Islam.

Salam Peace. It also means the greeting with peace (as-salamu ‘alaykum).

Sanad Same as isnad.

Shahadah \Testimony; it is mostly applied to the testimony of Islam: “There is no true god but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger.” Also, it is often applied to martyrdom in Allah’s (8) cause.

Shahid A person martyred for Allah’s cause. Feminine: Shahidah.

Shim General Middle-East area of Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, including the major cities of Jerusalem and Damascus.

Shar‘ or |The Islamic Law. “Shar‘t” means a legislated or permissible matter in

Shartah | Islam. And “‘ash-Shari” is the Legislator: Allah @8).

Arabic Terminology 176 Quest for Love & Mercy

Shaykh An elderly man. It is commonly used as a title of respect for a man with some level of Islamic knowledge.

Shirk Polytheism or paganism — ascribing divinity to other than Allah, or joining partners with Him in worship.

Sujiid The act of prostration in the prayer.

Sunnah | Way, guidance, or teachings. Most commonly, it refers to the Prophet's (4) way and guidance.

Tabit Literally, follower. It normally refers to a student of the sahdbah. Plural: tabi'an or tabi‘in.

Tafsir Qur’dnic commentaries and interpretations.

Takbir Saying, “Allahu Akbar — Allah is the greatest.”

Tahlil Saying, “Ld ilaha illallah — There is no (true) god except Allah.”

Taqlid Imitation, especially without knowledge.

Taqwa Fearing and revering Allah.

Tasbih Saying, “Subhan Allah — Exalted is Allah.”

Tashahhud| Pronouncing the Shahadah. It is mostly applied to the last part of the prayer that includes the Shahadah and salah upon the Prophet (88).

Tayammum | A symbolic ablution, in the absence of water, performed by wiping clean dust over the hands (to the wrists) and face.

Taslim Saying salam, especially to conclude the prayer.

Tawaf Circumambulation around the Ka'bah.

Tawhid Belief that Allah is the only Lord and God who deserves to be worshiped, and who possesses the excellent and perfect attributes.

Thikr Extolment: remembering Allah (8%) and mentioning Him.

Quest for Love & Mercy 177 Arabic Terminology

‘Ulama@ Plural of “alim”.

Ummah |Community, nation, or followers.

‘Umrah | A minor form of pilgrimage to Makkah that may be performed at any time of the year.

Waliy~ Revelation or inspiration.

Wajib —_| Obligatory or required.

Witr Odd dumber: The entire night prayer is sometimes called witr because the total number of its rak‘at is odd.

Wud? Ritual ablution for the prayer, which includes washing the face and forearms, wiping over the head, and washing the feet.

Zina Adultery or fornication.

Zuhr Noon. It usually refers to the second daily obligatory prayer.

Arabic Weekdays and Islamic Hijr7 Months

Arabic Terminology 178 Quest for Love & Mercy Lunar Month esl Lunar Month | Jl 5 | Jumada Ola Be 11] Dhul-Qa‘dah tals 6 | Jumada Akhirah | (2B 12| Thul-Hijjah ax Transliteration

Except for proper nouns, transliterated Arabic terms are italicized. In general, the rules of English pronunciation are applicable. The following table includes additional symbols employed in this book to help pronounce the Arabic

Quest for Love & Mercy 179 Arabic Terminology

Symbol} Stands for English Equivalent Sounds Th, th (3) Thal —_| There, mother.

A deeper “s’ in “muscle”.

—_| S$ (2) Sad sound. Somewhat close to the “sc

Sounds deeper than a “d”, Produced by touching D,d (U2) Dad the tongue to the mouth's roof, with the sides of the tongue pressed against the top molars.

Tat (4) Tah | Similar but deeper than a “t”,

A deeper thal, produced by touching the backside

a4 (4) Zah of the tongue to the tip of the upper front teeth.

@ Ayn Produced in the bottom of the throat, underneath

A gurgling sound produced in the back of the Gh, gh 2) Ghayn _|mouth, just above the kha’. Similar to the “R” in some French accents.

Qaq (G) Qaf Somewhat similar to the “c” in “coffee”.

Out of love, appreciation, gratitude and other noble feelings, 2 Muslim is encouraged to utter the following phrases at the mention of Allah, His messengers, or other righteous individuals.

Phrase] Mentioned with | Transliteration Meaning Pe He is exalted above 88 | Allah's Name rama bic, weakness and indignity. && | Attah’s Name ‘Azza wa-jal lorified. ME | Allah’s Name Jalla jalaluh Exalted is His glory.

Muhammad and Salla ’Llahu ‘al- |May Allah's peace and other prophets ayhi wa sallam _ | praise be on him.

Arabic Terminology 180 Quest for Love & Mercy Phrase} Mentioned with Transliteration Meaning 888) Prophets and angels |‘Alayh is-Salam | Peace be on him. ole + . Radiya *Llahu May Allah be pleased & |A male companion ‘anh with him. ee A female Radiya 'Llahu May Allah be pleased a Radiya ’Llahu May Allah be pleased ‘Be | Two companions ‘anhuma with them, it More than two Radiya ’Llahu May Allah be pleased companions ‘anhum with them. Py A past scholar or Rahimahu ’Llah May Allah have mercy