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Glossary of Arabic Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ahadith | Collection of traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم), which may be sayings, actions or approvals |
| ʿAlayhis salaam | (Arabic: عليه السلام) Peace be upon him. This phrase is spoken after naming any Prophet other than Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم). It is also used for the archangels. |
| Anti taliq | You are divorced (written or spoken when performing talaaq) |
| Aqd-Nikah | Written marriage contract |
| Aqiqa | Ceremony that takes place seven days after a child’s birth, where a sheep is slaughtered and the child's hair is shaved |
| Ash-Shuhud | Witnesses (at marriage) |
| Awrah | Parts of the body which must be covered |
| Azan | Muslim call to prayer |
| Azl | Withdrawal method of birth control (coitus interruptus) |
| Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim | In the name of Allah |
| Bulugh | Age of majority according to Islamic law |
| Coitus interruptus | Withdrawal method of birth control |
| Deen | Religion, religiousness, faith |
| Du`a | Prayer |
| Faskh | Revoking a marriage because of flaws in the marriage contract or because there are other issues that prevent the marriage from succeeding |
| Feqh | (1) the understanding of the Shari’ah Laws, and the capacity to discover and derive newer meanings and applications beyond the apparent textual meaning (2) intensive and extensive knowledge of Islam. |
| Ghusl | bath performed following a state of janabah (see below) |
| Hadd | Punishment |
| Hadith | Traditions of the Prophet Mohammed (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم), which can be sayings, actions or approvals |
| Haidh | Menstrual period |
| Halaal | Legal |
| Halaqah | Islamic social gathering |
| Haqq-i-faskh | The right to annul a marriage, given to a wife, if the husband is unable to have intercourse |
| Haram | Illegal, forbidden |
| Hijab | The type of head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women, but can also refer to modest Muslim styles of dress in general |
| Ibadah | Act of worship |
| `Iddah/Iddat | Waiting period of a woman who has been divorced or widowed |
| Ijab wal-Qubul | Offer and acceptance part of nikah ceremony, where the bride’s wali offers the bride in marriage and the groom accepts |
| Ijhadh | Abortion |
| Imam | Islamic leader, often the leader of a mosque and the community |
| Insha’Allah | Arabic phrase, which translates as “God willing” and used when referring to future events |
| Janabah | State of sexual impurity (following intercourse, or during a woman’s period or bleed following childbirth, and before ghusl is performed |
| Junub | Describes a man or woman when in a state of janabah (see above) |
| Khitan | Circumcision |
| Khutba-tun-Nikah | Sermon which blesses a marriage ceremony |
| Kuffar | Non-believer, atheist |
| Khul` | Menstrual period |
| Mahr | Dowry – paid by the husband to the wife as a show of goodwill to his new wife and as a sign that he honours her |
| Mahram | Unmarriageable kin |
| Mangni | Engagement ceremony |
| Masjid | Arabic name for mosque |
| Mendhi | The application of henna to a bride’s hands and feet before marriage |
| Muhsanah | Chaste and virtuous woman |
| Mut`ah | Temporary marriage |
| Nikah | Muslim wedding contract |
| Niyyah | Intention to perform an act of worship to Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Taala سبحانه و تعالى) |
| Non-mahram | A person that one can marry and should therefore obey the rules of modesty with |
| Qadhi | Muslim judge who renders decisions according to the Shari'ah |
| Qarabah | Kinship |
| Qur’an | The Holy text of Islam, containing the words of Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Taala سبحانه و تعالى)as revealed to Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم) by the angel Jibrīl (Gabriel) over a period of approximately twenty-three years |
| Raa | Abbreviation of Radhiallâhu anha or Radhiallahu 'anhu (see below) |
| Radhiallâhu anha | May God be pleased with Her. This phrase is usually spoken after the name of a righteous woman. |
| Radhiallahu 'anhu | (Arabic: رضي الله عنه) may God be pleased with Him. This phrase is usually spoken after the name of a righteous man. |
| Rahmah | Mercy |
| Rak’at | Portion of a prayer |
| Ramadan | The Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset. |
| Ruh | Soul |
| Sadaq | See Mahr |
| Salaah al-Istikhara | Special Islamic prayer which asks Allah, swt, for guidance |
| Salah | Prayer |
| Salatul Fajr | Morning prayer |
| Salatul Isha | Late night prayer |
| ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam | (Arabic: صلى الله عليه وسلم) May Allah bless him and grant Him peace. This is spoken after mentioning the Prophet Muhammad. |
| Saws | Abbreviation of ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam (see above) |
| Shaitan | Satan |
| Shari’ah | Islamic law |
| Shari’ah law | Islamic law |
| Shaytan | Satan |
| Shura | Consultation |
| Sihriyya | Relationship through marriage |
| Sirah | Biography of the Prophet Mohammed (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم) |
| Subhaanahu Wa Taala | (Arabic: سبحانه و تعالى) This phrase is uttered following mention of Allah and means “Glorious and exhalted is He (Allah).” |
| Sunnah | The manner or deeds of Muhammad (ṣall Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam صلى الله عليه وسلم), which have been validated by His companions |
| Tabanni | Adoption |
| Talaaq | Divorce whereby a man says to his wife, or writes it down for her to read, that he is divorcing her. It must also be made in front of two witnesses. |
| Talaq mughallaz | Irrevocable divorce |
| Talluqtuki | I have divorced you (written or spoken when performing talaaq) |
| Tamyiz | Age of discernment |
| Tanzim Al-Haml | Birth control |
| Ummah | Community of believers/ the Islamic community as a whole |
| Umrah | Pilgrimage to Mecca |
| Wajib | Islamic duty |
| Wali | Male guardian, who has responsibility for a woman seeking a husband |
| Walima | Wedding banquet |
| Wudhu | Ablution to prepare oneself for prayer |
| Zakat | The giving of a small percentage of one's surplus wealth to charity |
| Zawaj | Marriage |
| Zinaa | Fornication (sex outside marriage) |
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