EASY GUIDE FOR NEW MUSLIMS

11) COMMONLY USED ISLAMIC  TERMS

AL-HAMDU LILLAH: Praise be to Allah.  Should be said on all occasions and especially after sneezing.

ALLAH: The Name of the Creator of the universe.

SHAHADA: The creed of Islam: 'I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and

I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

SALAAT: Prayer

FAJR: Early morning prayer

ZUHR: Noon Prayer (early afternoon prayer)

ASR: Late afternoon prayer

MAGHRIB: Sunset Prayer

ISHA: Night Prayer

SAUM: Fasting

ZAKAT: Obligatory Charity

HAJJ: Pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah.

SURA: Chapter of the Quran. Quran has 114 Suras or chapters.

AYAH: Verse of the Holy Quran (also means a 'sign' of Allah)

BIDAH: Any innovated practices introduced in the religion of Islam.

BISMILLAH: 'In the Name of Allah", this statement is usually made by Muslims who are about to indulge in a lawful task.

DAWAH: Propagation of Islam through word and action, calling the people to follow the commandments of Allah.

DAJJAL: Anti-Christ.

DEEN: Usually translated as 'religion'. Deen is a comprehensive word which means a total way of life, following the commandments of Allah. 

DUA: Supplication: invoking Allah for whatever one desires.

EID-AL-ADHA: The feast of Sacrifice.  This feast commemorates the Prophet Abraham's obedience to Allah by being prepared to sacrifice his only son Ishmael. A four-day festival that completes the rites of pilgrimage and takes place on the 10th-13th of Dhul Hijjah (the last Islamic month)

EID AL-FITR: three day festival marking the end of Ramadan - the 9th month (the month of fasting).

FATIHA: The opening Chapter of the Quran.  Fatiha should be read in every prayer.

GHUSL: Full ritual washing of the body with water.  Ghusl should be done after sexual intercourse, wet dreams, emission, menses, childbirth.  

HADEETH:  Sayings and traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

HIJAB: Veil worn by Muslim women for reasons of modesty and protection.

IMAM: A person who leads the prayer and also for a famous Muslim Scholar.

IMAN: Truth, faith and acceptance.

ISA: Arabic word for Jesus Christ.

ISLAM: literally means 'submission to the will of Allah'.

JAHANAM: Hell

JANNAH: Paradise.

JIBREEL: Angel Gabriel.

JIHAD: means struggling one's utmost to be a better person in the sight of Allah, and to establish Islamic way of life.

JINN: a race of created beings that are made out of smokeless fire.

JUMMA: 'Friday', the Muslim's day of gathering on Friday noon prayers. 

KAABA: Holiest, and first shrine constructed for the worship of One God, Allah.  Muslims face towards the direction of the Kaaba, Makkah.

KAFIR: Unbeliever, who have rejected the truth of Islam.

KHALIFA: A Muslim ruler of an Islamic State.

KHUTBA: Sermon.

MALAIKAH: Angels.

MOSQUE: Mosque, places of worship for the Muslims.  In one sense the whole earth is a Mosque for the Muslims, The dome of the heavens its roof.

MASEEH: A title which means "Anointed" or 'Christ'  Title given to Prophet Jesus.

MIRAJ: The night journey of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from Makkah to Jerusalem and then through the realms of the seven heavens.

MUHAMMAD: The name of the final Messenger and Prophet of God to Humanity.

MUHARRAM: The first month of the Islamic Calendar.

MUSLIM: Literally means 'submitting to the will', i.e. to the will of Allah, the Almighty.

QIBLA: Direction in which all Muslims face when praying, which is the Kaaba, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.  The direction is north-east in the united states.

QURAN: The last revelation of Allah given to Humanity, through his last Prophet and Messenger, Muhammad - peace be upon him.

RAMADAN: The month of Fasting, the 9th month of the Islamic Calendar.

SAHABI: Companion of Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him.

SAJDA: Prostration, as in prayer.

SALAAM: peace

SHAITAN: Satan.

SHARIA: Islamic Law . It encompasses both the Quran and Hadith, the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

SHIRK: Associating partners with Allah.  The grave sin of Shirk is not forgiven if a person dies in that state.

SUBHAN ALLAH: means 'Glory be to Allah'.

TAHARA: purification of body, clothing and souls.

TAWHEED: The Divine Unity, in its most profound sense.  Allah is One in His Essence and His Attributes and His Acts.

TAYAMMUM: Dry purification when water is not available or is detrimental to health.

UMRA:  A pilgrimage to Makkah, but not during the Hajj period.

WITR: A prayer which has an odd number of Rakat (units).  Usually referred to the last prayer of the night after the Isha prayer.

WUDU: Purifying with water before performing prayers.