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                               GLOSSARY

                               ========

 

A.H.

      After Hijrah (see Hijrah).

 

`Aad

      Rebellious people of Irum. Community to which Hood was sent.

 

Ahzaab

      Parties; Battle of Al-Ahzaab.

 

`Alem

      Religious scholar. Scientist. Knowledgeable person. Plural is

      `Ulama.

 

Al-Hamdu Lillah

      Praise be to God.

 

Allah

      God, The God, The only God.

 

Allahu Akbar

      God is Great.

 

Allat

      Idol of Idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be

      "daughter of God!"

 

Arafat

      Knoll near Mecca where pilgrims spend a day of commemorating

      God during Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.

 

Ansaar

      The helpers or allies. Inhabitants of Medina who were the first

      to embrace Islam. They offered help to the immigrants who fled

      Mecca (see Muhajireen).

 

Ayah

      Sign. Miracle. Verse.

 

Ayaat

      Plural of Ayah.

 

Ayyoub

      Job, a messenger of God.

 

Azan

      The call to Salat prayer.

 

B.H.

      Before Hijrah (see Hijrah)

 

Badr

      Name of a place near Mecca. The first battle between Muhammad's

      followers and the idolators.

 

Basmalah

      First verse. Opening statement for every sura, except Sura 9.

 

Bismillah

      In the name of God.

 

Gabriel

      Angel responsible for carrying God's messages and revelations

      to planet Earth.

 

Gematria

      The numerical values of the letters of the alphabet prior to the

      invention of numerals.

 

Hadith

      Narrations or utterances falsely attributed to Muhammad.

      Appeared 250 years after Muhammad's death. 45:6 enjoins

      believers from upholding any Hadith besides the Quran.

 

Hajj

      Pilgrimage to Mecca during the Sacred Months (see Sacred Months)

 

Halal

      Lawful; permitted.

 

Haraam

      Unlawful; prohibited.

 

Haram

      Sacred. "Al-Masjid Al-Haram" is the Sacred Mosque of Mecca.

 

Hawwa

      Eve.

 

Hijrah

      Immigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. Islamic Calendar

      began that year.

 

Hijrah Calendar

      Lunar Calendar. Names and numbers of the months ar:

      1.  Muharram.               7.  Rajab.

      2.  Safar.                  8.  Sha`ban.

      3.  Rabi` I.                9.  Ramadan.

      4.  Rabi` II.               10. Shawwal.

      5.  Jumada I.               11. Zul Qi`dah.

      6.  Jumada II.              12. Zul Hijjah.

 

Hood

      Messenger of God. Sent to `Aad.

 

Hunayn

      Battle of Hunain; a place.

 

Iblis

      Satan.

 

Imam

      Religious leader. Leader.

 

In Shaa Allah

      God willing.

 

Injeel

      Gospel. Jesus' scripture.

 

Irum

      City where the community of `Aad lived, and to which Hood was

      sent.

 

Islam

      Submission and devotion to God alone. The only religion

      acceptable to God (3:19).

 

Israa'

      27th night of Ramadan, 13 B.H.  Night journey of Muhammad to the

      highest Heaven where the Quran was placed in his soul. See

      "Night of Power."

 

Jannah

      Paradise. Heaven.

 

Jahannaum

      Gehenna; Hell.

 

Jinns

      Descendants of Satan. Invisible, constant companions of every

      human being from birth to death. When freed upon death of the

      human being, they become Jinns.

 

Jum`ah

      Friday. The Friday Congregational Prayer. Mandatory for all

      Muslim men and women every Friday noon.

 

Ka`bah

      A building in form of a cube. The cube-shaped shrine built by

      Abraham in Mecca. The point towards which Muslims face during

      their contact prayers (Salat).

 

Kaafer

      Disbeliever. Heathen. Atheist.

 

Kitab

      Book. Scripture.

 

La Elaha Ella Allah.

      Islam's creed: "There is no other god besides God."  The First

      Commandment in all scriptures.

 

Laylat Al-Qadr

      (see Night of Power)

 

Maa Shaa Allah

      This is God's will.

 

Manaat

      Iol of idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be

      "daughter of God."

 

Midyan

      Ancient community north of Sinai. Community of Shu'aib.

 

Mu'azzin

      One who chants the Azan. Caller to the Salat prayer. Announcer.

 

Muhajireen

      Plural of Muhajir; immigrants who fled Mecca to Medina because

      of persecution.

 

Mullas

      Religious teachers.

 

Mu'men

      Believers who got rid of all doubt; higher rank than "Muslim."

 

Munafeq

      Hypocrite.

 

Mushrik

      Idol worshiper. Idolater. (See Shirk.)

 

Muslim

      One who decided to submit to God and uphold His commandments,

      but he may still has doubts.

 

Nabi

      Prophet; a messenger of God who delivers a new scripture.

      Muhammad was the final Nabi, because he deliverd the final

      scripture.

 

Night of Power

      Night of Destiny or Laylat Al-Qadr. 27th night of Ramadan, 13

      B.H.  Night during which the Quran was revealed. Muhammad was

      taken to the highest Heaven to receive the Quran.

 

Qaaroon

      Wealthy slave driver. A Hebrew traitor who served Pharaoh by

      enslaving his own people.

 

Qiblah

      Direction Muslims face during their contact prayers (Salat).

 

Rak`ah

      One unit of contact prayer (Salat).

 

Rasoul

      Messenger of God, or prophet, who may or may not deliver a new

      scripture (see Nabi). Every Nabi was a Rasoul, but not every

      Rasoul is a Nabi. See definitions in 3:81.

 

Saaleh

      Messenger of God.

 

Sacred Months

      The 12th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months of the Islamic Calendar.

      Months during which Muslims observe Hajj.

 

Sacred Mosque

      Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. The great mosque in Mecca, where the Ka'bah

      is located.

 

Salam

      Peace. Greeting.

 

Salamun `Alaikum

      Peace be unto you; greeting.

 

Salat

      Daily contact prayers - dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, & night

      prayers.

 

Seyam

      Fasting; usually during the month of Ramadan. Abstaining from

      food, drink, and sex from dawn to sunset. Also silence vows.

 

Shaikh

      Old man, or religious teacher, or head of the tribe.

 

Shirk

      Idolatry. Idol worship. Associating any other name with God's

      name. Believing that any creatures possess any kind of power to

      benefit or harm.

 

Subhan Allah

      God be glorified.

 

Subhanahu Wa Ta`aala

      Glory be to the Most High.

 

Sunna

      Practices attributed falsely to the prophet Muhammad; practiced

      by those who idolize Muhammad against his will. In Quran, God

      forbids all Sunnas, except His Sunna.

 

Shu`aib

      of Midyan. Messenger of God.

 

Sura

      Chapter in the Quran.

 

Talut

      Saul.

 

Tayammum

      Dry, waterless, ablution.

 

Thamoud

      Rebellious people of Saaleh.

 

Uhud

      Mountain near Medina. Battle of.

 

Ulama

      Religious scholars; plural of "`Alem."

 

Umrah

      Pilgrimage to Mecca any time of the year, including the Sacred

      Months (see Hajj & Sacred Months).

 

Uzzah

      Idol of idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be

      "daughter of God."

 

Wudu'

      Ablution.

 

Yahya

      John

 

Yathrib

      Ancient name of Medina.

 

Yousuf

      Joseph

 

Zakat

      Obligatory charity; 2.5% of one's net income that must be given

      upon receiving such income to needy people according to a

      specific distribution system.

 

Zul Qarnain

      The one with two horns. Messenger of God who helped confine Gog

      & Magog. Most probably Buddha.