Glossary

89 terms, defined in the words of this edition.

A

A.H: A.H: After Hijrah (see Hijrah).
Aad: Aad: Rebellious people of Irum. Community to which Hood was sent.
Ahzaab: Ahzaab: Parties; Battle of Al-Ahzaab.
Al-Hamdu Lillah: Al-Hamdu Lillah: Praise be to God.
Alem: Alem: Religious scholar. Scientist. Knowledgeable person. Plural is 'Ulama.
Allah: Allah: God, The God, The only God.
Allahu Akbar: Allahu Akbar: God is Great.
Allat: Allat: Idol of idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be "daughter of God!"
Ansaar: 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).
Arafat: Arafat: Knoll near Mecca where pilgrims spend a day of commemorating God during Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage.
Ayaat: Ayaat: Plural of Ayah.
Ayah: Ayah: Sign. Miracle. Verse.
Ayyoub: Ayyoub: Job, a messenger of God.
Azan: Azan: The call to Salat prayer.

B.H.: B.H.: Before Hijrah (see Hijrah)
Badr: Badr: Name of a place near Mecca. The first battle between Muhammad's followers and the idolators.
Basmalah: Basmalah: First verse. Opening statement for every sura, except Sura 9.
Bismillah: Bismillah: In the name of God.

Gabriel: Gabriel: Angel responsible for carrying God's messages and revelations to the planet Earth.
Gematria: Gematria: The numerical values of the letters of the alphabet prior to the invention of numerals.

Hadith: 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: Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca during the Sacred Months (see Sacred Months).
Halal: Halal: Lawful; permitted.
Haraam: Haraam: Unlawful; prohibited.
Haram: Haram: Sacred. "Al-Masjid Al-Haram" is the Sacred Mosque of Mecca.
Hawwa: Hawwa: Eve.
Hijrah: Hijrah: Immigration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. Islamic Calendar began that year.
Hijrah Calendar: Hijrah Calendar: Lunar Calendar. Names and numbers of the months are: 1. Muharram. 2. Safar. 3. Rabi' I. 4. Rabi' II. 5. Jumada I. 6. Jumada II. 7. Rajab. 8. Sha'ban. 9. Ramadan. 10. Shawwal. 11. Zul Qi'dah. 12. Zul Hijjah.
Hood: Hood: Messenger of God. Sent to 'Aad.
Hunayn: Hunayn: Battle of Hunain; a place.

Iblis: Iblis: Satan.
Imam: Imam: Religious leader. Leader.
In Shaa Allah: In Shaa Allah: God willing.
Injeel: Injeel: Gospel. Jesus' scripture.
Irum: Irum: City where the community of 'Aad lived, and to which Hood was sent.
Islam: Islam: Submission and devotion to God alone. The only religion acceptable by God (3:19).
Israa': 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."

Jahannaum: Jahannaum: Gehenna; Hell.
Jannah: Jannah: Paradise. Heaven.
Jinns: 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: Jum'ah: Friday. The Friday Congregational Prayer. Mandatory for all Muslim men and women every Friday noon.

Ka'bah: 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: Kaafer: Disbeliever. Heathen. Atheist.
Kitab: Kitab: Book. Scripture.

La Elaha Ella Allah: La Elaha Ella Allah: Islam's creed: "There is no other god besides God." The First Commandment in all scriptures.
Laylat Al-Qadr: Laylat Al-Qadr: (see Night of Power)

Maa Shaa Allah: Maa Shaa Allah: This is God's will.
Manaat: Manaat: Idol of idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be "daughter of God."
Midyan: Midyan: Ancient community north of Sinai. Community of Shu'aib.
Mu'azzin: Mu'azzin: One who chants the Azan. Caller to the Salat prayer. Announcer.
Mu'men: Mu'men: Believer who got rid of all doubt; higher rank than "Muslim."
Muhajireen: Muhajireen: Plural of Muhajir; immigrants who fled Mecca to Medina because of persecution.
Mullas: Mullas: Religious teachers.
Munafeq: Munafeq: Hypocrite.
Mushrik: Mushrik: Idol worshiper. Idolater. (See Shirk.)
Muslim: Muslim: One who decided to submit to God and uphold His commandments, but he may still has doubts.

Nabi: Nabi: Prophet; a messenger of God who delivers a new scripture. Muhammad was the final Nabi, because he delivered the final scripture.
Night of Power: 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: Qaaroon: Wealthy slave driver. A Hebrew traitor who served Pharaoh by enslaving his own people.
Qiblah: Qiblah: Direction Muslims face during their contact prayers (Salat).

Rak'ah: Rak'ah: One unit of contact prayer (Salat).
Rasoul: 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: Saaleh: Messenger of God.
Sacred Months: Sacred Months: The 12th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months of the Islamic Calendar. Months during which Muslims observe Hajj.
Sacred Mosque: Sacred Mosque: Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. The great mosque in Mecca, where the Ka'bah is located.
Salam: Salam: Peace. Greeting.
Salamun 'Alaikum: Salamun 'Alaikum: Peace be unto you; greeting
Salat: Salat: Daily contact prayers-dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, & night prayers.
Seyam: Seyam: Fasting; usually during the month of Ramadan. Abstaining from food, drink, and sex from dawn to sunset. Also silence vows.
Shaikh: Shaikh: Old man, or religious teacher, or head of the tribe.
Shirk: 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.
Shu'aib: Shu'aib: of Midyan. Messenger of God.
Subhan Allah: Subhan Allah: God be glorified.
Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala: Subhanahu Wa Ta'aala: Glory be to the Most High.
Sunna: 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.
Sura: Sura: Chapter in the Quran.

Uhud: Uhud: Mountain near Medina. Battle of.
Ulama: Ulama: Religious scholars; plural of " 'Alem."
Umrah: Umrah: Pilgrimage to Mecca any time of the year, including the Sacred Months (see Hajj & Sacred Months).
Uzzah: Uzzah: Idol of idolatrous Arabia before Muhammad; claimed to be 'daughter of God.'

Zakat: 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: Zul Qarnain: The one with two horns. Messenger of God who helped confine Gog & Magog. Most probably Buddha.