Islamic glossary

Call to prayer

The call that tells Muslims a prayer time has begun. It is called out from the mosque, usually by the muadhin.

Ablution

The washing of the face, arms, head and feet in a set order before prayer and some other acts of worship.

Prayer

The five daily prayers, the second pillar of Islam, made of standing, bowing, prostrating and sitting with recitation.

Unit of prayer

One complete cycle of the prayer: standing, bowing, two prostrations and sitting. Each prayer has a set number of rak'ahs.

Direction of prayer

The direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, which Muslims face when they pray.

Friday prayer

The weekly congregational prayer held at midday on Friday, which replaces Dhuhr and includes a sermon.

Odd-numbered prayer

A prayer of an odd number of rak'ahs prayed after Isha, which closes the night prayers.

Declaration of faith

The statement that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger. It is the first pillar of Islam and the way a person enters Islam.

Oneness of Allah

The belief that Allah is One, with no partner, and that He alone deserves worship.

Associating partners with Allah

Worshipping or giving to anything else a right that belongs only to Allah. It is the greatest sin in Islam.

Faith

Belief in the heart, spoken by the tongue and shown in actions, in Allah, the angels, the books, the messengers, the Last Day and the divine decree.

Excellence

Worshipping Allah as if you see Him, and knowing that even if you do not see Him, He sees you.

God-consciousness

Being aware of Allah and careful to follow His commands and avoid what He forbids, out of love and respect.

Remembrance of Allah

Remembering Allah by repeating phrases of praise, such as SubhanAllah and Alhamdulillah, or by reciting the Quran.

Islamic jurisprudence

The science of understanding the practical rulings of Islam from the Quran, the Sunnah and the methods scholars use.

Religious opinion

A ruling given by a qualified scholar in answer to a question. It applies to the case that was asked.

School of fiqh

One of the established schools of Islamic law. The four main Sunni schools are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali.

Obligatory

An act that Muslims must do, such as the five daily prayers. Leaving it without excuse is a sin.

Forbidden

What Allah has forbidden. Doing it is a sin and avoiding it for Allah's sake is rewarded.

Permitted

What is allowed in Islam. The word is most often used for food and drink, but it covers everything allowed.

Innovation

A new practice added to religion as an act of worship that has no basis in the Quran or the Sunnah.

The Holy Quran

The word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Jibril, recited and preserved in Arabic.

Chapter of the Quran

One of the 114 chapters of the Quran.

Verse

One verse of the Quran. The word also means a sign of Allah.

Explanation of the Quran

The science and the books that explain the meanings of the Quran.

Report of the Prophet ﷺ

A report of what the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, did or approved. Hadith are the main source of the Sunnah.

Authentic

The highest grade of a hadith: it has a connected chain of trustworthy narrators and no hidden defect.

The way of the Prophet ﷺ

The teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In fiqh it can also mean a recommended act.

Obligatory charity

The third pillar of Islam: a set share of wealth, usually 2.5%, paid each year by Muslims who own more than the nisab, to those in need.

Voluntary charity

Anything given for the sake of Allah, from money to a kind word, beyond the obligatory zakat.

Fasting

Staying away from food, drink and marital relations from dawn to sunset. Fasting in Ramadan is the fourth pillar of Islam.

Night of Power

The night in Ramadan in which the Quran began to be revealed. Worship on it is better than a thousand months.

Festival

One of the two Muslim festivals: Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan and Eid al-Adha after the day of Arafah.

Pilgrimage to Makkah

The fifth pillar of Islam: a pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhul Hijjah, required once in a lifetime for those who are able.

Lesser pilgrimage

A visit to the Kaaba with tawaf and sa'i that can be done at any time of the year.

Sacred state of the pilgrim

The state a pilgrim enters for Hajj or Umrah, with the intention, simple clothes for men and certain restrictions.

Paradise

The eternal home of reward that Allah has prepared for the believers.

Divine decree

The belief that Allah knows, has written and wills all that happens, while people still choose and are responsible for their actions.

Angels

Beings created from light who obey Allah fully. Jibril and Mikail are among them.

The hereafter

The life after death, including the grave, the Day of Judgement and the final home in Paradise or Hellfire.