Islamic Glossary

Call to prayer announced five times daily from the mosque

The Hereafter, life after death

The One and Only God in Islam. The Arabic word for God, used by Arabic-speaking Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Verse of the Quran (plural: Ayat)

Religion, way of life, complete system of living

Supplication, personal prayer to Allah. Can be in any language and at any time.

Dawn prayer, the first of the five daily prayers

Obligatory act in Islam that must be performed

Islamic jurisprudence, the human understanding and application of Shariah

Full ritual bath for purification, required after certain acts

Recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Pilgrimage to Makkah, the fifth pillar of Islam, required once in a lifetime if able

Permissible in Islam, allowed by Islamic law

Forbidden in Islam, prohibited by Islamic law

Modest covering, often refers to the headscarf worn by Muslim women

Migration of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE, marking the start of the Islamic calendar

Excellence in worship, spiritual perfection. To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, know that He sees you.

Prayer leader in the mosque, or a scholar of Islamic knowledge

Faith, belief in the six articles of faith (Allah, Angels, Books, Prophets, Day of Judgment, Qadr)

God willing, if Allah wills. Said when speaking about future plans.

Submission to Allah, the religion revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Hellfire, the place of punishment in the Hereafter

Paradise, Heaven, the eternal reward for believers

Struggle or striving in the way of Allah. Can be internal (against one's ego) or external (defending Islam). Often misunderstood.

Beings created from smokeless fire, invisible to humans, with free will like humans

Friday congregational prayer, obligatory for men

The cube-shaped structure in Makkah, the direction Muslims face in prayer, built by Prophet Ibrahim

Disbeliever, one who rejects faith in Allah

Successor, vicegerent, steward. Humans are described as khalifah on earth.

Sermon, especially the Friday sermon before Jumu'ah prayer

City where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated to and established the first Islamic state

Bridal gift given by the groom to the bride in Islamic marriage

Close relative whom one cannot marry (e.g., parent, sibling, child)

Holy city in Saudi Arabia where Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born and where the Ka'bah is located

Disliked but not forbidden in Islam

Mosque, place of worship for Muslims

Believer, one who has faith (Iman)

Permissible, neutral act in Islam (neither rewarded nor punished)

First month of the Islamic calendar, one of the four sacred months

Hypocrite, one who outwardly shows Islam but inwardly disbelieves

One who commits shirk, polytheist, one who associates partners with Allah

One who submits to Allah, follower of Islam

Prophet, one who receives revelation from Allah

Impurity that must be removed for prayer

Islamic marriage contract

Intention, must be made in the heart before acts of worship

Divine decree, predestination, Allah's knowledge and will of all things

Direction of prayer, towards the Ka'bah in Makkah

Standing position in prayer

The holy book of Islam, the literal word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Unit of prayer consisting of standing, bowing, and prostrating

Ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month of fasting

Messenger, a prophet who brings a new scripture or law

Usury, interest, forbidden in Islam

Bowing position in prayer

Patience, perseverance, steadfastness in the face of difficulty

Voluntary charity given for the sake of Allah

Companions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Ritual prayer performed five times daily, the second pillar of Islam

Peace, also the greeting 'Assalamu alaikum' (Peace be upon you)

Fasting, especially during Ramadan, the fourth pillar of Islam

Declaration of faith: 'There is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.' The first pillar of Islam.

Islamic law derived from the Quran and Sunnah

Satan, the devil, the chief of the jinn who refused to prostrate to Adam

Associating partners with Allah, polytheism, the gravest sin in Islam

Gratitude, thankfulness to Allah

Prostration in prayer, placing forehead on the ground

The way of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his teachings, actions, and approvals. Also refers to recommended acts.

Chapter of the Quran (114 total)

Quranic exegesis, interpretation and explanation of the Quran

Voluntary night prayer performed after sleeping

Purity, purification, state of cleanliness required for prayer

Saying 'Allahu Akbar' (Allah is the Greatest)

God-consciousness, piety, awareness of Allah in all actions

Special voluntary night prayers performed during Ramadan

Sitting position in prayer where testimony of faith is recited

Trust and reliance on Allah, doing your best then trusting Allah with the results

Oneness of Allah, Islamic monotheism, the fundamental belief in Islam

Global Muslim community, the worldwide community of believers

Minor pilgrimage to Makkah, can be performed any time of year

Obligatory, required (similar to Fard)

Ablution, ritual washing performed before prayer

Obligatory charity, 2.5% of wealth given annually to the poor, the third pillar of Islam

Remembrance of Allah, can be through specific phrases or general mindfulness