Basic Islamic Phrases: Part 3

Islamic Terms

Ansar: The helpers. The basic reference is to the new Muslims of Medina who helped the Prophet and the Meccan Muslims after they fled Mecca.

Arabic: A language which originated in the Middle East, specifically in the Arabian peninsula. It is the language Allah chose to reveal His last revelation to the world in.

Arkan al Islami: This means the Pillars of Islam. There are five main practices or “pillars” in the life of a Muslim.


Aqidah: Theology

Assalamu ‘alaykum: “Peace be upon you.” This is the universal Muslim greeting. The Prophet said that Muslims must use this greeting when they meet. There are also verses in the Qur’an about it. If a person approaches a group, the person should say it first. A younger person should greet an older person first. The reply is “Wa alaykum assalam.” “And upon you be peace.”

Ayah: A verse of the Qur’an. The word literally means a “sign.” The plural is Ayat.

Barzakh: The time in between our death and the day we are raised up for judgment. Our souls will be in “storage”or Barzakh. The word literally means, “Partition” or “Dividing Line.” The stage after our death leading on till the day of judgement.

Barakah: Blessing

Bid’a: This means “Innovation” or “Unauthorized Changes.” The Prophet forbade people from making any changes to the teachings or practices of Islam. He said such things and people would go to the Hell fire.So it is essential that we all keep away from deviant sects and the innovators of Islam who mask themselves as being on the straight path but are certainly not.Always stick the the Qur’an and Strong Hadith from the opinion of the majority of scholars.

Da’wah: This means calling or inviting people (to Islam). If you’re talking to someone about Islam you’re doing Da’wah. A Da’i is the person who does Da’wah.

Deen: Way of Life. Islam is not a religion, it’s a complete way of life.

Dhikr (Thzikr): This means to remember Allah. When you repeat words or sentences over and over so you can meditate on Allah and his greatness in the vast universe he has created and this earth which he has made just for us as a test ground but we will all return to him.Meditate about all these things whilest praising the lord and cleanse your mind, you are doing or making dhikr. Common dhikr phrases are: “La ilaha illa Allah” (There is no god but Allah.) “Subahanullah wa Bihumdeehee”(Glory to Allah and His is the Praise.) “Alhamdolillah” (all praise be to allah). “Allahu akbar” (allah is the greatest). Saying that last one 100 times gets all your sins forgiven according to the Blessed Prophet. There are many more. Many Muslims like to get those prayer beads to help them keep count but the Prophet said you get more reward if you do it on your fingers alone.

Du’a: This means to call on Allah. Its supplication when one supplicates to the lord. Whenever you ask Allah for something, whether out loud or inside, you are calling on Him. You can make du’a in any words, in any language and Allah has promised to respond, although in a way we might not expect. Many Muslims like to learn some of the du’as that the Prophet said, but you can use your own words to talk to your Maker.

Dunya: This world. “Hayatud Dunya”: “The life of this world.”

‘Eid: (Or: ‘Id.) The Muslim holiday. There are two Eid’s. One at the end of fasting in Ramadan is called Eid ul Fitr. The other after the Hajj is over is called Eid ul Adh ha.

Fardh: Something you must do in Islam.An act which is obligatory on us to complete or fulfill. Something that is required by Allah for us to do.

Fatwa: A scholar’s opinion or judgment on an issue related to Islam. It is not binding on a Muslim if there is doubt about it or it can be shown to be faulty. Only a recognized scholar, or ‘Alim can issue Fatwas and other scholars must investigate the veracity of their basis.

Fatwa: A legal opinion of a Muslim jurist (i.e. Muslim law)

Fiqh: The science of understanding the Shari’ah. In the past small groups of people with similar opinions about the Shari’ah joined together and formed intellectual clubs called a Math-hab. Today there are five big groupings of these Madh-habs. Shaf’, Hanbali, Maliki, Jafari and Hanafi. Not all Muslims accept the Jafari school as valid due to technical reasons. A Muslim can follow the ideas of any one of them or none of them at all. After all, we have the Qur’an, the sayings of the Prophet, the sayings of his companions and our brains. Don’t be afraid to use them.

Ghusl: A full shower. A Ghusl is required after any sexual discharge or activity before prayers can be offered again. A Ghusl is highly recommended on Fridays before going to Jum’ah prayers.

Hadith: A saying or report by or about the Blessed Prophet. The most reliable collections of Hadith are named after the scholars who collected them in the early days of Islam and checked on them for accuracy. They are: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, An Nisa’i, Ibn Majah. There are some good books that take Hadiths from the main six and group them by topic. Those good resource books are as follows: “Riyadh as Saliheen”“Mishkat ul Masabih” and “Al Muwatta.”

Hafiz: (Hafithz) A memorizer or guardian of the entire Qur’an.A person who’s memorised the whole Qur’an by heart.

Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca that one is required to do once in a life time if one can afford it.

Halal: Allowed for a Muslim.

Haram: Forbidden for a Muslim.

Hijab: The scarf a woman wears over her head. Some Muslims who like to compromise their beliefs say it’s not required in Islam and they are very wrong and have no knowledge of their Islam. It is obligatory on women to cover as is said to us by our lord for a women to protect her chastity and keep her respect because a women who shows off her beauty and bodily definitions is certainly not respected in the eyes of a man rather looked at in a sexual way. So Islam has the utmost honour and respect for women and given them such a high position in society compared with the west which is quite the opposite. The face-veil (niqab) is entirely up to the individual and it depends on the level of faith of the sister whether she wants to wear it or not although a lot of scholars do say it should be worn because Allah also told the women in the Prophet’s family in the Qur’an to wear the veil and if he told them to wear it then it should also be worn by all Muslim women but other scholars say it is preferable but not compulsory.