JUMU'AH&EID

GLOSSARY

Explanation of Islamic Terms

Adaa: Literally means performance, execution or discharge of a duty. "Adaa salaat" refers to a salaat which is offered at its specified time. "Adaa" is the opposite of "qada".

Adhaan: The call to salaat. For further details, refer to the chapter on "Adhaan".

Ahl ul-Kitaab: Literally means "People of the Book". Generally, it refers to the Jews and the Christians.

Arsh: The throne of Allah Ta'ala.

Asr: Literally means "afternoon". Generally, it refers to the afternoon prayer which is the third of the five daily salaats. It is also referred to as asr salaat or salaatul asr.

Aurah: Literally means "genitals". In Islamic terminology it refers to that area of the body which has to be covered. For men, the aurah is from the navel to below the knees. As for women, their entire bodies are regarded as an aurah.

Barakah: Literally means "blessings". It refers to the experiencing of abundance in things which are apparently insignificant or little, both in value and amount.

Bid'ah: Literally means "innovation". In Islam it refers to introducing new things into religion which have no basis in the Quran or Sunnah, and in addition to this, to regard these new things as acts of ibaadah. A bid'ah is a major sin in Islam.

Dua: Invocation to Allah, supplication, prayer, request, plea.

Dua-e-qunoot: A special dua that is recited in witr salaat. For further details, refer to the chapter on "Witr Salaat".

Durood: The sending of salutations upon Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Eid: Literally means "feast, festival". In Islam, it refers to the first day of the month of Shawwaal and the tenth day of the month of Zil Hijjah. Both these days are days of celebration and devotion to Allah Ta'ala.

Eid-gah: The place where the eid salaat is offered. In Arabic it is referred to as the "musalla".

Eid salaat: The salaat that is offered on the days of eid.

Eid ul-Ad'haa: The tenth of Zil Hijjah. Literally means "the festival of sacrifice". It is referred to as ad'haa because it is on this day that animals are sacrificed in the name of Allah and for His pleasure alone.

Eid ul-Fitr: The first of Shawwaal. Literally means "feast of breaking the Ramadaan fast". It is referred to as fitr because it is on this day that the month-long Ramadaan fast comes to an end.

Esha: Literally means "evening". Generally, it refers to the evening prayer which is the fifth of the five daily prayers. It is also referred to as esha salaat or salaatul esha.

Faasiq: Literally means "godless, sinful, offender, sinner, adulterer". In Islamic law it refers to the person who does not meet the legal requirements of righteousness.

Fajr: Literally means "dawn". Generally, it refers to the dawn prayer which is the first of the five daily prayers. It is also referred to as fajr salaat or salaatul fajr.

Fara'id: Plural of fard. Fard literally means "compulsory". In Islam it refers to those acts and things which are compulsory on a Muslim. Abandoning or abstaining from a fard act is a major sin. Rejecting a fard act amounts to kufr.

Fard: See fara'id.

Fard-e-ayn: Refers to an act or duty which is incumbent and compulsory on each and every individual.

Fard-e-kifaayah: Refers to an act or duty which is incumbent and compulsory on the community as a whole. If a few members of the community or locality fulfil that act, the entire community will be absolved of that responsibility or duty. And if no one from that community or locality fulfils that responsibility or duty, the entire community will be sinful.

Fatwa: A formal legal opinion or verdict in Islamic law.

Fidyah: Literally means "ransom". In Islamic law it refers to redemption from the omission of certain religious duties by a material donation or a ritual act.

Ghayb: Literally means "the unseen". In Islam it refers to all those things that are unseen by man and at the same time believing in them is essential. Examples of the unseen are: hell, heaven, angels, etc. A Muslim has to believe that no one has the knowledge of the unseen except Allah.

Ghayr Mahram: Refers to all those people with whom marriage is permissible. Based on this, it is also incumbent to observe purdah with all ghayr mahrams.

Ghusl: Literally means "bath, wash". In Islam it refers to the washing of the entire body from head to toe without leaving a single place dry.

Hadath: Literally means "impurity". Hadath is of two types; hadath-e-akbar and hadath-e-asghar. Hadath-e-akbar is that impurity which necessitates ghusl. Hadath-e-asghar is that impurity which necessitates wudu.

Hadith: Hadith literally means "speech". In Islam it refers to the sayings and actions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Those sayings and actions which have been endorsed or approved by him also fall under the purview of Hadith.

Haid: Monthly periods or menstruation experienced by a woman.

Hajj: Literally means "pilgrimage". In Islam it refers to the annual pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam.

Hijaab: See Purdah.

Ibaadah: Literally means "worship". In Islam it refers to all those acts of worship with which one renders worship to Allah Ta'ala.

Imam: Literally means "leader". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the leader of the congregation for salaat.

Imaamat: Refers to the act of being an imam or the entire institution of imaamate which deals with the appointment, rules, regulations, etc. which are related to the imam.

Iqaamah: Refers to the second call to salaat in a musjid indicating the imminent beginning of the salaat with congregation. For further details, refer to the chapter on adhaan and iqaamah.

Iqtidaa: Refers to the act of following the imam in salaat.

Ishaarah: Literally means "gesture". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the offering of salaat through gestures and signals for the person who is unable to offer his salaat in the normal stipulated manner due to sickness or physical handicap.

Istighfaar: The seeking of forgiveness from Allah Ta'ala.

Istikhaarah: The seeking of good from Allah Ta'ala. For further details, refer to the chapter on salaatul istikhaarah.

Istinja: Cleansing of one's private parts after having relieved oneself. This is irrespective of whether this cleansing is done with water or lumps of sand.

I'tikaaf: Literally means "to live in seclusion". In Islam, it generally refers to the act of secluding oneself in the musjid in the month of Ramadaan.

Jaahil: Literally means "an ignorant person". Here it refers to one who is ignorant of the knowledge of Islam. This is irrespective of whether it is general knowledge of Islam or knowledge of the rules and regulations of Islam.

Jaame musjid: Refers to a musjid in which the jumu'ah salaat is offered. It is generally the main musjid in a town or city.

Jahannam: Hell. A dweller of hell is called a jahannami.

Jama'at: Literally means "congregation or group". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the act of offering salaat with congregation.

Janaazah salaat: Salaat that is offered over the deceased person. For further details refer to the chapter on janaazah salaat.

Jannah: Heaven or paradise. A dweller of heaven is called a jannati.

Jihaad: Literally means "fight or battle". In Islam, it generally refers to the act of waging a war against the disbelievers as a religious duty.

Jumu'ah salaat: Refers to the mid-day salaat that is offered on Fridays. For further details, refer to the chapter on jumu'ah salaat.

Kaafir: Literally means "a disbeliever". In Islam it refers to one who rejects Allah and who does not believe in Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as the final messenger of Allah.

Kafan: A shroud or winding sheet. It refers to the sheet or shroud that is used to cover the deceased. For further details, refer to the chapter on kafan.

Kaffarah: Literally means "penance, atonement, expiation". In Islamic law it refers to redemption from the omission of certain religious duties by a material donation or a ritual act.

Khutbah: Literally means "a lecture". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the lecture or sermon that is delivered on Fridays prior to the jumu'ah salaat or the sermon that is delivered on the days of eid after the eid salaat. These khutbahs have to be delivered in the Arabic language.

Kuffaar: Plural of kaafir.

Kuniyyat: Surname or agnomen consisting of abu or umm followed by the name of the son.

Kurta: An Urdu word meaning "shirt". However, due to constant usage, it refers to the long flowing robe worn by Muslim men and which has come to be regarded as an Islamic dress.

Laahiq: A laahiq is a muqtadi who misses a few or all his rakaats after having joined the congregation irrespective of whether he has some excuse or not. For further details refer to the chapter "Masa'il connected to the imam and muqtadi" mas'ala no. 22.

Lailatul Qadr: Literally means "the night of power". It refers to the night in which the Quran was revealed. This night generally falls in the last ten odd nights of the month of Ramadaan.

Luqmah: Literally means "a little piece or morsel". In kitaabus salaat it refers to correcting the imam when he commits any mistake while leading the congregation in salaat.

Maghrib: Literally means "evening or sunset". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the time of sunset and the salaat that is offered thereafter. This salaat is known as maghrib salaat or salaatul maghrib.

Mahram: Refers to the person with whom marriage is not permissible and with whom strict purdah is not incumbent.

Makruh: That which is disliked or detestable. Makruh is of two types: makruh-e-tahrimi and makruh-e-tanzihi. Makruh-e-tahrimi is that which has been established by a proof that is not absolute. The one who rejects it is regarded as a faasiq (open sinner). A person who does something that falls under this category without any valid reason will be committing a sin and will deserve punishment. Makruh-e-tanzihi is that which if left out, will be worthy of reward and if carried out, will not entail any punishment.

Manzil: Literally means "a stopping place". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the distance travelled by a musafir.

Masah: The act of passing of wet hands over a particular part of the body.

Mas'ala: Literally means "an issue, problem or question". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to a rule or regulation. The plural of mas'ala is masaa'il.

Masbuq: A person who joins the jama'at after having missed one or more rakaats. For further details refer to the chapter "Masa'il connected to the imam and muqtadi" mas'ala no. 24.

Ma'zur: Literally means "one who is excused". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to a person who has certain sickness due to which he is excused or exempted from certain acts. For further details refer to the chapter concerning the ma'zur in Part One of Bahishti Zewar.

Mihraab: Refers to the small oval-shaped area in the front of a musjid which is specially designated for the imam when he leads the congregation in salaat.

Mimbar: Refers to the pulpit on which the imam stands and delivers the khutbah on Fridays and the days of eid.

Mu'azzin: One who calls out the adhaan.

Mudrik: One who joins the congregation without missing any rakaats.

Muhaddith: A scholar of Hadith who has attained high ranks in the different sciences of Hadith.

Mujtahideen: Plural of mujtahid. A mujtahid is one who has the qualities of making ijtihaad (deriving rules and regulations through analogy).

Mukabbir: A person who conveys the takbirs of the imam when the congregation is generally very large and there is no mike system.

Munfarid: A person who offers his salaat alone, i.e. not in congregation.

Muqeem: A person who is not a traveller. He is either at his own home or, if he has travelled, then he has made the intention of staying over at that place for more than fifteen days. For further details refer to the chapter "Salaat on a Journey".

Muqtadi: A person who follows the imam in salaat.

Murtad: Literally means "a renegade". In Islamic terminology it refers to a person who rejects Islam after having been a Muslim.

Musafir: A traveller. For further details refer to the chapter "Salaat on a Journey".

Musalla: Refers to a piece of cloth or carpet on which a person offers his salaat. Musalla is also used in Arabic to refer to a place where the eid salaat is offered.

Musalli: One who is offering salaat.

Mustahab: Literally means "preferable or desirable". Refers to that an which was carried out by Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam or the Sahabah occasionally. Carrying out these actions entails reward and leaving them out does not entail any punishment.

Muzdalifah: Name of a place outside Makkah. Staying over in Muzdalifah is included among the rites of Hajj.

Nafl: Literally means "optional". According to the jurists it has a similar ruling to that of mustahab.

Najaasat-e-

ghaleezah: Heavy impurity.

Najaasat-e-haqiqi: Visible impurity.

Najaasat-e-hukmi: Ceremonial impurity. In other words, it refers to the state of impurity in which a person may be, e.g. in need of wudu or ghusl.

Nazr: A vow or solemn pledge.

Nifaas: Refers to the flowing of blood after child-birth.

Nikah: Marriage.

Niyyah: Intention.

Nur: Light.

Purdah: An Urdu word meaning "seclusion". It is an equivalent of the Arabic word "hijaab". Refers to the seclusion of women from strangers. There are different stages of purdah, the highest of which is that the woman should not emerge from her home except for a valid Islamic reason.

Qaari: Literally means "one who recites". In Islamic terminology it refers to the person who recites the Quran bearing in mind all the necessary rules of recitation.

Qada: Literally means "carrying out or fulfilling". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to fulfilling or completing those duties that one may have missed due to some reason or the other.

Qa'dah: Refers to the sitting posture in salaat.

Qada salaat: Refers to fulfilling or completing a salaat which one may have missed for some reason or the other. For further details, refer to the chapter on qada salaat.

Qasm: An oath.

Qiblah: The direction in which one faces when offering salaat.

Qira'at: Literally means "recitation". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the recitation of the Quran in salaat.

Qisaas: Literally means "reprisal or retaliation". In Islamic law it refers to the payment of money in lieu of willful or unintentional murder.

Qiyaamah: The day of resurrection.

Qunut: Refers to the dua that is generally read in the witr salaat, and in the fajr salaat at times of danger and calamities. For further details refer to the chapter on witr salaat.

Qurbaani: Literally means "sacrifice". In Islam it refers to the sacrificing of animals solely for the pleasure of Allah Ta'ala on the day of eid ul-ad'haa and the two days following it.

Rakaat: Literally means "bending of the torso from an upright position". In kitaabus salaat it refers to one unit of salaat which comprises of the standing, bowing and prostrating postures.

Ramadaan: Refers to the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is in this month that the fast is observed. This is the most sacred month of the Islamic calendar.

Rukn: Literally means "basis or basic element". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to the basic element or elements of any act of ibaadah without which that act will be incomplete.

Saahib-e-tarteeb: Refers to a person who, from the time of maturity, did not miss any salaat, or, if he missed, he made qada of all of them. For further details, refer to the chapter on Qada salaat, mas'ala no.6.

Sadaqah-e-fitr: Refers to the charity that is given on or prior to the day of eid ul-fitr. This sadaqah is wajib on those upon whom zakaat is wajib.

Saff: Literally means "line". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the lines in which the musallis stand when offering their salaat with congregation.

Sahw: Literally means "negligence or forgetfulness". In kitaabus salaat it refers to omitting or forgetting a particular act in salaat.

Sajdah: The act of prostrating. Prostrating to anyone other than Allah Ta'ala is absolutely haraam in Islam.

Sajdah-e-sahw: Refers to the prostration which becomes incumbent upon forgetting or omitting an act in salaat. For further details refer to the chapter on sajdah-e-sahw.

Sajdah-e-tilaawat: Refers to the prostration which becomes incumbent upon reciting or hearing the verses of prostration of the Quran. For further details refer to the chapter on sajdah-e-tilaawat.

Salaam: Literally means "peace". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the saying of "as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" which denotes the end of the salaat.

Salaat-e-kusuf: Refers to the salaat that is offered at the time of solar eclipse. For further details refer to the chapter on salaat-e-kusuf.

Shawwaal: The tenth month of the Islamic calendar.

Sunnah: Sunnah is that action which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did or sanctioned. Sunnah is of two types: sunnah-e-mu'akkadah and sunnah-e-ghayr mu'akkadah. Sunnah-e-mu'akkadah is that which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continuously carried out. To leave out such a type of sunnah is a sin and one is punished for this. However, there is no harm if one leaves it out because of some valid excuse.

Sunnah-e-ghayr mu'akkadah is that which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam carried out, but also left out at times without any reason. To follow such a type of sunnah entails reward and to leave it out does not necessitate any punishment.

Surah: Refers to a chapter of the Quran. There are 114 surahs in the Quran.

Surah Faatihah: This is the first or opening chapter of the Quran.

Surmah: Antimony. A black powdery substance that is applied to the eyes. It is sunnah to apply this surmah.

Sutra: Literally means "a cover or guard". In kitaabus salaat it refers to an object that a musalli places in front of him so that no one will walk in front of him while he is offering his salaat.

Taabi'ee: A taabi'ee is a Muslim who has met a sahabi and who died in a state of Imaan.

Taahir: Pure.

Ta'awwudh: Literally means "seeking protection". In kitaabus salaat it refers to reciting a'udhu billahi minash shaytaanir rajeem before commencing with the qira'at in salaat.

Tahaarat: Purity or the state of purity.

Tahajjud salaat: An optional salaat that is offered in the dark of the night. There is great merit in offering this salaat.

Takbeer: To say "Allahu Akbar" which means Allah is the Greatest.

Takbeer-e-

tahreemah: The first takbeer that one says when commencing with salaat.

Takbeer-e-

tashreeq: The takbeer that is recited during the days of eid ul-ad'haa. For further details refer to the chapter on eid salaat.

Taqwa: Piety, righteousness, God-consciousness.

Tasbeeh: Saying "Sub'haanallah" which means Glory be to Allah. A rosary that is used to glorify Allah Ta'ala is also called a tasbeeh.

Taubah: Repentance.

Tauheed: The Oneness of Allah Ta'ala. The concept of tauheed is the corner stone of Islamic belief.

Tawakkul: Having trust in Allah Ta'ala, i.e. He alone has full contol over all the affairs of this world and the hereafter.

Tayammum: The act of purifying oneself with pure sand in the absence of water.

Ta'ziyat: Condolence.

Thanaa': Literally means "praise". In kitaabus salaat it refers to a special dua that is recited after the takbeer-e-tahreemah.

Ulama: Plural of aalim. An aalim is a scholar who has attained a considerable amount of Islamic knowledge.

Ummah: Literally means "community or nation". Here it refers to the Muslim community or nation.

Umrah: Commonly referred to as the "lesser pilgrimage". It is similar to Hajj with the exception that many of the rites of Hajj are left out and that it could be performed throughout the year.

Wajib: Literally means "obligatory". In Islamic jurisprudence it refers to that act which has not been established by an absolute proof. Leaving out a wajib without any valid reason makes one a faasiq and entails punishment.

Wajibaat: Plural of wajib.

Waqf: Endowment. In Islamic law it refers to endowing a place or thing in the name of Allah.

Wasiyyat: Bequest.

Watan-e-iqaamat: Refers to a place where a musafir intends to stop over for fifteen days or more.

Witr salaat: Refers to the salaat that is offered after the esha salaat. This salaat is wajib. For further details refer to the chapter on witr salaat.

Wudu: Literally means "purity or cleanliness". In Islamic terminology it refers to the act of washing oneself before offering salaat.

Zil Hijjah: The last month of the Islamic calendar. It is in this month that the Hajj is performed.

Zimmi: A non-Muslim person living in an Islamic state under the protection of the Islamic state.

Zuhr: Literally means "mid-day". In kitaabus salaat it refers to the mid-day prayer. It is referred to as zuhr salaat or salaatuz zuhr.