GLOSSARY OF

ISLAMIC TERMS
TERMS
125
A comprehensive guide to
key Islamic terms and
concepts, designed for
students and beginners in
Islam who seek to deepen
their understanding and
learn more about the faith.

Kashif Riaz
https://beaconofknowledge.net/
 1

1 ALLAH
The one and only God in Islam, Creator
of everything, with no partners.

PROPHET 2
A messenger chosen by Allah to guide
people. Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬is the
last prophet.

3 QUR’AN
The holy book of Islam, revealed to
Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬by Allah
through the Angel Jibreel.

REVELATION (WAHY) 4
Messages sent by Allah to the
prophets through angels, especially
Jibreel.
 2

5 ISLAM
Islam is the final religion that teaches
us to worship Allah, and follow Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) as the final
messenger.
KA’BAH 6
The sacred building in Makkah where
Muslims face to pray; the holiest site
in Islam.

7 SUNNAH
The teachings, actions, and sayings of
Prophet Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬.

SAHABAH 8
The companions who believed in and
supported Prophet Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬
during his lifetime.
 3

9 HIJRAH
The migration of Prophet Muhammad
(‫ )ﷺ‬and his followers from Makkah to
Madeenah.

ANSAR 10
The people of Madeenah who helped
the Muslims when they migrated from
Makkah.

11 MUHAJIRUN
The Muslims who migrated from
Makkah to Madeenah during the Hijrah.

MASJID 12
The companions who believed in and
supported Prophet Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬
during his lifetime.
 4

13 UMMAH
The worldwide Muslim community
united by faith.

JIBREEL (GABRIEL) 14
The angel who brought Allah's
messages to the prophets.

15 SHAHADAH
The Islamic declaration of faith:
"There is no god but Allah, and
Muhammad is His messenger."

SALAH 16
The five daily prayers performed by
Muslims to worship Allah.
 5

17 ZAKAH
Obligatory charity Muslims give to the
poor, usually a percentage of their wealth.

SAWM 18
Fasting during Ramadan, abstaining
from food and drink from dawn to
sunset.
19 HAJJ
The pilgrimage to Makkah, required at
least once in a lifetime for those who
are able.

HALAL 20
Things permissible in Islam, especially
regarding food and actions.
 6

21 HARAM
Things forbidden in Islam, such as certain
foods and harmful behaviors.

QURAYSH 22
The tribe of Makkah to which Prophet
Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬belonged.

23 JAHILIYYAH
The time of ignorance before Islam,
when idol worship and unjust practices
prevailed in Arabia.

IDOL 24
A statue or object worshipped instead
of Allah; Islam teaches only Allah
should be worshipped.
 7

25 JIHAD
Striving for a good cause, often
misunderstood, referring to personal
struggles or defending one’s faith.

BATTLE OF BADR 26
The first major battle between the
Muslims and Quraysh, where Muslims
were victorious despite being
outnumbered.
27 BATTLE OF UHUD
A battle where the Muslims initially had
the upper hand but faced setbacks due
to disobedience.
BATTLE OF KHANDAQ (TRENCH) 28
A defensive battle where Muslims dug
a trench to protect Madeenah from a
large army.
 8

29 KHATIB
The person delivering a khutbah
(sermon).
ISRA AND MI'RAJ 30
The miraculous night journey of
Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬from Makkah
to Jerusalem and to the heavens.

31 FAREWELL PILGRIMAGE
The last pilgrimage of Prophet
Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬, where he delivered his
Farewell Sermon, emphasizing justice
and kindness.

SHARIAH 32
Islamic law based on the Qur'an and
Sunnah, guiding Muslims in all aspects
of life.
 9

33 KHULAFA RASHIDUN
The rightly guided caliphs who led the
Muslim community after Prophet
Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬.

MECCA (MAKKAH) 34
The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad
(‫ )ﷺ‬and the holiest city in Islam.

35 MADEENAH (MEDINA)
The city where Prophet Muhammad (‫)ﷺ‬
migrated and established the first
Muslim community.

RAMADAN 36
The Islamic holy month of fasting,
during which the Qur'an was revealed.
 10

37 QIBLA
The direction Muslims face during
prayer, towards the Kaaba in Makkah.

TAWHID 38
The belief in the oneness of Allah, the
most fundamental concept in Islam.

39 SADAQAH
Voluntary charity given by Muslims to
those in need, different from the
obligatory Zakah.

IMAM 40
A leader of prayers in the mosque;
also refers to a knowledgeable person
in the community.
 11

41 DUA
Personal prayers or supplications to
Allah, asking for guidance, help, or
forgiveness.

AKHIRAH 42
The afterlife, referring to life after
death and the Day of Judgment.

43 BARZAKH
The period between death and
resurrection on the Day of Judgment.

TAQWA 44
Consciousness and fear of Allah,
leading to piety and moral behavior.
 12

45 FITNAH
Trials, temptations, or social discord
that can lead believers away from
their faith.

IHSAN 46
Achieving excellence in worship and
good deeds by being conscious of
Allah.

47 QADR
Divine predestination, the belief that
everything happens according to Allah's
will.
SHIRK 48
Associating partners with Allah, the
greatest sin in Islam.
 13

49 FAJR
The first of the five daily prayers,
performed at dawn.
DHUHR 50
The midday prayer, one of the five
obligatory daily prayers.

51 ASR
The afternoon prayer, part of the five
daily prayers.
MAGHRIB 52
The prayer performed just after
sunset, part of the daily prayers.

53 ISHA
The night prayer, the last of the five
daily prayers.
 14

54 NIFAQ
Hypocrisy (outward Islam but inner
disbelief).
TAKBIR 55
The phrase "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is
the Greatest), used in worship.

56 ISTIGHFAR
The act of seeking forgiveness from
Allah through repentance.
WUDU 57
The ritual purification or ablution
performed before prayers.

58 GHUSL
A full-body purification ritual
performed in specific circumstances.
 15

59 JANAZAH
The Islamic funeral prayer offered
for the deceased.
IFTAR 60
The meal eaten to break the fast
during Ramadan.

61 SUHOOR
The pre-dawn meal consumed before
fasting in Ramadan.
SHURA 62
Consultation, a principle in Islamic
governance.

63 TAFSIR
The interpretation or explanation of
the Qur'an by scholars.
 16

64 RIBA
Usury or interest, forbidden in
Islamic finance.
KUFR 65
Disbelief or denial of the truths of
Islam.

66 MADHHAB
A school of Islamic jurisprudence, such
as Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, or Hanbali.
MUFTI 67
A Muslim legal expert qualified to give
rulings on Islamic law.

68 IJTIHAD
Independent reasoning by scholars to
interpret Islamic law.
 17

69 ZINA
Adultery or fornication, a major sin in
Islam.
TAWBAH 70
Repentance, the act of seeking
forgiveness from Allah for sins.

71 NAFS
The soul or self, often in the context
of controlling desires.
TAJWEED 72
The rules and techniques of proper
recitation of the Qur'an.

73 NIYYAH
Intention, a requirement for actions to
be accepted by Allah.
 18

74 TAWAKKUL
Reliance or trust in Allah, while also
taking appropriate actions.
FITRAH 75
An innate human nature created by
Allah, inclining toward monotheism and
goodness.

76 IBAADAH
Acts of worship done to please Allah.

ULAMA 77
Islamic scholars learned in religious
knowledge and jurisprudence.

78 MU’MIN
A believer, one with complete faith in
Allah.
 19

79 MUNAFIQ
A hypocrite, pretending to be a
Muslim while concealing disbelief.
BAY’AH 80
Pledge of allegiance to a leader in an
Islamic community.

81 SADAQAT AL-FITR
Charity given before Eid al-Fitr to
purify one's fast.
FARD 82
An obligatory act in Islam. Neglecting
it without a valid excuse is sinful.

83 MUSTAHABB
A recommended, but non-obligatory, act
in Islam.
 20

84 FARD AYN
An individual obligation, like daily
prayers and fasting in Ramadan.
FARD KIFAYAH 85
A communal duty, like Janazah
(funeral) prayer; if some fulfill it,
others are exempt.

86 KHILAFAH
The Islamic leadership or caliphate.

MAKRUH 87
A discouraged action in Islam, not
sinful if done.

88 MUEZZIN
The person who calls Muslims to prayer
from the mosque.
 21

89 WALI
A guardian or protector, often in the
context of marriage.
ADHAN 90
The call to prayer, proclaimed by the
Muezzin five times daily.

91 FAQIH
An expert in Islamic jurisprudence.

TASAWWUF 92
A spiritual side of Islam, focusing on
purifying the heart, remembering
Allah, and strengthening faith.
93 MUSHRIK
A person who practices shirk,
associating partners with Allah.
 22

94 KHUTBAH
The sermon delivered during Friday
prayers or special occasions.

QUNUT 95
A special supplication (du'a) recited
during Salah (prayer), seeking Allah’s
help, mercy, and guidance.

96 TABLIGH
The act of spreading the message of
Islam.
UDHIYAH 97
The ritual animal sacrifice during Eid
al-Adha.
98 TAWBAH
The act of repentance in Islam.
 23

99 HAWD-E-KAWTHAR
A blessed pond in Paradise, gifted to
Prophet Muhammad ‫ﷺ‬, where
believers will drink on Judgment Day

NABI 100
A prophet chosen by Allah to guide
people towards the right path.

101 AQIDAH
Islamic belief system, including faith
in Allah, angels, books, prophets, and
the Day of Judgment.

BARAKAH 102
Blessings and divine goodness from
Allah. It can be found in time, wealth,
health, knowledge, and actions.
 24

103 SUNNAH MU’AKKADAH

Highly recommended acts of the
Prophet (PBUH).

IJMAA 104
Consensus of Islamic scholars on a
religious issue.

KAFFARAH 105
A penalty or compensation for missing
certain obligations.

106 RIYA
Showing off in worship, which makes
deeds invalid.
HAYA 107
Modesty and shyness, a key Islamic
virtue.
 25

108 TAYAMMUM(DRY ABLUTION)

A substitute for wudu or ghusl,
performed using clean earth when
water is unavailable or cannot be used
due to illness or other valid reasons.

ASHAB AL-KAHF 109

The People of the Cave, mentioned in
the Quran for their faith.

110 AYYAM AL-BIDH

The White Days (13th, 14th, and 15th
of each Islamic month) when fasting is
recommended.

QISAAS 111
Islamic law of equal retribution for
crimes like murder.
 26

112 FIDYAH
Compensation given by those unable to
fast due to valid reasons.
ISTIKHARA 113
A prayer for seeking Allah’s guidance
in decision-making.
114 SABR
Patience in difficulties and staying
firm in faith.
YAQEEN 115
Certainty and strong faith in Allah
without doubt.

116 SHAITAN
Shaitan is a rebellious being who
tempts humans to do wrong and
disobey Allah.
 27

117 QADI
A judge in Islamic law who makes
decisions based on the Qur'an,
Hadith, and Islamic principles.

P.B.U.H. 118
It stands for "Peace Be Upon Him."
Muslims use it after mentioning the
name of any prophet as a sign of
respect and love. For Prophet
Muhammad, Muslims usually say
"S.A.W." (Sallallahu Alaihe Wasallam)
instead.
119 KHALIFAH
The leader or successor of Prophet
Muhammad (P.B.U.H.), responsible for
guiding the Muslim community.
Another title is Amir Al-Mumineen
(Leader of the Believers).
 28

120 JINN
Invisible spiritual beings created from
fire, who follow Allah’s commands.
Like humans, they can be good or bad
113
and are accountable for their actions.

121 ANGEL (MALA'IKA)

Spiritual beings created by Allah from
light. They carry out Allah's
commands, are pure, and do not have
free will, always obeying Allah.
JIZYAH 122
A tax paid by non-Muslims in a Muslim
state in exchange for protection and
exemption from military service.

123 JUZ
One of the 30 sections of the Quran.
 29

124 A.H. (AFTER HIJRAH):

An abbreviation referring to the
years after Prophet Muhammad's
(peace be upon him) migration from
113
Mecca to Medina in 622. The Islamic
calendar begins from this event.

125 SEERAH
The biography of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him), highlighting his
life, character, leadership, and
guidance for Muslims.

www.beaconofknowledge.net
+923125077749, +971569494509
info@beaconofknowledge.net
www.youtube.com/@KashifTeachesArabic