I decided to write this page to help myself (and anyone else) learn the Arabic terms that are commonly used in Islam.
alhamdulillah – “praise belongs to Allah (swt)”
allahu akbar – Allah (swt) is greater.
assalamu alaykum – peace be upon you, the greeting of a Muslim.
astagfurallah – if I ask forgiveness of Allah (swt).
ayat – proofs, evidence, verses, evidence, signs, revelations, etc.
bismillah – “in the name of Allah(swt)”, said before doing something that is halal.
da’wah – “call”, calling to the Truth through preaching and propagation.
deen – the way of life for a Muslim.
dhikr – rememberance of Allah (swt) in one’s heart. To engage in “dhikr” is to have awareness of Allah (swt) in one’s heart.
du’a’ – requesting Allah’s (swt) personal attention by means of supplication.
dunya – this world…earthly concerns and possessions (as opposed to spiritual matters).
fiqh – Islamic jurisprudence.
fisq – transgression against God.
fitnah – trials or temptations that test the unity of the Muslim community. The term may be used to describe insurrection or civil warfare or, more specifically, to define a tribunal over doctrinal issues.
Hadith –
hajj –
halal – permissible, lawful
haraam – prohibited, illegal
hijra –
iblis –
ijtihad – to exercise personal judgment based on the Sunnah and Qur’an.
iman – faith
injil –
Islam – submission to Allah’s (swt) will.
insha’Allah – God willing, if Allah (swt) wills.
jannah – Paradise.
jinn –
jum’ah -
kafir – one who denies or rejects Truth.
mahram – a man whom a woman can never marry because of closeness of relationship, also includes her husband.
masha’Allah – “what Allah (swt) wishes”, a phrase to indicate appreciation for an aforementioned person or event.
masjid – mosque
nifaq – hypocrisy
nikah – marriage
qiblah – prayer direction (facing the Ka’ba).
rak’ah – a unit of Prayer. (pl. raka’at)
sadaqah – voluntary charitable giving.
sahabah – companions of the Prophet (pbuh).
salah – Prayers.
sallallahu ‘alaihe wa salaam (saw) – “may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him”, said whenever the name of the Prophet (pbuh) is read or mentioned.
shahada – the Muslim declaration of the belief in the Oneness of God and in Muhammed (pbuh) as his final prophet.
shirk – to associate partners with Allah (swt) in all that is particular to Allah (swt).
subhanallah – “glorified is Allah (swt)”.
subhanalhu wa ta’ala – “glorified is he and exalted”, used by Muslims when the name of Allah (swt) is pronounced or written.
sura – chapter of the Qur’an.
tawheed – Islamic concept of monotheism, affirming and defending the unity of God in the Islamic sense of Unitarianism.
ummah – the worldwide community of Muslims.
wa alaikum assalam – “and on you, be peace”, the reply to the Muslim greeting of assalamu alaikum (peace be upon you).
wudu – ablution made before prescribed Prayers.
zakat – 2.5% of wealth given yearly.
