Islamic Words

Alhamdu lillah 
Praise be to Allah 
Allah 
God 
Allahu Akbar 
Allah is Most Great 
Amanah 
Trust 
Assalamu Alaikum 
Peace be upon you--the "official" Islamic greeting. 
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh 
"Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon you" Extended form of the above. 
Astaghfir Allah 
I seek forgiveness from Allah (used when mentioning something that goes against the standards of Islam) 
Ayah/Ayat 
Qur'anic verse 
Bid`ah 
Innovation, addition to the religion's essentials 
Bukhari 
One of the most noted compilers of hadith. His collection is known as Sahih Bukhari 
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim 
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Most Merciful 
Da'wa 
Invitation (for humankind to Islam) 
Du`aa 
Supplication 
Eid 
Islamic holiday 
Fatwa 
Islamic legal ruling 
Fiqh 
Islamic law as interpreted by scholars 
Fitnah 
Corruption and disorder, also temptation 
Hadith 
A report of a saying or deed of the Prophet 
Haj 
Pilgrimage 
Halal 
Allowed (per Islamic law) 
Haram 
Forbidden (per Islamic law) 
Hazrat/Hadrat 
Honorable 
Hijab 
Modest way of behavior and dress (including head scarf for women) 
Imam 
Leader 
Iman 
Faith 
In Shaa Allah 
If God wills. (Used when talking about a future event) 
Injeel 
The scripture sent down to Prophet Issa (Jesus) 
Isnad 
Chain of transmitters, the list of people who successively narrated a given hadith 
Jannah 
Paradise 
Jazakallah Khair 
May God grant you what is good. (Often used instead of "Thank you") 
Jihad 
Striving for Islam, whether by peaceful or violent means (NOT holy war!) 
Jinn 
Unseen beings, who, like humans, are given the power to choose between right and wrong 
Kafir 
One who denies the truth. Literally, one who "covers" the truth (sometimes applied to non-Muslims). 
Khalifah 
Caliph: Leader of Muslim nation 
Khilafah 
Caliphate 
Khutba 
Sermon 
Kufr 
Denial of the Truth, rebellion against God 
La Ilaha Illa Allah 
There is no deity but God 
Ma Shaa Allah 
What God has willed! (Usually used to express wonder at Allah's creation) 
Madhhab 
School of jurisprudential thought 
Makruh 
Detested, but not forbidden (per Islamic law) 
Mandoub 
Recommended, but not required (per Islamic law) 
Mubah 
Neither forbidden nor commended. Neutral (per Islamic law) 
Mushrik 
One who commits Shirk 
Muslim 
One who submits to Allah and is a follower of Islam; also, name of one of the most notable hadith scholars. His collection is known as Sahih Muslim 
Nabi 
Prophet 
Qur'an 
The Words of Allah conveyed to us by the Prophet 
PBUH 
Peace Be Upon Him. Same as SAW 
RAA 
(Radia Allahu Anhu/Anha.) May Allah be please with him/her 
Rasool 
Messenger (Prophet to whom a scripture is revealed) 
Rasool Allah 
Messenger of God (used to refer to Prophet Muhammad) 
Sahaba 
Companions of Prophet. Singular is "Sahabi" 
Sahih 
"Sound in isnad." A technical attribute applied to the "isnad" of a hadith 
Salaam 
Peace. An abbreviated version of the Islamic greeting 
Salaat 
Prayer 
SAW 
(Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam.) Peace Be Upon Him 
Sawm/Siyam 
Fasting 
Seerah/Sirah 
History of the Prophet's life 
Shahadah 
Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. 
Shari'ah 
Divine Law 
Sheikh 
Scholar (or any elder and/or respected man) 
Shirk 
Associating partners (e.g. helpers, other gods) with Allah 
Shura 
Consultation among Muslims 
Subhan Allah 
"Glory be to God" 
Sunna/Sunnah 
Tradition of the Prophet 
Surah/Sura 
A Chapter in the Qur'an 
SWT 
(SubHanahu Wa Ta`ala.) Glory be to Him. Used only in reference to Allah 
Tafsir 
Interpretation 
Tawraat 
The scripture sent down to Prophet Musa (Moses). 
Ulama 
Religious scholars 
Umma 
Nation, community. 
Ustadh 
Teacher 
Wassalaam 
And peace. It means "goodbye" 
Zakat 
Required charity 

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