A
'Abaya (3abaya) - dress used by Muslim women to cover from the neck to the feet. (see example here).
'Alayhi salam - peace be upon him.
Alhamdulilah - All praise and thanks be to Allah.
Allah - Taken from God Allah.com: The word "Allah" is the perfect description of the "One God" of monotheism for Jews, Christians and Muslims. "Allah" is the same word used by Christian Arabs and Jewish Arabs in their Bible. "Allah" comes from the Arabic word "elah"a god' or something worshiped. This word (elah) can be made plural (gods), as in "aleha" and it can be male or female just as the word in English can be "goddess". "Allah" comes from "elaha" but it brings more clarification and understanding:
- Allah = Has no gender (not male and not female);
- "He" is used only out of respect and dignity - not for gender;
- Allah = Always singular - Never plural;
- "We" is used only as the "Royal WE" just as in English for royalty;
- Allah = Means "The Only One to be Worshipped".
Astaghfirullah - May Allah forgive.
B
Bismillah - In the Name of Allah.
Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem - In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Continuously Merciful.
D
Da'wah - Invitation (to Islam).
Dhihar - (or Zihar) The saying by a husband to his wife "You are to me like the back of my mother", meaning unlawful to approach. This was a type of divorce practiced by the Arabs before the prophethood of Muhammad (salAllahu 'alayhi wa salam).
Dhikr - Remembrance (Dhikrullah - Remembrance of Allah).
H
Hijab - lit. Covering. It's commonly referred to the piece of fabric that covers the Muslim woman's head and neck. But from the correct way of speaking, it's all of the Muslim woman's dress, which for some it's the covering of all the body only leaving the eyes to see and to others it's the covering of all the body leaving the face and hands uncovered.
I
Izdel - Also referred to as overhead 'abaya. Kind of dress Muslim women wear that goes from the head to the feet (see example here).
J
JazakAllah Khair - May Allah increase you in goodness (to male)
Jazaki Allah Khair - May Allah increase you in goodness (to female)
Jazakum Allah Khair - May Allah increase you in goodness (to more than 2 people)
K
Kaabah - The Sacred House situated in Makkah (Mecca) constructed by Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Muslims turn to this Sacred House to pray their daily prayers.
Kafir - Disbeliever. This term has been very misinterpreted throughout history. It does not mean "infidel" or any other bad name. It just simply means the one that doesn't believe in Allah, or doesn't believe in God in general. If it was an insult to call someone a "kafir", then it would be an insult to call someone an "atheist" (pl. Kuffar).
Khair - Good/goodness
M
Mahram - Any woman with whom a man has a relationship (of blood or fosterage) that precludes marriage, is considered a Mahram to him. Mahram women include his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, grandaunt, niece, grandniece, his father's wife, his wife's daughter, his mother-in-law, his foster mother (the one who nursed him), foster sisters, and any foster relatives that are similar to the above mentioned blood relatives. (This is also applied in the case of women, where we turn everything to the opposite gender: father, grandfather, son, grandson, etc).
N
Nikkah - Marriage.
Non-Mahram - Someone to whom we can get married without any prohibition in the Qur'an. This is, they remain non-mahram even if we are married, for example, because if our husbands/wives die, we can still get married to them.
Q
Qadar - Destiny
Qadarullah - Destiny of Allah
Qur'an - Koran, lit. Recitation
R
Rasulullah - The Messenger of Allah (i.e. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him))
S
Sadaqah - Voluntary Charity
Salaat - Prayers.
Salaat Al-Istikharaa - Prayer for asking guidance from Allah when wanting to make a decision in any aspect of life.
SalAllahu 'alayhi wa salam - May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Salamo Aleikom - Peace be with you (to more than 2 people, but commonly used to refer to any number of people even if it's only one)
Salamo Aleikom Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu - May the Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be with you
SubhanAllah - Glorified/Elevated be Allah
Subhan wa Ta'la - May He be Glorified and Exalted
Z
Zakaat - Obligatory Charity. It's 2.5% of any savings that remained untouched for a whole year.
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